By Louise Patrizia Dizon
2nd Consolation Prize Winner

The author is in Fourth Year, Section St Monica, St Scholastica's Academy – Bacolod, Bacolod City.

Do you feel incomplete whenever you leave your cell phone at home? Do you panic whenever there is no internet connection? Do you go crazy whenever you can’t watch a TV show due to power failure? Do you ever feel irritated whenever you leave your digital camera at home while on a trip? Well, I guess, I can say that it has gotten normal to feel such feelings whenever we’re ‘detached’ from the different gadgets and other forms of technology that have been playing important roles in our daily lives. Indeed, we’re already living in a world that demands the use of high technology. ‘Digital’ - this is how our generation is being labeled. We are living in a time when we can’t work or carry out tasks without the aid of gadgets. I, for example, communicate with my friends through texting. I also communicate with my parents abroad through texting, phone calls, and even online chat and electronic mail. As a student, I can be better with the help of the fast-search, one-click, easy-access internet connection which paves a broader way for more necessary information about given topics to students like me, also.

All over the world, the demand for higher forms of technology is undeniable. This is because of the fact that the modern world demands a lot from us in order to survive. Let’s be realistic. We cannot have things we both need and want if we do not work for them. We cannot work well without the help of these technologies. Who benefits from these technologies? Actually, the whole world! Everyone can benefit from all the good things the digital world can offer us if, and only if, we use them properly without forgetting our task as evangelists of God’s undying love for all. I personally believe that one good deed leads to the formation of a chain of good deeds.

So, how can we tell the world of God’s love through the use of these technologies? We have already realized from the beginning that these forms of technology have made everything easy and accessible for all of us, so the task of spreading God’s message of love for all will not be as hard as it sounds for us. First, we have to really understand that God’s love for us is unending and it is for all. His love does not choose, so therefore, we too must not choose the ones we’ll help.

Next, after knowing and understanding God’s love for us, we should take time to analyze the situation around us. Know the people who need to feel God’s love the way we have felt it. Since we have already witnessed God’s love, we can now begin to write about our experiences and share it to everyone through blogs and posts in various websites. Not all have the privilege of having computers; we have another option, which requires our willingness and dedication to serve. For example, whenever we roam around the city, we can take pictures of scenes that strike us most. I know none of us are very insensitive enough not to feel a pang of pity when we see homeless families on the streets or old beggars lying along the sidewalks. The pictures that we can capture can be put up on exhibition our schools which will help awaken those who are ‘asleep’.

We can look for websites that help those who have been abused or affected by natural calamities and search on how we can help them too. There are a lot of ways on how we can make this world a better place to live in. There are a lot of ways of letting others know how great God’s love for us is. There are a lot of things we can do in order to evangelize this digital continent. Evangelizing the digital continent is one huge task, but if we start it now and set ourselves as role models to others, together we can see the change we want to see. Every person will find meaning in everything he/she does in this complicated world. Every person will soon slowly realize that he/she lives not for himself or herself alone but also for others. The modern-day technologies are not intended to destroy the dignity of other people. We should always remember to use them in a way that can benefit people and not destroy them.

So, what are you waiting for? Go and make use of the privileges offered to you by this digital world. Prove that you are worthy of these privileges made possible through God’s gift of knowledge and skills.