What I have realized after watching Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon

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Disney released its first Southeast Asian animated movie this year. People were excited to watch this movie, especially Southeast Asian people, including me. We are still stuck in the pandemic situation, so this movie gave us temporary relief and hope.

For me, the plot of this movie is very timely. In the movie, the people were divided and humanity fell because of Druun, the evil spirits, who turned people into stone. I want to reflect that on our current situation today which humanity seems falling but hope keeps prevailing.

The story started with the young "Raya", who is the next guardian of the Dragon Gem, from the land of Heart. She was trained by her father, Cheif Benja. Although the Chief was known to be the top guardian, he has a very kind heart. He wanted to show Raya that Five Lands could be united again.

After watching this story, I have seen the realities of our world today.

First, when people were living under the guidance of the dragons, they lived harmoniously. They were very secure that they were all safe and there's nothing to be fearful of. Until the plague surfaced and washed all those securities. People became mean and selfish. In the movie, Raya said, "People are people". When we face threats and fear, we instinctively become selfish.

Remember when Covid-19 started, Asians had received too much hate and discrimination, and even isolation. Discrimination and racism resurfaced, although they have been here before the virus started, they become stronger.

Second, Raya and Dep la's friendships turned to deceit. As humans, we also possess this vulnerability, that leads us to be hurt in the end. We have this innate nature that we immediately believe and fall to simple good words and deeds. I hate to admit but I, too, am too shallow. We expect that when people share some of their secrets, we are also obliged to share ours. Who to blame? We are taught to be kind to people who show kindness to us too. I am not saying that we should not be kind to everyone, but I am saying is, we have to choose the right people. Sure, you can hear praise and received gifts from those people, but you can't pray for them to stay the same. I know this kinda hard, even for me, but we have to change because we are living in a changing world. I don't know exactly how, but we'll figure it out.

I should not fail to mention the deceiving face of Noi, the baby of that movie, who turned out was also a con. Even Raya didn't expect that angel-face would steal from her. So, deceit comes from all faces, from the obvious ones or from the innocent ones.

Lastly, Sisu's never-ending trust. When Sisu was awakened, she still believes that all disputes and disagreements will be healed through offerings and gifts. However, Raya who has been experiencing the agony of the people, knows that people have already changed. She instructed Sisu not to follow her to the house of the Talon's chief because people there are all bad and deceitful, and they can never be trusted. However, confident as she is, Sisu didn't listen and went inside the town to buy gifts for the chief. She followed an old lady who claimed to know where the chief is but only found out that she was just trapping Sisu and threatening her that if she didn't tell her where she could find the other gems, she would really leave Sisu stoned by the Druun. After this incident, Sisu couldn't believe that that weary and old lady would really kill her. She was really sad about it.

However, Sisu didn't lose hope in humanity. She still trusts people. For me, Sisu symbolizes that tiny light inside our tired hearts. That in spite of all the pains, struggles, betrayals, and lies that bruised and broke our hearts, we still hope that there are still people in this world who also care about other people.

let me give you an example. In the Philippines, a community pantry has been helping many poor people. One concerned Filipino opened a small pantry outside their house and asked people to get whatever food they want from the table as long as they really need them. Sadly, there were two women who selfishly took all the food and tray of eggs and cleared out the table. They all received hate and backlash from the people, some think they deserve it, some were indifferent knowing that they may be compelled because of these difficult times. But, this sad event didn't stop other people to continue doing this good deed. Even, more people opened their own community pantries nationwide.

We still need to trust our own kind. We still need to hope that in spite of these difficulties and trials, at the end of the day we should still care for people of all races.