As I wrote on Monday, Feyma and I spent this past weekend in GenSan. One thing that I enjoy when we go there is that it gives me a chance to talk with family members that we don’t get to see often. One of the people that I always enjoy getting together with is my niece, her name is Love. Love is a school teacher. She started teaching school in a private school in Banga, South Cotabato. The school she was teaching at was Notre Dame.
A year or two ago, Love decided to move back to General Santos City. She is planning to marry later this year, and her fiance lives in GenSan. He is also a teacher there. So, Love moved to the City, and that meant that she had to find a new teaching job. Just recently, at the beginning of January 2009, she started a new job. She is now teaching at a rural public school in General Santos City. The name of the school is Aspang Elementary School.
Over this past weekend, I had a nice chat with Love, and she was telling me a lot about the school where she is teaching now. As I said, it is in a very rural part of GenSan, up in the mountains past the Airport. Love told me that it takes her about 2 hours to get to where the school is. The only way to get there is on a motorcycle, because the terrain is not passable by a vehicle. Perhaps some kind of 4 wheel drive truck could make it, but for her, it is riding on the back of a motorcycle.
Love is teaching 1st Grade, and she has 50 students. There are only 4 teachers at the school, as it is so remote. Can you imagine, 50 students in a single class? But, this is life in a remote Philippine school, particularly a Public School. The people that live in this area are Lumads, or natives. They are of the Bla’an Tribe. The parents of these kids are virtually uneducated. Few of them, if any, have any kind of job at all. Love told me that the families provide for themselves by going several times per week to the City dump site and scavenging the garbage there, taking anything that might be of some use, or any value at all.
The worst thing, though, that I heard from Love is when she told me about the lunch that the kids have. They have a small amount of rice, and their main course (viand as they call it here) is soy sauce. They will have a couple teaspoons of soy sauce as their main course. Can you imagine? I can’t even imagine living like that. Is it by choice, or just the circumstances that these people find themselves in? I think, personally, that it is a combination of the two. Certainly, if these people are healthy enough to pick garbage at the dump, they should be able to find some kind of work? Maybe not, though. Whatever reason that the parents cannot provide for them, I can only feel bad for the children, because it is certainly not their fault.
Love went on to tell me that some of the kids don’t even have tsinelas (flip flops, sandals, thongs, whatever you call them). They walk up to 6 kilometers (about 4 miles) in bare feet, each way – to school and back home.
Of course, we all know that the Philippines is very poverty stricken . But, when this is shown to you with pictures, and graphically described by somebody who has actually seen it, it really hits home. As most of you will recall, during Christmas Feyma and I regularly go out and give gifts to poor people in remote areas, but when I hear this, it makes me sad that I have not done more.
I want to visit this school someday and see these kids. I am told that not only they cannot speak English, they cannot even speak Bisaya. They mostly only speak Bla’an. Love told me that the first line of attack for the teachers is to try to teach these kids how to speak Bisaya, so that at least they can understand their teachers.
I asked Love if the kids usually stay in school all the way through High School. Her answer? “No, they usually get married after Grade 6, and quit school.”
Love also told me that the school does not have any electricity.
I like Soy Sauce, but not as my main course. How about you?
Hi Bob. I cringed at the statement: "I am told that not only they cannot speak English, they cannot even speak Bisaya. They mostly only speak Bla’an. Love told me that the first line of attack for the teachers is to try to teach these kids how to speak Bisaya, so that at least they can understand their teachers."
I know the teachers and the Department of Education are meaning well…and I don't know the answer…
But I wish it should have been the other way around i.e. the teachers learning Bla'an…….
This has happened in Bukidnon already the Manobo tribes (in the name of progress) are fast disappearing and so do their language (dialects).
This a world-wide phenomenon. Indian and Eskimo tribes here in the U.S. are trying hard to preserve their language. I'm afraid it's a losing battle….
Hello Bob,
I grew up poor… And yes, soy sauce and oil were our main course. “Soy sauce & oil mix with rice” ‘till adulthood I still love soy sauce over my rice.
I have a lot of compassion with these children, I knew what they went through, and I feel their pain.
Last year, You & Feyma gave away gifts to less fortunate families. Please count me in, I’m not rich but I’d like to help….
