I am not sure what sort of people now crowd around Pres. Noynoy, but I do hope they have the interest of the majority and especially of the weaker members of society in their hearts. Here's a start in helping them identify correctly how most Filipinos who are poor actually live.
1. They don't own a house and lot; they rent a place, into which more than half of their salary goes. If they can't afford to rent, then it is even worse. Don't get us even started on the utility bills.
2. They commute via public utility vehicles; they can't afford a car.
3. If not unemployed, they are restricted to applying for low-end jobs, and without backers too.
4. They eat canned sardines and instant noodles for dinner.
5. They source most of their clothes from the ukay-ukay shop. Sometimes, though, they'd rather die than be identified as poor, so they spend much on the latest fashion just to be in.
6. They can't afford to buy, or forego buying, appliances such as computer, refrigerator, washing machine, microwave oven, aircon, etc.
7. They can't afford other necessities basic to a middle-class family: college and higher education, hospitalization and health insurance, traditional lavish wedding and reception, respectable wake and funeral, etc.
8. They can't afford luxuries like family vacations/outings, fine-dining, the latest laptop, high-end cell phone, digicam, videocam, etc.
9. They can't afford to save money for the future. Their existence is most pitifully and involuntarily hand-to-mouth.
10. They numb their pain by killing their hopes and dreams and sense of compassion, if not indulging in vice and cheap narcotic. If they do dream, their foremost dream is to leave (and live and work abroad).
Thursday, July 01, 2010
Top 10 signs a Filipino family is poor
Posted by R.O. at 3:50 PM
Labels: Top 10 lists
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6 comments:
In spite of those, Filipinos seem to be a resilient lot, and mighty tolerant too. Super rich Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. In Canada, people are prone to depression, much like the rest of the industrialized first-world countries. I wonder what gives. Anyway, the tolerance thing can be a negative trait. For example, it seems we have tolerated wang-wangs and counter-flows and tongs as a accepted way of life. But not for long? Go P-Noy!
Yeah, faith is a trove of unseen resources (for strength).
In my opinion, resilience is our coping mechanism. People already lost hope and we are no longer frustrated (or sad, angry) about our situ because we no longer aim to be better. We think there's nothing we can do about it. So why bother dreaming for a high-paying job, a big house or a luxurious car? Live life to the poorest.
What a bright turn of phrase, JR: Live life to the poorest. That's a slave mentality, but can we blame the slave?
On a certain level, yes. The realization is to be made by the slave and not the oppressor.
Good point, JR. Noted!
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