The “Tala” dance craze which singer actress Sarah Geronimo popularized has caught the country by storm. Social media and the thirst of almost everyone for approval from among their peers has contributed to its enormous popularity as a lot as people from all walks of life snatched every opportunity to do the “Tala” dance, record and post it to gain likes and maybe some sense of satisfaction.

Soldiers, teachers, celebrities and even citizens one could never imagine to be swayed to do the dance and share it publicly have participated.

It has become a storm stronger than Ursula that destroyed the Christmas of several Ilonggos.

While the rest of the world was pre-occupied with the murder of a popular Iranian general by the United States of America and a few speculated of World War III, the Philippines has been busy dancing “Tala”.

Of course there is nothing wrong with it especially that it is not harming anyone. Only that it has revealed a lot about the Filipinos as a people. Despite the very serious threat to the stability of peace around the world posed by the Middle East conflict and the increasing human rights violations and the continuing murder of suspected offenders perpetrated by the men in uniform in the country, Filipinos would rather focus on things that would entertain them and make them laugh.

Perhaps many Filipinos are already tired of the unending bickering in the government and allegations of cronyism that they would rather do the tala dance than sit down and join serious and critical political discussions.

On hindsight, one can only wish, if only the level of excitement and interest of Filipino citizens with the tala dance is the same as the interest they would devote on things that will improve their social and economic conditions, dependence with what the government can offer would be reduced and people can decide independently without necessarily giving emphasis on debt of gratitude that has blinded the eyes of almost everyone on the realities happening these days.