Bob,
This is a great story and I'm now feeling very sorry for those children not because of being poor per se but rather because they are stuck in a vicious cycle of poverty from which they are unlikely to escape to to their cultural traditions.
Also, Eating only soy sauce doesn't sound so great, Ive known people who drank a cup of water before eating so they'd more easily get full, ate rice in water with some minimal flavor added, ate kangong on daily basis that they gathered in vacant lots, went to jungle on daily basis to gather what they could for dinner (usually kamote and such), fished for food, ate rice with soy sauce on it etc etc but never a person with only a table spoon of soy sauce on its on, that's sounds really terrible.
Kinda reminds one how lucky westerners do have it really because regardless of what the press says about the economy at present time fact is the beggar in the street earns more than 80% of the worlds population and anyone who can not survive can receive government assistance which puts them living at a level far above the quality of living in many nations of the earth.
Truly nice article.
Justin
Thank you so much Bob. Our lives we’re unexplainable sadness, heartaches, but I don’t dwell on it. The most important things are where I am today, and thank God I am blessed with beautiful family. I love my country “The Pinas” and never forget we’re I came from.
Thanks’ in a million Bob.
Bob,
I would hope that any such situation on our soil would lead to revolution and changes brought about from the fruits of said revolution. I really have no idea what would happen though. I am often in mixed feelings about such situations because on one hand it depresses me greatly to see people suffering, hurts me worse to see others suffer than to suffer myself really , but on other hand I'm a firm believer that poverty is more of a choice than a irreversible fate.
Justin
You know Bob, it's a dream charity activity for me to give away slippers to children who don't have any. I guess because I am a little guilty bec my kids have a lot of slippers. (I don't! 🙂 ) When you hear of stories like this, it pinches your heart and you feel a welling up of compassion for these poor kids. If you plan to do a Christmas charity for these kids, count me in!
Bob,
Reminds me of a story about a man from Butuan, fellow was a native tribesman, I believe manobo but I may be wrong , uneducated to point he I'm told had a third grade education, was a fish vendor on the sidewalk, anyway fellow was sharp and got into logging, used to paddle himself up river and only cut logs riverside as couldn't afford a motor for boat nor trucking, over time his fortunes increased and being super sharp the fellow expanded, fast forward, fellow died owning one of largest cement factories in Asia, a large logging business, vast real estate holdings and a political dynasty that still reigns over agusan norte and sor to this day. I don't know but my belief is if a will exists then a way can be found but maybe the people have simply resigned to thinking their poverty is due to fate and due to such bahala na thoughts have simply resigned to accept their poverty as fate and have thus lost the will to fight for self betterment.
Justin
Yup, I wish I could see these kids too. Seriously Bob, I meant what I said about Christmas donations. I love to help these kids, this time it would be in Mindanao area. I donate charity thru CFC (Combined Federal Campaign).
Just let me know….. Thanks again.
Bob what does a teacher get paid for doing that, from what I understand it is not much ..? I've made a donation to my wife's school and it takes 3 hours by motorbike .to get there too , we will visit it when I move to the Philippines …Phil n Jess
I am always dismayed by stuff like this. It is digusting and I am disgusted. I have a solution to this. It's called BIRTH CONTROL and in countries like the Philippines it needs to be a priority over religion which is so frivilous and ignorant in 3rd world countries. Singapore got it right!!!
Steven,
There is birth control in Philippines and its not illegal, can be readily had through a OBGYN but if person doesn't have or doesn't want to spend money the barangay health clinics in most cities give away free birth control in both pill and depo form, they will even go to persons home the administer the shots often times, whoever has no birth control in Philippines simply has not because the want not.
My thought is large families are also do to tradition , culture and lack of social service programs for the poor. I mean in old days people had kids to work on farm or to participate in family business, more kids equated to more free labor and more free labor equals more money. In modern times I feel its cultural and feel its still somewhat of a economic decision because the more kids one has the odds get better with each live birth that one of kids will either be a success or go abroad to send money home and support parents, sounds bad but its my belief that its logical thinking in a nation that offers limited Social benefits to the very poor and elderly and as such family becomes the nations welfare and social security systems.
Justin
Thank you for that and I agree with what you outline to a degree. Nevertheless, more needs to be done and the Church could be that conduit. Instead of being the culprit which it truly is. How is a poor person to know about birth control when they can't read or write. THE CHURCH!!!
