Poverty in the Philippines

          When people speak of poverty, the things that go through their minds are most likely the informal settlers or the “squatters” that wander around the streets of the Metro. Day to day, people give but little care to them and, most of the time, act towards them like they were some kind of lesser beings like animals (Most often than not, I am sure that the pets we have at home receive better treatment and more love than them.). 

          Most of the time, people act as if they don’t see or notice what is happening in our streets and quite sadly, even the government can do very little to stop this because of mismanagement and corruption. The result is that in all the years this issue has been revived, poverty has never ceased no matter what or how we try to resolve it. It sort of feels like an impossible problem that could not be resolved when people think about it, the issue of stopping poverty. I am quite sure that even each and every one of us here is guilty of not helping these people, what goes through our minds is that we often think of syndicates or “mga sindikato” are the people responsible for putting them in the streets or another is that they put themselves there in the first place by not focusing on school, doing wrong things and being lazy in general. 

          When we think about it, maybe these people were just born at the wrong place at the wrong time, thus resulting to this happening. The kids on the streets begging for food, I’m sure, wants to go to school. The young girl we see that has plenty of children should not be blamed for her ignorance to each one of her babies, she simply had nothing better to do and this is the only means of enjoyment they have. Some of these stories I know from people who I have talked to during immersions I have had in the past. Many of them are stuck in the dogma of that life and I am sure if they had a chance to escape it, they will. The main problem is they lack education on the how and hopefully, we can do something about it.

   

          The very reason why everyone chooses to ignore it the best way they can is that they think that nothing can happen already or it is hopeless for something to change. If we continuously believe that nothing good will ever come out of this, then nothing good will, but if we believe otherwise, that something good may arise, then it most definitely will. I myself have doubts while this blog is being made that something would actually happen. A mere dent in their lives coming from us will make them feel as if they have won the lottery. Therefore, I see the importance of keeping the ball rolling to keep striving for change and give them a shot in having better lives. 

          Just think of all our efforts and the difference we can bring to our country once we can overcome this situation and change their conditions for good and the long run. It would be a much better sight for us in our country and even towards the outside world. If corruption can stop or, even in the slightest of chances, be lessened (something that would be quite a feat if it would actually happen), our government can dedicate a bigger percentage of the budget to education so that the people will have sustainable livelihoods, searching for jobs for people to increase their productivity. This is return will generate a much bigger GDP and GNP figures for the Philippines which simply means that we, the citizens of the Philippines will have more jobs and in effect, more money, and at the sliver of chance we get to eliminate this problem, we will start seeing the difference that may happen to our country.