When we hear the word “number,” mathematics often comes to mind. Some numbers need to be added, subtracted, multiplied, or divided. But if we look closely, numbers are not only involved in math. They seem to be silent companions that give meaning to many things. 

For example, in meetings and organizations, quorum is important. It is a number that indicates whether a sufficient number of people are present for a decision to be official. If the number is insufficient, no action can be considered complete. In other words, there are times when an idea is not good enough; there must also be a sufficient number of people present for it to be recognized. 

In school, there is a numerical grade. It is just a number on paper, but sometimes it becomes a measure of hard work, perseverance, and dreams. A 95 can bring joy, while a lower score can bring regret. However, as we grow older, we realize that a number cannot describe a person’s entire personality. 

Many talented, kind, and successful people are not measured by grades alone. 

In the field of politics, numbers are also often discussed. For example, the average term for a senator in the Philippines is six years. At first glance, it is just a simple number. But in six years, there can be many laws, speeches, debates, and decisions that can affect the lives of millions of citizens. Six years is not just a length of time; it is also a measure of accountability and public service. Numbers are also important in the judiciary. When the Supreme Court makes a decision, it often counts how many agreed and how many disagreed. The number of dissenters or justices with a different view may be smaller than the majority, but that does not mean that their opinion is no longer valuable. In the history of law, there are times when what was once a minority view later became the basis for new interpretations. So sometimes, it is not only the quantity that matters but also the content of a position.

But I also side with social sciences and philosophy professor Ric Cabantac when he said: “SC decisions are by the numbers.Dissenting opinions don’t count.” It’s his response to a social media quote card featuring a losing dissenter-magistrate’s position that the International Criminal Court “has no jurisdiction” over Sen. Ronald dela Rosa’s case. Kulang sa numero sa Kataas-taasang Hukuman. Ngunit iyon ang nakapangyayari.

I also request news (read: nakikibalita) of the quality of the discourse and celebration of the 128th Philippine Independence Day from PAARV President John Irish G. Lira. Dr. and Mrs. Lira, colleagues at the Philippine-American Association of Roanoke Valley, and Embassy officials will highlight “freedom, future, history” at the cocktail reception on the June 12 occasion. 

It’s over a century of historical milestone but our independence is maturing, instead of completely matured. With geopolitical and territorial struggles, the Philippines also has rotten political products—high-ranking officials at that—who take the strong but wrong side of China in its losing judicial claim of the West Philippine Sea.

MISTAH SA PELIKULA, MISTAKE SA PULITIKA

There are also numbers that cannot be avoided because of politics. For example, the term of a senator is six years. For others, it is just a normal length of office. But for those who are not convinced of the quality of an official’s work, there are times when six years seems like a very long time. That is probably what some critics think when talking about the “bad boy” of Mistah and other Filipino action films, Robinhood “Naka-Senator-Judge Hood ” Padilla. 

Since Filipinos are naturally cheerful, jokes about personalities in the Senate are not lacking. Some even say that no matter how many hairs are left on the head of Robinhood’s favorite Senate colleague, it is better to accept it with full confidence than to wear a wig. After all, in public service, it is not the thickness of the hair that is measured but the thickness of the contribution to the nation. Sometimes, it is easier to count the remaining strands of hair than the laws that have truly improved the lives of the people.

There is another number that we often ask when we meet someone new: age. How old are you? This is a common question in conversations. But as time goes by, we discover that age is just a number. Some people are young but already very rich in experience. There are also older people who remain energetic, curious, and full of dreams. Age is a number, but it does not fully describe the vitality of the mind and heart.

This month of June, I am thinking more and more about the importance of numbers. A birthday is also an annual addition of another number to our age. For others, it is just a simple celebration. But it can also be an opportunity to look back on the past year and ask ourselves: What have I learned? What dreams have come true? What more do I want to achieve for my family, ministry, humanity?

Numbers are markers on our path. They are important because they provide scale and order. But they are not the whole story. The real value lies in the experiences, decisions, and memories attached to each number. So every time we see a number, we might ask: What story is hidden in it? Because often, the most important part is not the number itself but the life it represents.

It is interesting to think that in various fields—school, politics, courts of justice and ball games, organizations, and even in personal life—there are always numbers with us. But even more important than these numbers are the stories hidden behind them. Quorum is about participation. Grade is about learning. Term is about service. Majority and minority votes are about commitment. Age is about the journey of life.