Steve i understand your view but it is one of a tainted view, what you see before you is not what it may seem. Its a form of social security for poorer people. Have enough children and thiers a good chance a few of them will do well enough to take care of you when your old. Its how most of the world is.
Hi Bob!
I am proud to say that I had the honor of visiting a Bla'an Chief and his wife on our last visit home. They told us that they are working on having a huge amount of C.A.R.P. land returned to them. The paperwork has already been approved in Manila but the local officers keep getting attacked delaying the process. I hope that they will be able to prosper once they have some land to work. We all had a good laugh when the Chief's wife told me that if I lived with them that I could have as many wives as I could support. Marie mentioned that my hospital bills would prevent me from supporting more than one. Since they offered me a spot to build a kubo I told Marie I would keep a place there to hide when she is mad at me. I really enjoyed talking and sharing cokes and crackers with them. I think that if there was a stronger effort to help the peaceful native people there would be far less support for the militants.
If you decide to buy slippers or something for the Bla'an children you can count on us for a contribution. Marie and I have talked about cooking food once a month for the school children in our barrio. I can't wait until we can do that. I was very poor growing up and I always remember the kindness shown to me during that time. I had a teacher take me shopping for clothes at her expense when I was in the fourth grade. I will always remember the compassion of Mrs Roberts and have always vowed to pass on the gift.
Hi Steven…..You know what, Filipinos are deserved for what they believe, Its not religion but on what God teaches us, Ireland do not believe on artificial birth control either but yet they are not as poor as my country is, I think its how to educate the poor people, how to plan a family and everything, you know? So don't just judge the book by its cover as they said…..I think its the govement who should do something about the poverty in philippines, I grew up in big family we are seven but yet we survive and we are happy as family, i knew my aunt who have 12 children but all of them are professionals, as in graduated in college so as you can see, its not all about religion, its how you educate the poor community to plan for a family…………..so please don't ever look down my country Philippines……..!
Steven
The conditions that you speak of take place all over the world, not just the Philippines. It seems a bit disrespectful to me to belittle a people and their beliefs. It is nice that you think have all the answers to society's woes. Maybe now you can give advice on a live in Sudan blog.
Like you, Bob, I love soy sauce especially Kikoman, but not as a main course. It breaks my heart to hear their story. Unfortunately, they are at the bottom when it comes to the Philippines government's priorities. I hope we could do something for them.
Thanks for sharing that with us, Bob, and I do enjoy reading your blog.
Hi Bob!
This article really brought back memories when I was teaching 3rd grade in a very rural area in Cotabato. I had 60 pupils one year needless to mention I provided my own classroom with blackboard, asked the parents' help to provide chairs for their kids in my class, shared books because there's not enough to go around etc..etc! The situation was obviously not conducive for learning but I made the best of it! I remember on multiple occassions buying lots of "banana cues" and gave it to some pupils who had to sacrifice breakfast because there's not enough food at home. I thought, how can one learn, when the very basic physiological need isn't even met?
It is very difficult to argue against religion and all its evils especially in a country like the Philippines. It is one of the few remaing catholic countries in the world but a big one. I am sorry but I find religion evil and since most of this countries population practices some form of Christanity is falls prey to the Church and its impractical teaching. I can only lay blame on the Church for the misery and suffering in this country. Instead of firing people up it keeps them down and complacent allowing rampant corruption and easy forgiveness. I laughed when Cory forgave that crook President Erap. He should have rotted in jain. But no. The philippines is about forgivness. Horse kaka. Bob is correct in saying the Church does not endorse birth control but that is exactly the problem. The church encourages procreation to its own selfish end. I personally feel the Church is for losers but that is for another discussion in another place out of respect for Bob's great LIP site.
Hi Bob
Usually I have the cold dark heart of a cynic ………….but when it comes to kids I am lost. I come apart at the seams and my heart aches for them.
Sooooo….if you decide to do a "flipflop for kids" thing let me know I will gladly be a part of the project…..
Regards
Tyleen
Hi bob,
Your article reminds me when i was a young boy, my family is not rich, i could say we are just below the poverty line, we barely survive everyday, I strive hard to lift myself and the life of my family, being poor and being "well", I'd say i've been in both side of the world.
