Networking for Goodness

Nobody believes that we could live in a perfect world manipulated by goodness. A place where everybody’s goal is to do something worthy, something like a chain reaction to everyone that when someone does something good to you, the response should be for you to pass it on and that if everybody are doing so, then the world would be free from chaos and indeed the world will be perfect.

This is from the idea of a 7th grader kid who was challenged by his professor to think of something that would change the world. It was a class project but they need to put it into action. He came up with a networking scheme aiming to influence the entire world to do helpful things to others. You start with yourself aspiring to do something good to three persons, and that three person whom you touched are required to pass it on by doing an equally good thing to another three, same process applies to another three and the chain continues with so much goodness as an objective. The movie is entitled Pay it Forward. Instead of paying back of the goodness bestowed unto you, it can be a stranger or someone you know, there is a need for you to pay it forward. Of course it was from a movie, because if it was real… there is a little chance for it to materialize. I happen to watch it again in a lazy Saturday afternoon and as expected even if it was not my first time to watch it, it has always an impact. I am listing some realistic factors that the movie has emphasized for the purpose of sharing it to you. I hope it will give us realizations just like what it did to me.

Kids make sense. Not all brilliant ideas came from the big ones. At times the most sensible idea comes from the small ones, the children. In the movie, the eleven year old Trevor had actually came up with the pay it forward scheme because he was surrounded by a chaotic environment; an alcoholic single mom, a messy community with a school dominated with bullies. It was the way he observed his surrounding and that with the experiences he was convinced that his scheme in some ways can change the world. Now, was there a point in our life that we have come to think what this kid did think of? Perhaps we might have been very busy doing something for ourselves that we already have forgotten to consider others. Indeed, we have to listen to the small voices at times that can actually mean great ideas. Kids I guess are more sensitive and most of today’s generation can think advanced. So I think there is no reason to underestimate what the kids can do as well as what they can contribute for society’s welfare.


Death has always been an eye opener. We have to admit that in most cases there should be a sacrificial lamb first before the majority could realize we have to do something. There have been so many deaths in the Philippines that have awakened us to make an action and that this should not always be the scenario. In the movie, Trevor died because he wanted to help his friend who has been bullied by kids for a long time, he couldn’t stand it anymore that is why he rescued his friend that led to his death. His death became made known to the public because his story was covered by TV reporter before the incident. It was actually a sad ending but the good thing was the people have started to practice the pay it forward scheme of Trevor because of the publicity. Just when he already believed his idea didn’t work; it has started to influence a large number of population after his death. We actually are like the people in the movie, it always take lives to vanish before we can realize we need to make a difference. Well, everyday is a chance to do something good for others. Let us not wait for a life to be sacrificed before we get to grasp our need to extend our hands for others.

Helping and giving should always be unconditional. The reason why it was pay it forward because the main objective is to pass the goodness forward wholeheartedly. You need to influence others in forwarding it too. You need to do something worthwhile to others not expecting a return of the investment you shared with others through the act of kindness. Instead, you need to encourage the people to do the same thing not for you in return but to the others. When we lend a helping hand or when we grant a favor to anyone, let us try to keep away from the “utang na loob” that the Philippine culture is confined with. Trevor’s scheme was in fact to teach us that considering others, helping and giving when you do it sincerely, you don’t always expect of something back.

It seems that the biggest impact of the movie was to think about that you should not wait for what the others can do for you but to think about what you can do for others. We should all remember that everything has to start within ourselves; we should extend ourselves to others. What we can achieve as a whole starts with someone (and that is yourself) who is willing to be a part of that great achievement. Sounds very idealistic? Well, not anymore if we all, even with small things, have to pay it forward so that the networking begins.