On POVERTY in the Philippines

I just came from my Formation class. It's a unique subject here in my dearest Ateneo and yes, from the name of the subject itself, we students are being honed and formed to be good and God-fearing citizens of the Philippines. Hence, as our school promotes, we must be men and women for others. On our meeting today we have discussed poverty.

Well, it's not that mysterious and a baffling subject for most of us. Poverty is apparent and prevalent. anywhere one goes, his eyes will never fail to notice street children and street adults who are begging for money, food and for compassion and understanding. One can even see families in parks sleeping together not because they are on a picnic but for the reason that they don't have even  a land where they can put up their walls and a roof for a shade aside from the services given freely by trees and the public park.This is really really sad. Notably, they thrive on establishments where the rich people go such as shopping malls, banks restaurants among others where only those with affluence of money could go.

But, what to do? It's not. their fault to be in situations like that for sure.

Sometimes, it is really inevitable for me to think of not helping them and just ignore them. You see, they must also work  and not wait for the bayabas to fall just like Juan Tamad have once done. It would just create more problems of sloth and negative complacency of those marginalized people in the society. Hence, they would be the biggest kind kind of parasites if we continuously spoon them with their needs. What happened to Filipinos being branded as "masipag" and "matatag". Where's now the attribute named "self-reliance"? Nothing would change if the poor themselves do not work for their own good and not ask for alms all the time.

On the other hand, Filipinos are known for the " Bayanihan". We help each other in times of need and distress.But please, let's help ourselves first and fill up the different kinds of poverty that we are facing. To those crocodiles out there, contemplate and remember what your purpose out there. You are not there for fame, nor for wealth. You are there because we have put our trust in you to manage our general resources efficiently and effectively for the good of all. For development. For prosperity. For a comfortable life. Perhaps, those individuals who innately have hopes are now hopeless because of prevalent corruption, of self-interest. Let JUSTICE reign. Let the people get what's due to them.