I am not bashing the poor people here, it is just my observation and opinion
There are people who would say that being poor is a choice, well for me, it's kinda yes and no,
it is a yes, because there are people who are already poor and still continue to make a baby as if they don't mind having a new mouth to feed, you've been there for more than 9 years and i am sure you are aware that the "poor people" are the one with big family, they cannot feed their family, they cannot send the children to school and in the end, the number of poor just increases exponentially. The middle working class people tend to have a small family because they are aware how hard it is to send a child to school not unlike the poor people who is not working, they simply don't have any idea about it, for them making another baby is just an additional mouth to feed and nothing else.
it is very ironic because every time there's a protest on the street, the poor people are the ones leading it, they are the one who is disrupting the economy, they want the government to give them support BUT they are also the one who is not paying taxes, in other words, they complain a lot and blame the government for being poor, every time they protest, it disrupts the economy, investors go away, job become scarce, more lay-offs, less people pay taxes, therefore less government funding for them. i.e. social service, education fund etc..etc..
I don't believe that you can be poor for the rest of your life, and i also don't believe that the government should be blame for it. the government provides a free public school, i don't see why poor people would say that they cannot afford to send their child to school, i remember when i was in elementary, i walked 2 kilometers just to attend school everyday, i don't have lunch money, all i have is a piece of bread or small amount of rice or sometimes none at all, i used to hide behind a tree during lunch because i don't want my schoolmates to see me eating just rice. I finished school without government financial assistance (except the public school i attended), we are 10 in the family, and thanks god, we are all doing well, my mother is just a plain house wife, and my father is an electronic technician, my father's income can barely feed us all and we are lucky if my father bring home some snack ( "pasalubong") from work.
Life is very tough for me when i was a kid, I put my muscle to work when i was just 9. I would say i am almost half-way to my success, I dont' consider myself a successful man until i see and witness my children and their children's success in life, when that time comes then i could close my eyes and would say "i am a successful man raising a family)
Hi Bob – This was a very touching article and I thank you for that. I, too, want to be a part of helping out those who are less fortunate. I was happy to have contributed towards the Christmas giveaway. Now let's kick it up a notch, eh? I like Cathy's dream of the slipper charity. I also share the same feelings described by Tyleen Reynders by being a sucker for kids. So put me down as a future contributor for the Mission of Slippers (and anything else).
Steven..think about this…if its the church who has failed ( in referrence to your population problem) then why is China a non-catholic country THE largest 3rd world country with a the most amount of people on the planet?? I repect your opinion but the culprit you preach ( no pun intended…well maybe a bit hehehe)
as the demon is the wrong one. Education is always the key, of which the church is not the really responsible for but usually a goverment agency. This is as I said before not a religion problem but a social problem, common in every third world.
Henry, ur a good guy.!!!
I'm somewhat astounded that there are those that would attempt to explain the reasons for, and possible governmental (or other) solutions for oppressive poverty affecting little children. This is, after all, a story about children, and the struggle, through no fault of their own, to survive in the only way they know. I'm especially amazed that one writer simply decided to attack a religion, and blame all of the poverty on "the evil church". Others would want to point out how poor they were, and how fortunate they are today. Good stories, but they provide no direct, immediate help to, or for anyone.
Let's all forget those thoughts. This story is, and should be, about what we can to to help the innocent. We (the readers) can't help everyone, but certainly we could band together as caring human beings and do something for the children of this unfortunate Lumad group. Bob, please organize an effort such that the readers of Lip can do something definitive: let's all contribute so that perhaps 100 pairs of shoes (sandals? flip-flops? – something !) can be purchased. I would also suggest a couple of hundred pounds of rice to be distributed (to be sent home with children that now have something on their feet) to the families. I'm more than sure that your niece can figure out an equitable way to distribute this help.
I'm willing to put some money where my mouth is here, and really can't imagine trying to "solve" the poverty of the entire Philippines. But just imagine if those that were able could give something that would lift those without up just a small bit.
Let me (us) know how we can make this happen, Bob.
Hello,
I don't understand one thing. Why do people think the government has the ability to magically fix poverty despite the government not even having enough money to , well run the government? Governments of the world depend on tax collections to run the nations and since most spend more than they bring in they are flat broke and way in debt, the Philippine government is no exception and may be a bit worse than some governments as the tax system well pretty much sucks both in terms of collection and redistribution. There are many reasons for this.
