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On Being Seen



Minsan, feeling ko, ang buhay ay parang talent show na walang final performance. 

Lahat tayo nag-a-audition, nagbabaka-sakaling makuha ang main role ng “being loved and understood.” Gusto natin yung spotlight moment, pero sa totoo lang, takot din tayong magkamali sa harap ng audience. Kasi paano kung imbes na palakpak, ang sumalubong sa’yo eh nakakabinging katahimikan at tunog ng mga crickets ang sasalubong pala?

The desire to be seen is universal. Kahit yung kunwari chill lang sa buhay, pero deep down meron din yung “Uy, pansinin niyo rin ako minsan” moments. The thing is, sa real life, hindi yan gaya ng selfie na may filter—effortless and mostly, perfect. Reality is raw, messy, and involves showing the parts of yourself na hindi ka sure kung Instagram-worthy.

Eto ang dilemma: gusto mo ng recognition, pero takot kang ipakita yung tunay na ikaw. Kasi sa mundo ngayon, ang bilis mong ma-box in. Pag masyado kang confident, ang sasabihin ng mga tao: “Feelingero.” Pag masyado kang tahimik: “Ayan, wallflower.” Saan ka lulugar? Parang traffic sa Session Road—walang beginning, at apparently, di mo alam saan ending.

And then there’s vulnerability—the scary baggage na kasama ng pagiging truly known. Kasi when you allow someone to see you, hindi lang yung highlight reel ang makikita nila. Pati yung bloopers, outtakes, at mga tinagong kahinaan. Nakakatakot, pero necessary. Kung gusto mong may maka build ng real connection and relationships sa mga tao, hindi pwede yung curated version lang.

Naalala ko tuloy yung mga times na sinubukan kong magpakita ng real self. Alam mo yung pakiramdam na parang naglakad ka sa gitna ng kalsada nang nakasuot ng pajama? Yun yun. Exposed, uncomfortable, pero weirdly liberating. Kasi sa mga moments na ganun, doon mo makikita kung sino ang mga taong willing tanggapin ka—flaws and all.

Pero ito ang plot twist: being seen isn’t just about you. It’s about seeing others, too. Minsan kasi masyado tayong focus sa sarili nating paghahanap ng pansin, nakakalimutan nating pansinin din ang iba. Eh paano kung yung taong akala mong “strong independent” eh naghihintay din lang pala ng moment na makita sila and bare all?

Kaya siguro ang pagiging tao, hindi lang tungkol sa paghahanap ng taong makakakita sa’yo. It’s about building a space where everyone feels seen—where it’s okay to show up as your messy, awkward, pajama-wearing self. Kasi, in the end, being seen is less about perfection and more about connection.

At kung may natutunan man ako, ito yun: kahit takot ka, kahit ang daming what ifs, we have to take the risk. 

Show up. 

Kasi minsan lang may audience na tunay na handang tumingin without judgment. At minsan lang sa buhay mo masasabi na, “Ay, finally, nakita din nila ako.”
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