A REAL ESTATE PICTUREThese weren't here in the '70s...What's going on?
The photo above, thanks goodness, was not taken in ASINGAN..
And you are absolutely right, there was nothing like these in the 70's. It's actually a tragic commentary on the way we, as a nation, have gone to the dogs (with my apologies to dogs). Things that were considered taboo just a few years back, have now settled into the national psyche as perfectly normal. A tv documentary even featured a once prominent, now retired comedienne living in the family mausoleum - right on top of her dead husband's tomb. And they make it appear as if it's a cute act of love and fidelity. The few who could see through the guises could easily recognize that as a desperate act of survival. It's one big act of swallowing one's pride in order to survive – doing loathsome things just to stay alive.
In the same breathe, we can also mention other things that hitherto are unacceptable but has now become routine to Filipinos. It is now perfectly alright to support one's family through jueting despite grand official denials that it exist. We no longer frown at Filipinas going to Japan to work as cultural dancers though I'm not sure that we have cultural dances that call for thongs. We admire that smart dropout who could, by some trick, slow down the electric meter so that we can consume all we want while paying only the minimum while the rest of the bill is charged to the community. Madiskarte is what we call those who can cheat, lie and sweet-talk in order to put one over others and to maneuver their way to almost anything. We hold them up as examples worthy of emulation. And those who follow the rules? Well, we also have kind words reserved for them. Mahina ang loob. Just a bit more subdued versions of bobo or tanga. And the children are admonished, "Huwag niyo siyang tutularan." If a congressman builds a mansion, (not to mention maintaining a harem) and acquires a fleet of 4x4s and SUVs – things he could not do before his term - he is envied and idolized… surely an act for the children to follow. So what if his just salary could only afford a modest bungalow and a basic saloon? It is just but normal for him to accept gifts and demand commissions. I know that this list of absurdities could go on and on.
Is it the poverty which causes this degradation of values? Or is it the other way around – our distorted values causing this vicious cycle of impoverishment?
Back in the 70's, we were also very poor. But our impoverishment is only on material things. We were never short on dignity and self-respect. Back then, hope for a better life was never in short supply. Now, there is only acquiescence to cruel fate. Resignation to a lifetime of sub-human existence is written all over the faces of the poor. And they are desperate to the point of losing their humanity.
So how did we manage to lose our mores and values in such a short time? Well, children live what they see - from their parents. And, much similarly, people live what their leaders do before them. If a president could solemnly promise not to run again but run anyway, if a president could wantonly disburse public funds to buy votes and call it presidential duty, if a president could lie through her teeth with denials of vote rigging despite damning taped evidence, if military officers who expose election fraud are court-martialed while perpetrators are promoted, if a house of congress could hide the facts of cheating behind curtains of technicality and call it victory for democracy, if dissenters and journalists and ordinary folks could turn up dead and the government dismisses them as collateral damage, if these politicians who robbed us all blind are yet still addressed as honorable, if people could live without sense of revulsion in the enclaves of the dead while authorities turn a blind eye, if we keep laughing our head off for each idiosyncrasy and every foible in our society … then it is alright and normal to do most any perverted act.
Dont expect the poverty to go away in the near future but we can become famous yet - by landing the most entries in Ripley's. Believe it or Not.
Have a good day.
2 comments:
We have forgotten what is more important in life. We have been too busy chasing the material dreams and competing with our neighbours. It sadden me to see a young beautiful Filipina who would marry any foreign man regardless of age and race for the sake of getting out of the Philippines. I am not questioning the validity of their love for each other but I know that more often than not, the only reason for the marriage is the promise of salvation from utter poverty. We all do what we can to survive the trivialities and rigors of life, but my God almighty, must we reduce ourselves to indignity in order to get out of poverty? Whatever happened to pride and self-preservation?
Deedee
While not absolving the govt of his failure of his program as CARP and housing, we must also look at the people's attitudes as a cause of this poverty pervading the country.
Because I have seen many who have been given free land, and house and lot, yet after receiving the papers, they sell them. I know it goes back to poverty as the reason, but I think we can agree that part of it lies with the people.
family planning is tainted because it is equated with contraception and abortion and morals. When in fact it is even promoted by most churches, only that natural methods is used.
But what is going on? The poor are more likely to have many children, as they said wala kasing mapag-abalahan sa gabi kundi yun, kaya ganun.
Now, there are some who say population is not the problem but the distribution of wealth, that if we use resources wisely we can feed the whole earth and many more.
That might be true, but that is near impossible. Resources always are scarce vis a vis consumers, that is the number 1 assumption in Economics.
certainly it is better for two kids to share a galunggong than for seven to divide it.
while it is good to have many children, it is also imperative that you can feed those kids. It's like acquiring a pet dog , you have to feed it, and the time to care for it, otherwise dont get one.
Why we persist in reproducing people when we know we cant feed them is I think a case of wanton irresponsibility, putting pleasure over health one time too often.
we know we cant do a china's one child policy, but if worse comes to worst that China may be good to emulate. For the greater good. That time hasnt yet come, but it sure is in the horizon. economic prosperity may be had via good leaders and minimization of corruption, but simple arithmetic also tells us not to get 4 pet dogs when you can only feed yourself.
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