Also, Why do people think the poor are to blame for protesting when they do it for pay and not for free? Way it works is you create allot of signs, and either pay protesters directly to carry them or give money to barangay captain to distribute to the paid protesters depending on situation, in the end you end up with a ready made protest full of pseudo activists who don't even generally understand what they are protesting but serve the political agenda of the organizer since they are being paid more to protest than they'd ordinarily earn in a day.
Also, How can one look at education as a key to escaping poverty in a nation that is over educated and under employed. I mean jobs go to who has connections and not who's best qualified and this tribal kids would in all probability be unemployable for several reasons and possibly never even see a ROI on their educational expenses, sad but true. I mean must remember its a nation where nurses volunteer for years in exchange for a pittance allowance that is generally only enough for snack and fare and they do this in hopes they can get a job if eventually someone dies or retires. I don't see education as a answer.
My opinion is nation would benefit greatly from incorporating basic economics and money management courses into the school curriculum. Also, Should focus highly on developing a industry within each city to which the city would eventually be known for as industry employees people and betters lives. I mean its a sad situation when many politicians find answer in trying to figure out how to get more people to go overseas and send money home rather than spending energy developing a viable industry for their area in which people could be employed.
Regarding religion, My personal belief is religion gets falsely blamed for many social ills in the Philippines, I mean on one hand people say the Filipinos are to conservative due to catholicism to use birth control, but on the other every major city has a hubo-hubo bar or two or a hundred as well as a casa or two or a hundred all of which operate rather openly and without protests and many pinoy men with money have a kabit for every 4tphp of income. I don't know but just seems religion is more of a convenient excuse than a reason in regards to explaining poverty and other social ills.
Justin
hi bob,
several of my nephews and nieces is in public school, there is a small amount they need to pay, like 150 pesos for some miscellaneous fee and that can be paid anytime during the entire year and that's about it, in makati city, the public school is *totally* free, even the books, bags, notepads and uniform are all free and the student receives some amount of money from the makati government,
poor people do not need to be lectured on family planning, you don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure it out, you don't need the church to tell you what is good or not, you don't need a social service to lecture you either, what i am saying is this.. if you are poor, then don't get married yet or don't make a lot of babies, it is very simple solution to a very simple problem.
if you will think about it, the help that are coming from NGO's and individuals actually making the poor to be lazy, the intention to help is good but the result is bad. the more help there is from different group, the more poor people will rely on it, why work? if somebody out there is willing to shell-out money? the poor people would probably saying "people are generous, and willing to help poor people, let's go and make more babies". the more family members, the more help will come in.
there's a chinese saying
"give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime"
i do believe in that saying, why give food or money? give the poor something they can use for lifetime. like i told you, i was once poor but i never rely on someone's help,
a scholarship grant would be your best way to help the poor, or a livelihood program, if you organize something like that you may count me in.
There's nothing quite like being a conditional giver, eh? We are speaking of little children here. Those far too young to understand even simple philosophical drivel. Those that are without basic human needs (shoes, food). I don't really think that those children think much of scholarships when they cut their feet on sharp rocks, or they're stomach is literally hurting from hunger. As adults, all the readers of this site understand the overriding need for education and learning to fish (sic). But I would hope none would exclude themselves from giving for the immediate purpose of providing a critical human need (food) in the face of helpless, abject poverty. I hardly think that any will be accused of being enablers in this case.
poor people would take every chance to abuse the generous ones, no doubt that i will extend my utmost help to the children *who* are abandoned or not capable of making their own living, but poor children who still have a living parents and the parent who can work and chose not to, that is a different story. the problem i am seeing is that, I've seen many times, many groups who helped poor people by feeding them, giving them basic human needs and time and again, they always fail up-lifting their situations, would you not be a conditional giver if you knew poor people will just abuse your generosity?
Spencer,
The government does help the indigents of the Philippines as they qualify for things other people don't, truth is many would rather walk around with indigent papers asking for cash than to go get work. Anyone in the Philippines can find some form of work, may only be a day labor type job but still is a job.
