When a mother makes her children drink a bottle of toilet bowl cleaner and then drinks the same poison herself afterwards, is it the mother’s fault, society, or government’s?
Is she to blame for not finding another way to put food on the table when her construction-worker husband cannot send home money, or is it the fault of society that is apathetic to the plight of people who are suffering? Or can this sin be placed solely on the shoulders of the government, for the failure of its cash subsidies and other fixits to bring hope to the poor?
I remember hurting this way when Mariannet, a young girl, hanged herself last November 2, 2007 because she was desperate about life itself.
I am not a stranger to poverty. I know how it feels to see a single parent worry about where to get money for the next day. There is no security; no hope. What if your toddler’s hunger brings you to the tipping point?
I don’t have the answers. I’m also not fond of pointing fingers. I just know that something has to be done. And just as I know that we can’t all save the world from cavities, maybe one good deed for others and one intelligent personal finance deed for one’s self tomorrow (we can’t help others if we are not standing on higher plane), could make a difference, if done by 1,000 people all at the same time.
26 Responses to “Tipping point of poverty”
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Pages: « 6 5 4 3 [2] 1 » Show All
September 11th, 2008 at 9:13 am
i totally agree with reyna elena:
……but the Church is dead wrong in its population policy and worse, the government or may I say, the administration is just kowtowing with what the Church says.
if a family has only one fish to divide among 3 people, they are less hungry than a family of 6.
September 11th, 2008 at 5:16 am
Sometimes poverty is a choice. I have nephews and nieces whom we sent to some of the nicest schools to have a better life. It’s a given. All Filipinos knows these cycles. Unfortunately, either we’ve cuddled them too much or they splurged way too much and ended up with teenage pregnancies, not finishing school, out of job, getting (un)married to another individual who pretty much have the same life story. End game? (Un)married with kids, no work and living day by day out of dole outs. Me? I’ve pretty much ignored them out of anger and resignation. I’m sure they’re learning their lessons now. I hope they won’t do the same exercise with the linked story, otherwise, I have my own share of blame. But at least, as the song goes and even my parents would agree with me.. “I did my best, but my best is just not good enough, so here they are poor as a bumblebee”.
Every country in the world has their poverty problem. Believe me, I’ve lived here in the United States long enough to have seen the worst but also experienced the best and even be part of it. And I know that at least the government is attacking the problem with so many social programs. As a matter of fact, I worked (past tense) for the 4th largest housing agencies in the United States. We build low-income housing units targeting the lowest income brackets of the society. In return, the United States government gives us housing tax credits that in turn, we sell to investors who partners with us in several of these developments.
It does not stop there. We have Community Centers, Kids Activity Programs, and even for Adults (not the x’s), it’s the whole 9-yards. Heck, we even have music recording studios in our Community Centers. We offer a lot of social programs. We give them career development, education, job trainings, assistance in small business and many, many other programs essentially to assist them to be productive in the society. In turn, the lower rentals and to a point free utilities helped them to be out of poverty.
The Philippines is unique given that the Church is one powerful voice and personally – and I know and I don’t care if I earn some condemnation from your readers (Hahaha!) – but the Church is dead wrong in its population policy and worse, the government or may I say, the administration is just kowtowing with what the Church says.
Poverty is one tough bloody evil to fight. It requires a combined and united effort from all fronts. The government, the Church, the school (education), the NGO’s and the population itself.
So, let me go back to your question – who do we blame?
Personally, I blame the parents. I blame the government. I blame the Church. I blame Education (or schools) and finally, I blame the population for believing misinformation campaigns on population controls and politicizing them.
Sorry Salve, nag-mukhang blog entry! Hehehe! Reynz of http://www.reynaelena.com
September 11th, 2008 at 4:35 am
I have been blogging regarding the overpopulation in the Philippines, after reading that the current birth rate in PI is about 25.2 and the death rate is only about 5,4 per 1000. Economist have been predicting that if the birth rates and death rate remain the same, in 20 years the Philippines will be an economic disaster zone. I have been urging our government officials, churches and private organization to start educating the poor and uneducated in the Philippines, via my blog , http://economicdisasterphilippines.blogspot.com
I hope something positive happens soon.
September 11th, 2008 at 1:44 am
Suicide is never rational. It is almost always a result of clinical depression, and no, I am not talking about just being down. I am talking about a clinical, biological, chemicals-out-of-balance disease. Yes, we can use this case to discuss bigger political issues but we shouldn’t escape the fact that this mother was clinical depressed. She was sick and needed help. In our rush to pronounce on the politics, let’s not forget her and her child’s humanity. She was sick, depressed, and no one helped her.
As for whether society or the government is responsible, I say “It’s the same question.” Society has responsibilities. Governments are just one form that society takes, one tool it (we) use to solve our problems. Sometimes we come together and form families. Sometimes we come together and form churches. Sometimes civic groups, friendships, or basketball teams. And sometimes we call ourselves “government”.
Our governments (national to barangay) have no responsibilities independent of society. Governments are merely a tool, a means, for us to solve our problems. The question is not “Is it some government’s responsibility?” But “Is it our responsibility and is one of the governments the best tool for us to use to fulfill that responsibility?”
September 10th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Im a mother of 3 children too, its heartbreaking to read news as this,desperation could have probably lead this mother to do such.
Saving them from further sufferings? of hunger perhaps? we will never know..
talking is useless without any action,and that i think is the only thing the philippine government is doing
teach people how to fish not give them fish
in other third world country international microfinancing helps the poor to fend for themselves.i wonder if there’s one in the phils