When do we say, 'This is it'?

Of course when we have already given all there is to it in us, whether we are doing a project, or joining in a singing competition, or washing the plates, or scrubbing the floor.

Take Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson is a perfectionist performer, and his being perfectionist can be seen in the rehearsals for his "This Is It" concert, which was made into a movie instead since he could no longer stage the concert---forever. The King is dead. Vive Le Roi!

I haven't seen the movie, so pardon me if I rely on Queena Lee-Chua's accounts of the movie. (See Lessons from MJ 1 and 2)

"In the movie “This Is It,” " Lee-Chua said, "we got a glimpse of Jackson preparing for what was to have been his final tour in July. Though almost two hours, it was still an all too brief glance at what went on behind the scenes.

"We knew Jackson had talent, but the movie was an eye-opener. Talent apparently was not enough. Jackson was at the top of his game because he worked hard, extremely hard."

She said that Jackson say "This is it" only when everything is perfect already.

There is, however, something unsettling when Filipinos (well, not all, but some of us) say, "This is it," which is roughly translated to Filipino as "Tama na 'to." They say it not after giving their damndest best, but after exerting little or no effort at all. And they want to prove to the world Filipinos are world-class?

As my lolo (may he rest in peace) would say, baloney!