When we lived in Mindanao a tribe routinely came to city and sometimes tried to trade fruits for clothing but other times just went around begging in the streets. If government extends their ancestral homeland they just sell it away to loggers very cheap who then strip log it, in end they get left with nothing but worthless land.
Regarding giving food, I have little sympathy for a person who lives in mountains and has no food because moutains grow food and are capable of growing more, if they went through indigenous affairs and coordinated a effort with DENR and Department of agriculture they could possible do it with either no or limited out of pocket expense even.
Philippine folklore includes story about a fellow named Juan Tamad, he was really lazy bloke who instead of getting mango out of a tree just laid under the tree with his mouth open waiting for mango to fall in his mouth , in the end he laid there until he died of starvation.
Regarding education, Just because they are educated in no way equates to obtaining certain gainful employment in the Philippines, have met many poor and unemployed folks who are educated. By gainful employment am speaking of kind that affords one to live rather than to survive, very diffrent things.
I don't agree with public education being free though, not in Philippines nor America. In Philippines the teachers don't get addiquit budget and often pay out of pocket to run off test papers and etc of course they generally pass these expenses off to their pupils who are very poor, in end the students quit because they cant afford this nor the uniforms and etc., even fare to and from school. Truly the educational system is deplorable in the Philippines and there are teachers on all levels who are extortionists and are experts of extorting their pupils out of cash, cash the students simply cant afford to pay.
Justin
Where is Dan Evans?
Datu Dan Evans has done it: http://www.datuwalimission.org/
He will be an excellent resource person of what works and what is a waste of time and money.
Cheers.
In the area of manila, there are many slums, the poor people was provided with housing, the philippine government spend hundred millions of peso for the urban-poor, many of the poor got the house and sell them once they have the title, few months later, you will find the same poor people squatting again, we call them the "professional squatters", in the area of tondo, try to walk early morning and you will find people drinking alcohol or children who are gambling on the side of the road and women gossiping the entire day.
Justin,
In makati city, if you are a resident there for at least five years, you are entitled to a free school supplies, in the entire philippines makati has the best public health care, if you are a senior citizen of makati city, you are entitled to a 50% discount on medication, free or discounted bus ride, free cinema and all other free or discounted services. the current mayor of the city is loved by the people, although there is no doubt there is a corruption in the city, he still provide basic services to the people, not unlike in some other city or provinces, the fund doesn't reach the people, it ends right into the pocket of their leaders.
In mandaluyong city from where i am from, my mother can avail similar services, we have a few science public high school which are also free.
things could be different in some provinces as their tax collection and funding from the government is limited. I can't really say that there is no free education in the philippines, you may not aware of it, but it does exist.
Dan,
I never knew that about Makati, in Butuan the public school students had to purchase their uniforms, supplies and even test papers. I knew quite a few kids there who quit because they couldn't even afford fares to and from school. My wife went to science high in high school but graduated from a Montessori school.
Even at college level in Butuan it was a bit deplorable as the teachers where highly skilled extortionists. Not surprising though as could readily buy a diploma for right amount of cash, I know several folks working in American hospitals on diplomas purchased at BDC in Butuan city. The school staff there where true extortionists though as they forced students to buy tickets to functions at the students expense, forced students to buy uniforms and shoes from the school despite they could buy them cheaper outside the school earned great money of this as I know where they bought the merchandise and what they paid the shoes really sucked but student had to purchase them although the could buy better ones after being forced to buy the marked up ones that the school paid 140php for but sold at 750php. School also forced students to buy t shirts during intramural at very marked up price. On top of this some of the teachers forced students to buy "special" t shirts and pencils in order to be able to take tests and then sold them the tests as well. If student failed wasn't a big deal as teachers would sell grades to failed students and if student simply skipped a semister wasn't big deal also as a little cash in school registers (Mrs. Libres) hands would readily allow student to pick up where they would be if not skipped a semester or so. Some students organized a student movement, collected evidence, collected signatures and submitted it to CHED but needless to say it was to no avail and CHED officials helped up to talking only.
Regarding medical care, The old and poor could get free health care via philhealth for indigents but it was inferior health care at best. They could either go to City or Provincial hospital. Provincial was really disgusting place due to corruption and City hospital was located so far in the boondocks a person could die getting there but was at that location due to who earned money through the scam which sold the land to government. Really was no good hospital there, Butuan Doctors was probably the best but even it was inferior even by Cebu or Manila standards and 50yrs behind times by western standards. For real emergencies people with money chartered helicopter to take family member to Cebu for treatments where they have much better medical fascilities.
