CANADA CONNECTION: Observing Ethics (Part I)

LIFE WORTH LIVING – More often than not, we are confronted with having a decision that may impact ourselves, profession, work, community, and other people.

As to whether such decision would be right or wrong is always a primordial consideration lest our lifetime disappointment over the way things happened. But if only we are serious enough to observe ethical practices, then our delimma to make a right or wrong decision would be easily assuaged.

According to leading social scientists, Ethics is a system of principles that differentiate right from wrong, good from bad, truth from falsehood, just from bias, and positive from negative effects.

It is because of Ethics that our sense of selflessness, conscientiousness, fairness, and kindness would be enriched, thus affording us respect and trust from other people.

The greatest philosopher Aristotle once said Ethics refers to the action of a person according to his virtues, saying if a person is virtuos then that person is doing good for himself and others. He must be referring to some greatest virtues as prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice.

Religious leaders also expoused that Ethics is the foundation of morality, as it is a “set of moral principles and values” that make a civilized and morally-upright society.

In a nutshell, an ethical person is always aware of the consequences of his actions, and assumes responsibility for the outcome of his decision, be it right or wrong.

Resigning or relinquishing a position, or doing a Japanese suicide dubbed “hara-kiri” with the use of a samurai in the event of a bad decision are among the typical display of the character of person disturbed by unethical decision.

Indeed, if we desire to make a life worth living – untarnished image of credibility, deserved the highest degree of public trust and confidence, and bestowed by friends, colleagues, and accolades with deep esteem, respect and reverrence – there’s no other secret formula but observe ethics as a way of life.

As it has been said, an ethical lifestyle enables a person to lead others in making the world a better place to live in.

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MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE – Admittedly, ethics play a pivotal role in my life.

As far as I could remember during my student days I was guided by my adherence to the basic tenets of simplicity and humility, as being a son of a financially handicapped family I preferrred being spendthrift rather than to be extravagant. It is in fact this sense of frugality that has driven my desire to live a simple life, and bolstered my conscientiousness towards an ethical lifestyle.

Thus, from commando crawling to climbing ropes of success in a hard way influenced me to save the earnings from my vending of sea shells, like punaw and sisi, cooked native foods like bucayo, puto, bebingka, and betsokoy, and selling of agogo, iced candies, and Sierra pops.

Working as helper for fish drying, cleaning the hull of barges, and nipa roofing of a neighbor were also among my simple income generating jobs during my adulthood.

My high school life was made successful through my unreluctance and shamelessness in working as househelp where I was tasked in cleaning the toilet, scrubbing the floor, washing dishes, and selling household merchandise during market days.

Moving forward, my college life wasn’t filled with joy and happiness but painstaking days as working student – helping in the laboratory stockroom wash glasswares and prepare chemical solutions, and serving as sacristan to the Augustinian priests, which completed the chapter of my ethics-filled experience worthy to remember.

My choice to stay humble was undoubtedly part of my upbringing as a devout Roman Catholic, where I seriously believe on the Scripture reading “He who humbles himself shall be exalted, but whoever exalts himself shall be abased” (Matthew 23:12).

As I observe ethics during my early days in life, I believe neither did it bring upon me the feeling of shame nor had dampened my positive spirit and enthusiasm to adhere to the basic principles of morality, if only to arrive at an ethical decision all the time.* (Dan Cajurao)