Long and short of the bad news is, 3.8 million Filipinos or 700,000 million (sorry, my bad) families slipped below the poverty line in 2006. You know that creeping feeling that the poor is poorer and the rich is richer? That bitter taste in your morning pancake when you think about how economic growth is not trickling down to the poor? Here are the hard figures that prove it.
We now have a total of 4.7 million Filipino families who are hungry and can barely get by, as opposed to 4.0 million when the survey was last done in 2003. Government is blaming rising oil prices, calamities and low wages.
There is, of course, nothing wrong with the rich getting richer. You and I and our neighbor in curlers every morning would like to be in that group. But every time stragglers get farther behind, those who are in the getting there group, as Noet calls the middle class, get hurt too.
There will be less people who can afford the things or services you sell, there will be more people to support in terms of taxes needed for social services, there will be less persons who can invest in bonds, equities and what-have-yous and therefore the market that you invest in will not grow as much as you would want it to.
The more people slip below the poverty line, the more hunger, sickness, depression, frustration and crime. Some of you may think that’s like saying those who don’t have money are responsible for all the crime in the country. On the contrary, there was a time in my life when our family slipped below the poverty line and I would be the first to tell you that wealth is a state of mind. But accept it, when you can’t even earn $1 a day, no state of mind can comfort a stomach that had gone without food for two days or a parent whose son is begging to be fed.
My friend came back from an assignment in the province the other week and she shared with me how she felt when she had to watch a family of six eating half of a sardine and blackened rice for lunch. The family reserved half of the sardine for dinner. She still can’t eat well until now. As I said in a previous post, we’re all in this together and we all have to find a way to help more families climb over that poverty line.
The job is bigger than the government and it certainly is bigger than the Zobels and Cojuangcos of the Philippines. If we don’t do anything now, we’re all busted.
To those who are reading and not watching idly by the sidelines, my heartfelt gratitude and admiration. Share what you do and perhaps we might get more creative and more determined, to help 4.7 million families and make the Philippines a zero-poverty country.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:29 am
As expected, poverty will get worse and worst! Philippine economic plans is just always looking on a short term benefits. How selfish our govertment is.
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:48 am
Hello to everybody and thanks to our friend who already mentioned our ministry earlier.
The website is online now
http://www.shareministry.net
We started our feeding program last Thursday March 27. And also a doctor was around to examine the conditions of the children. Result: Out of 37 present children - 28 are showing signs of the primary complex and 80% are malnourished.
Please visit our website and share whatever you can .. thoughts, prayers, our website and finances.
God bless!
ShareMinistry
March 11th, 2008 at 8:33 am
my eyes are watery reading that story about how a poor family in the Philippines survive the day, how could a person even feels pride and dignity if his stomach is crumbling, i believe we are a nation of bayanihan, but we stop doing it after hearing how our government and politician use this fund to serve their own interest.
is it our culture? endemic in our times?funny fact but its true that juan dela cruz would skip meal just for a load(text). is it their fault too?
chicken or the egg?
Lets help the poor by providing them the very basic food and shelter, yes we the readers, not the government, these children need food period. water period. shelter period.
Ms salve you might want to open an online donation corner so your viewer can just click and give anywhere in the world.
just give period.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:51 am
I agree with the comments about curbing population control. If parents can’t provide proper food, shelter and clothing then why are they being allowed to have more children who will most likely have the same mentality as their parents?
I am a Catholic but I don’t agree with the stand of the church with regards to population control. Kung wala ka maipakain, di gumamit ng contraceptives. I myself have a hard time deciding on a second child, sure I can feed them but that’s not all they need.
Coming from humble beginnings myself, I think there has to be a change of attitude for Filipinos. People who are poor will remain poor if they just keep saying “buti pa kayo”, it should be kaya ko rin yan!” Each individual should try their damnest best to alleviate themselves and not just wait for a hero to come along.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Its because no one takes the blame and takes real responsibility. It’s always someone else who is at fault. Me? - no never. That kind of attitude.
My 2 centavoses: curb population and strengthen education. Sprinkle a bit of national responsibility too.
Oh and we should also ask ourselves, what are we going to do about it? Aside from blaming others.