Justin
Bob,
I agree, actually you said what I was thinking. I do believe the Philippine Government could use their funds to generate employment opportunities through livelihood programs and incentives to bring in large industry.
However, I do not think the Philippine government could magically fix poverty by simply providing for the poor as its my feeling they would not have the funds to do that due to the magnitude of the numbers involved. I mean to adequately feed and cloth a person if multiplied by the amount of people who need such help would present a huge sum of money.
Justin
…………….I respect you Bob but its kinda strange to hear from you tellin us that Philippines is a strange country but yet you are living there………About stevens saying that Catholic church is all the root s of all the poverty problems, i disagree with that, I am a devout catholic and as far as I know my church is pro life, and yes I respect for everyone's opinion, as you respect my opinion too……My husband is not catholic, he goes to another church and every year they go to Nicaragua, south of United States ,a country that is poorer than the Philippines, and we donate things for them to carry going there, you can see the kids digging on a dump area looking to sell something for food, and even living as like blaan have, the bahay kubo, the main thing is we never blame the church because they taught a wrong method of life thats why they are suffering from poverty.
…………………..Maybe instead of blaming all the problems to just one person or the goverment or on the church, we better do something, not just words but actions…………………….Wish foreign people who try to live in my country Philippines will learn to love and adopt my culture as i try to love and adopt the culture here in United States, as what my American husband says, wanna live here, pay your taxes, speak english, obey the rules, and don't fucki'n bi****…….!
…………….I respect and thank people who helped a lot for my country, specially to the poor kids so all i can say is keep up the good work!
Hey Bob, I respect you for all the help to my country, I know you have a great heart for having a chance to this website to tackle some of the Poverty issues there and helping some of the poor kids who can't even afford to buy tsinelas or slippers, the main thing who got in my nerve is when somebody is saying that its because of the church and all the political issues whatsoever, Its not directly to you but the issue itself okay? I am sorry if I sounded like directing on you but its not it, okay?
…………………I just don't like when people try to sounds like being an anti religion or anti Christ, when it comes to issue like birth control……but anyway, thats there opinion maybe, i can't do anything about it, we are entitled to our own opinion, we have the freedom to say what's in our mind, so I apologized if i sounded like rude, I don't mean too, my husband and I go to church, either in Catholic or in his church who had done a lot to also help some of the poor kids, Catholics done so many charities in the whole world for poor people so i hope they will give credit to that….I graduated there at the Holy Cross of Davao College there in Davao city, so you would understand where i comin from a catholic belief………………!
…………….Anyways, just stand by my beliefs thats all!
Hi Joy – We are all entitled to our beliefs. Steven is just as justified to stand by his beliefs as you are. That's what freedom is all about.
Take care.
Bob,
Here is Aldel again telling his sad story. Last week I commented about learning life lessons as a newly arrived immigrant to the U.S. So let me take you you back 40 years. Soy sauce and rice was actually a step up for us. Leaving in a town with no refrigeration, TV, and cars, it was very common for us to eat lunch with just rice and salt. When my mother had the time, she would grate some coconut just to break the blandness of having just rice. If I were to rank our choice of meals (from lowest to highest quality), it would be something like this:
1. rice only
2. rice and salt
3. rice and grated coconut
4. rice and soy sauce
5. rice and dried fish
6. rice and sardines
7. rice and fresh fish with vegetables
8. rice and meat
Most meals consisted of items 1 thru 5. Even though I have done well, I will never forget how I got started. I never look down on the downtrodden and I try to help others whenever I can.
Hi Aldel – I am happy that you were able to overcome diversity and achieve success in your life, you should be very proud of that.
hi bob,
the "give a man a fish" thing is not in the bible, although, many verses mentioned fish in the bible, but never that one, it is a chinese proverb (lao tzu), somehow the proverb is often used or connected to the parable of good samaritan.
anyway bob, are you organizing a "quick fix" solution or the "long term" solution?
Hi dans – I stand corrected… I thought that was in the bible, but was wrong.
