Holding Tight to That Manila Dream: Why Carol Burnett Was Right About Dreams

The Manila air, especially in the early morning, has a certain energy to it—a mix of humid warmth and the promise of a city about to burst into life. Walking through the vibrant streets of Intramuros, past the old stone walls and horse-drawn carriages, you can almost feel the weight of history and the light of a thousand new dreams. It's in moments like these that Carol Burnett's powerful words echo in my mind: "When you have a dream, you've got to grab it and never let go."

It sounds simple, doesn't it? Like a catchy little phrase you might find on an inspirational poster. But peel back the layers, and you'll find a profound truth that resonates deeply, especially in a city as bustling and ambitious as Manila. Here, dreams aren't just whispers; they're the engine that powers the city forward.

The Allure of the Fleeting Fancy

We all have them—those little sparks of "what if?" that flicker in the quiet corners of our minds. Maybe it’s the urge to finally open that small 'sari-sari' store you've always envisioned, the yearning to start an online shop selling your homemade 'pastillas', or the secret ambition to conquer the world of corporate finance despite coming from a small town. These nascent dreams are beautiful, fragile things. They whisper promises of fulfillment, of tapping into a deeper part of ourselves.

But life, as it often does, throws its curveballs. The daily grind sets in. The infamous Manila traffic eats up hours. The demands of family and a hectic schedule can make it so easy to put our dreams on the back burner. Doubt creeps in, whispering insidious little lies about our capabilities and our chances of success. It’s so easy to let those dreams slip through our fingers, like grains of sand carried away by the wind.

The "Grab": More Than Just a Gentle Hold

Carol Burnett's instruction isn't to politely hold onto your dream; it's to grab it. This implies a certain ferocity, a determined grip that acknowledges the forces that might try to pull it away. It means actively choosing your dream, acknowledging its importance, and understanding that it won't simply materialize on its own. It requires a kind of 'malakas' (strong) spirit.

In Manila, I see this "grabbing" happening all around me. I see the young call center agent spending their nights learning to code, the ambitious street vendor waking up before dawn to set up their stall, and the budding fashion designer toiling away in a cramped apartment. They are all facing challenges, rejections, and moments of sheer exhaustion, but they've grabbed their dream, and they're not letting go.

This is the spirit of the Filipino people—a resilience forged in facing adversity. It's the same spirit that makes us navigate floods and traffic with a smile, the same spirit that sends us overseas to work so we can provide for our families. That same fierce determination is what it takes to grab a dream and hold it tight.

The Tenacity of "Never Let Go"

The second part of Burnett's wisdom, "never let go," speaks to the long game. Dreams rarely blossom overnight. They require persistence, resilience, and the ability to weather setbacks. There will be days when doubt screams louder than your inner voice, days when you feel like giving up and retreating to the comfort of the familiar.

This is where "never let go" becomes crucial. It's about cultivating a stubborn belief in your vision, even when the path ahead seems foggy. It's about learning from failures, adapting to change, and finding new ways to keep your dream alive. Think of the countless artists who faced rejection before their work finally found an audience, the entrepreneurs who pivoted their businesses after initial stumbles. Their "never let go" spirit is what ultimately propelled them forward. It's the Filipino concept of 'tiyaga' (perseverance) in its truest form.

Finding Your Manila Sparkle

Living in a city as vibrant and dynamic as Manila can be both inspiring and overwhelming. The sheer diversity of talent and ambition can sometimes make our own dreams feel small in comparison. But Burnett's message is deeply personal. Your dream, no matter how big or small it seems to the outside world, is valid and worthy of your tenacious grip.

So, take a moment. What is that flicker of "what if?" that lives within you? What is that Manila sparkle that catches your eye and whispers of possibility? Don't let it fade. Don't let the noise of everyday life drown it out.

Reach out and grab it. Hold on tight, even when the winds of doubt try to pull you away. Cultivate the resilience to navigate the challenges and the unwavering belief to keep moving forward. Your dream, that unique spark that makes you, you, deserves to be seen, to be nurtured, and to ultimately take flight.

Because as Carol Burnett so wisely reminds us, the power lies not just in having the dream, but in the unwavering commitment to never, ever let it go. And in a city brimming with possibility like Manila, that kind of tenacity can take you further than you ever imagined.