Erico Joseph T. Canete

Editor’s Note: Erico Joseph Cañete is this newspaper’s expert in the field of philosophy. His monthly column appears every last Sunday edition of the month

NIGHTBIRDE’S EXISTENTIALISM

I HAPPENED TO WATCH NIGHTBIRDE, Jane Kristen Marczewski in real life, as she performed in the 16th season auditions on America’s Got Talent (AGT) in 2021. Her euphonic and angelic voice that mortalized her song ‘It’s Okay’ crowned her with a standing ovation as Simon Cowell pressed the Golden Buzzer. 

Sad, she was unable to compete in the quarterfinals due to her infirmed condition caused by cancer. 

During the post-performance interview with the judges, she made a humanistic inspirational statement: “You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy.”

This statement made me wonder about living, existing and dying. 

Her song ‘It’s OK’ is an expression of her innermost fears, insecurities, pretensions and denials in life. That’s normal. That’s how to be human. But the paradox is, finding herself amidst all these, it led her to a realization that: “It’s ok. If you’re lost, we’re all a little lost and it’s alright.” 

Sometimes, it’s ok not to be ok. Disputable? I don’t think so. 

Nightbirde knew that she had a limited time fighting for her last breath considering the ninety eight percent chances of getting closer to her grave. She knew that in a matter of time, satisfying the fundamentals of desire, the seeking, the finding and realizing the fruitlessness of all possessing, would end. 

If I may borrow the thoughts of Benito F. Reyes in his book ‘Moments Without Self’, I realized that Nightbirde saw something in between her unconsented birth and unpermitted death. She saw a light that was precariously sandwiched between these two interminable enigma. She made a decision to be happy despite of being at the brink of grave. She celebrated life for she knew she did not have eternity. Life for her never came from an unknown origin with an unknowable destiny after she made a decision not to wait for an easy life in order to be happy. Definitely, she taught us that life is not a loneliness from the womb to the tomb despite all the odds. 

She did not only live but above all, existed. And though she died on February 19 of this year, she existed before she died and successfully explored the meaning, purpose, and value of her human existence. 

Finally, another revealing attribute of her existentialism was finding meaning in her pain and in her suffering. She made a union with Victor Frankl’s thought: “The greatest meaning one can have is to find meaning in one’s suffering.” 

Long live as you exist and immortalized in the highest heaven God has prepared for you, Nightbirde! 

Humanity’s gratitude to you for living a life bigger than your own small world. Thank you for your authenticity and inspiration!