Why Every Young Filipino Professional Needs to Rewatch 3 Idiots?

After rewatching 3 Idiots (yes, again—don’t judge), I was reminded that this movie isn’t just about three guys goofing off in engineering school. Sure, it’s packed with laugh-out-loud moments and wild antics, but underneath all that, it hits hard for anyone who’s ever felt the pressure to make their parents proud, ace every exam, or chase a version of success that sometimes feels more like a trap than a dream. It’s like the movie is holding up a mirror to all the stress, fear of failure, and expectations we deal with as students and young professionals—lalo na dito sa Pilipinas. (Caregiver (film), 2008)

At first glance, 3 Idiots looks like your typical coming-of-age comedy, but if you dig a little deeper, it’s actually calling out the toxic side of our education system and the crazy standards we’re expected to meet. (Kandula, 2020) If you’ve ever felt the pressure to pass the board exam or land that “stable” job (hello, family reunions), you know exactly what I mean. This movie gets us, mga tol.

The “Rat Race” vs. The Human Pace

We have all heard the line from the movie’s antagonist, Dean “Virus” Sahastrabuddhe: “Life is a race. If you don’t run fast enough, you will be trampled.”

For a lot of us starting out in the working world, that line hits too close to home. Parang may invisible scoreboard—if you’re not a manager by 25 or earning six digits by 30, parang talo ka na. 3 Idiots calls out this whole “rat race” mindset. It shows how being super competitive can turn learning into memorization drills and work into a daily survival game. (Roño, n.d.) Chatur (a.k.a. The Silencer) is basically that office mate who’s all about the numbers but doesn’t really get people. The movie makes us ask: Gusto mo bang maging successful robot, or happy human being?

Chasing Excellence, Not Just Salary Grades

Perhaps the most quoted lesson from the protagonist, Rancho, is this: “Pursue excellence, and success will follow, pants down.”

Here in the Philippines, everyone’s obsessed with job titles, certifications, and salary grades. (Filipino Values, 2023) Of course, we all want to help out our families and pay the bills, but 3 Idiots reminds us: if you’re just chasing the sweldo and not actually getting better at what you do, burnout is just around the corner. (More young Filipino professionals take on side jobs, report feeling burned out – Deloitte survey, 2023) Hindi pwedeng pera lang palagi.

Whether you’re in BPO, healthcare, engineering, or even the arts, the goal isn’t just the paycheck—it’s about getting really good at what you do. When you actually enjoy your work, when you stop just memorizing the manual and start understanding how things really work, suddenly, trabaho doesn’t feel like a punishment. Excellence is the only investment that never loses value. (Aguilar & Perez, 2023)

Breaking the Cycle of “Utang na Loob” and Fear

Farhan and Raju’s stories? Sobrang relatable. Farhan dreams of being a wildlife photographer, but he takes up engineering to make his dad happy. Raju, on the other hand, is so scared of disappointing his struggling family that he ends up relying on lucky charms instead of believing in himself. That’s utang na loob in action, Filipino style. (Gavino et al., 2021)

I mean, ilan sa atin ang kumuha ng course kasi sabi ng magulang, “may pera diyan”? Or stayed in a toxic job kasi ikaw ang breadwinner? (Valiente & Corpuz, 2023, pp. 1-10) The movie reminds us: yes, we should respect our parents and do our part, but we can’t keep sacrificing our own happiness just to make everyone else comfortable. Farhan’s talk with his dad? That’s how you stand up for yourself without being disrespectful. Real success is waking up in the morning without that big, heavy regret in your chest. (Roño et al., n.d.)

Conclusion

3 Idiots isn’t just a Bollywood hit—it’s basically a survival guide for anyone trying to adult in today’s world. It gets our worries about the future, but it also gives us that simple reminder: “Aal Izz Well.” Hindi naman ibig sabihin na mawawala agad ang problema, pero at least, may lakas ka na harapin ito. So as we go through our careers, sana we can be a little less like Virus, and a little more like Rancho—curious, brave, and always kind.

References

(2008). Caregiver (film). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caregiver_%28film%29

Kandula, S. (2020). 3 Idiots (2009): A Groundbreaking Critique of the Indian Education System. EyeCandy Film Journal. https://eyecandyfilmjournal.org/3-idiots-2009-a-groundbreaking-critique-of-the-indian-education-system/

Roño, C. S. (n.d.). Caregiver. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caregiver_%28film%29

(2023). Filipino Values. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipino_values

(June 12, 2023). More young Filipino professionals take on side jobs, report feeling burned out – Deloitte survey. Context.ph. https://context.ph/2023/06/12/more-young-filipino-professionals-take-on-side-jobs-report-feeling-burned-out-deloitte-survey/

Aguilar, M. V. & Perez, J. (2023). Family Functioning, Attitude Towards Parents’ Overseas Employment, Wellbeing, and Career Aspirations of Left Behind Children of Overseas Filipino Workers. International Journal on Culture. https://doi.org/10.63931/ijchr.v7iSI3.423

Roño, C. S., Martinez, C. & Castro, J. C. (n.d.). Caregiver. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caregiver_%28film%29

Gavino, R. M., Donato, A. M. & Panotan, G. V. (2021). The Concept of Utang Na Loob Among Filipino Working Millennials. Formosa Journal of Social Sciences 2(3). https://doi.org/10.55927/fjss.v2i3.4572

Valiente, R. M. & Corpuz, G. G. (2023). Factors Influencing Career Choice Among Learners in Southern Districts of the Province of Bukidnon. American Journal of Arts and Human Science 4(2), pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.54536/ajahs.v4i2.4343