I am not sure how I can make a long term solution with limited resources, including the amount of my time I can spend on this. As I said yesterday, though, it is something I want to think about for a few days.
I consider anyone from the Bla'an tribe having rice with soy sauce for their meal very fortunate not pitiful. They have been living a very simple life in the boondocks since time immemorial. I don't consider them poor if you're going to compare them with average American family with $8,000 credit card debt, $69,000 on real state mortgage and $10,000 consumer debt who are literally living on borrowed money/time (me included, mortgage debt only) and have to enslaved themselves for the rest of their life to pay off their debts, too much stress. Some people succumbed to the pressure and killed their entire family. 🙁
While the Bla'an people only worry is where to find the next meal! 🙂 NOT!..Camote are plentiful where they lived at, fruit bearing trees abound, they can plant vegetables and other crops near their houses. I cannot pity these lumads because they've chosen to live a life void of modern day conveniences. I'm sure some member of these folks have gone down the mountains and join the mainstream in seek of progress.
Back to rice w/ soy sauce, pitiful? not…if anyone wants to find out what the real meaning of pitiful and poor go to youtube.com and search "PAGPAG" (tagalog word for dust-off, dust it off) watch the videos about this subject, its not only pitiful its SHOCKINGLY PITIFUL! I got angry after watching the videos, I want to punch somebody in the face from the Philippines government specially the corrupt ones. It’s the lowest of the low, people scavenging for food like stray dogs, like rats like wild animals. Don't worry about them though, help is on the way from the Philippine government :).
How about blogging about PAGPAG, anyone? I'm willing to send donation to help this people specially the children…
Hi Bob,
Maybe you take a residance at that village for a few months and live and eat like the locals and everyday you walk to the school on foot. You might be forced to find some solutions when you are one of them. When you return home, you will be all muscles and more handsome. Then we will call you "Tarzan of Davao".
Hi Bob- I am interested in your early comments that you think "poverty is a choice".
I dont know if you have written on this subject in the past, but I am very interested to learn more about what you mean.
Obviously I have a wife who has clawed her way out of poverty, (eating rice and salt ) , but she is the only one from her large family to do so, so would be interested to have yours, and your readers opinion on this subject.
Keep up the good work Bob, and best wishes to you and your family
Hi Bob and Anthony. If there are no kids involve, I'll choose poverty anytime.
But as the great Cebuano philosopher, Esteban Escudero, once said: "Pobre o dato pareha ra pero mas maayo gyud kung may kwarta ka".
(Let me see your Bisaya. Translate it for Anthony, Bob) 🙂
A+
Kamusta ka Bob,
I have been contemplating on what my response to this article would be. There are many peoples around this world of ours in this situation.
As for searching for short term fix or long term fix…its obviously not an easy fix..or else it would have been done already. But of course, any help would be great for these people.
Of course most of here can't imagine this kind of life, but also, these kids don't know anything else right now, so maybe they think it is normal. But of course the older they get the more informed they may be.
It was sad to me that these children usually don't go past a 6th grade education, and think about marriage at this time. But I guess that also happened here in the USA as well…..my grandfather only went to the 6th grade, but only to be able to help the family by working. This was around 1918 0r 1919 when he left school to work various jobs in Washington, DC.
I really have no answers to this problem, other than to help educate the elders of this tribe, and the parents of these children, and let them know, that there can be a better or should I say a different life out there waiting for them.
Thats all I have to say, with out actually seeing more for myself, and hearing more about there life there.
Daghang salamat ,
Danny
Kamusta ka Bob,
I understand what you are saying, and yes your right. Ignoring the situation would not be the answer either, and the choice I wouldn't make. Especially when it comes to the childrens welfare.
There are many little things you can do for them, that will help them in many ways. Like providing them with shoes, clothing, things for daily hygiene and educating them about these things. Also, like someone said in a post, teach the adults about farming and using the resources around them to feed there families.
Just some thoughts,
Danny
Lol..Bob, me too…I know very little about it as well..especially in the Philippines, but I guess what I meant about that was, that people from the Dept. of Agriculture could help them with those kind of things. I am not sure if they do those types of things there in the Philippines, like they do here in the USA.
Thanks Bob,
Danny
HI Danny – I do believe that the Dept of Agriculture here has programs to assist people with farming and such. I just don't know much about it, though.