Sleepless in Cebu: The Effect of Technology in Spirituality

Mental health is a pressing issue in society these days, the threshold of tolerance differing between generations. Unfortunately, someone who expresses their feelings of depression may be considered attention-seeking by some, and fail to get the medical attention they need. Many Filipinos use spirituality as a coping mechanism for all the hardships they experience, allowing them to maintain a positive outlook in life despite the utter poverty. It is common to hear “sa awa ng diyos” (by God’s mercy) when talking about their health.

Spirituality is a sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves. Spirituality is associated with self-rated health and life satisfaction. Greater spirituality is associated with better mental health.

This weekend, the whole Cebu province will be part of the holy procession for #Sinulog. There will be a procession from the Sto Nino Basilica, walking thru the streets of MJCuenca, to Mango Avenue, circling the Fuente Osmena, down thru Osmena boulevard, until they reach back at the Sto Nino Basilica.

In today’s era of internet connectivity, social media becomes a two-edged sword. On the one hand, it changes the way we interact with each other, allowing us to communicate with people on the other side of the globe at the touch of a button, keeping people connected despite distance, time difference, language, culture, situation. It allows essential data at the our fingertips. On the other hand, the connectivity may in reality cause more isolation and depression, with discrepancies between what people think is real, what you wish was real, and what you know is real.

Connecting spirituality with technology, I recall how Pope John Paul II visited the Philippines in 1995 for the World Youth Day. People were raising white handkerchiefs to wave hello to Pope John Paul II. This was the age of evangelization, drawing in people from different walks of life, of acceptance, of tolerance and of respect.

Filipinos waved white handkerchiefs to welcome Pope John Paul II, chanting “JPII, we love you!” The youth waited overnight in Luneta Park to wait for the arrival of Pope John Paul II.

Fast-forward 20 years, when Pope Francis visited the victims of Haiyan “Yolanda” supertyphoon in 2015, especially in Tacloban, Leyte, people were flashing something else in the crowds. Pope Francis was welcomed by cellphone cameras trying to take the best picture or video. This was the age of social media invasion.

Thousands of cellphone cameras were pointed toward Pope Francis in warm welcome.

Similar changes are evident whereas before people said their prayers of grace before a meal, now they take photos of their food before they start to eat.

Sinulog is a religious fiesta celebration of the Christ Child, the Santo Nino. People fill the streets of Cebu to sing and dance "Viva Santo Nino!" and "Pit Senyor!" and music blasts in speakers "I love Cebu" and "Pit Senyor, tayo na magsinulog, kitang tanan magPit Senyor, siyagit ug kusog, tanan magsaulog!" This is one fiesta celebration where all cellular signals will be blocked for security purposes, and we realize how very dependent we have become to technology. We feel paralyzed, we feel lost, we become anxious. That is what faith is all about. We celebrate our faith with or without technology. We come together to celebrate the child in each of us.

How else has technology affected our lives today?

What is the role of spirituality in mental health?