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[Blog Action Day 2008] Poverty: A Problem Beyond the Material

Poverty, like love, is perhaps one of the most abused words. It is carelessly thrown around by people, most of whom do not know what it’s like to truly live in poverty. Millions of children worldwide are starving, and yet a few fashion-obsessed yuppies will claim that they are in poverty because they cannot buy this season’s coat from Balmain, or the stylish black, pointed toe pumps from Christian Louboutin. Others feel poor because they cannot have the latest gadgets or the fastest cars, eat at the best restaurants, or party at the hottest night spots as often as they want. Admittedly, I somewhat belong to this category.

Many people dream of living a grand life, and are blinded by covetousness and excessive desire for all things grand: shamelessly haughty in the face of widespread poverty. Ironically, this has been the norm for decades, and our beloved Philippines is no stranger to this. A huge percentage of the whole Filipino population could not afford to avail of their most basic daily needs, especially those in the rural areas, and yet dozens of shopping malls and entertainment centers spring up like wild mushrooms.

Imelda Marcos, the beacon of the ultimate Filipino dream of making it big, had personified and made this irony come to life. As the former First Lady and ambassadress extraordinaire, she had lived opulently in the hopes of being the masses’—the poor Filipinos’—star to look up at from their slums. She had tried to embody the ideal of beauty and grandeur by coveting thousands of shoes and hundreds of Filipiniana ternos, and erecting a handful of magnificent centers for Art and Culture. Imeldific, she truly was.

In the grand scheme of things, the Steel Butterfly was on to something; however, she had missed on a lot of things. She had the concept of educating the poor through visceral means, but she had never realized that it wasn’t enough to save them from damnation. What would have saved the poor Filipinos from slipping further down the poverty pyramid was more concrete means of providing better education and livelihood.

Education, the great equalizer, can save millions of Filipinos from darker futures by providing more job opportunities for them, greater bargaining power with investors, and higher-paying jobs. Perhaps the best legacy the solons of our generation can leave our Motherland is the improvement of the quality of education to give the poor a way out of poverty’s cruel maze. Similarly, providing livelihood for the poor will help them develop skills they can use in establishing small-scale industries in the future. Big dreams, yes, but only when we take small steps do we surely get to reach a dream.

Poverty, like love, does not need profound words or actions. Simple preventative measures and progressive actions taken in small steps together will help alleviate the problem of poverty. Now, where do we start?

*Sources of photos:

http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/archives/images/Tip.jpg

http://www.asianews.it/files/img/ASIA_Starvation_North_Korea_(300_x_225).jpg

http://www.piercemattie.com/jewelrypr/Imelda%20Collection.jpg

Beware of SCAMMERS!

Bored to death in the office, I was just browsing through blogs, looking at new shoes, celebrity photos, and ramp models du jour, when I got a call from this certain company. My cube mate who answered the phone informed me that it was one Hector Abaya (or Avaya) calling me on my local. I took the call and asked who was on the line, as I don’t remember anyone by that name. He reintroduced himself and then informed me that he is from Citylimits (or Citilimits), and that they are giving me a free VIP/discount card that I will surely love.

The guy was notably talking very fast (one common tactic of scammers!). He was giving me all the benefits and perks that I can get from this ‘discount card’ that his company promises will arrive in my office either through DHL or LBC, or some other shipping company. Not remembering to have signed up for such discount or privilege cards, I was already suspicious. Aside from that, I have never read or heard from Citibank about a ‘Citylimits’ branch, so I was doubly suspicious. The guy just kept talking and asking me questions. He then asked me if I have credit cards already, and my suspicion alert just turned to the highest level. I tried to test him, so I told him that yes, I already have two. If he is affiliated with Citibank, he should know this already. But no, he asked me from what card companies did I get them (and when), so I told him: Citibank (with emphasis), and HSBC, both of which I got last year.

On a roll now, he kept on asking me more questions: like, if I go on out of town trips, have dinner outs, and go on gimiks with friends. He even managed to comment on my voice by saying that I need to speak louder, cause I am very soft spoken. I was already getting irritated, so I kept asking if this is going to take longer. My patience just dried up when he asked me if I am still young, cause I apparently sound like one. Then he expertly diverted the topic by telling me more about the ‘benefits’ I will get from this card, when I finally said, ‘Will this take longer? Cause I am pretty busy with my work right now.” He said sorry, they’ll just call me up again, and then hung up.

Little did he know that I already searched Citylimits online, and stumbled upon websites that refer to Citylimits as SCAMMERS. He may be cunning, but I am smarter than he is.

Everyone, please beware of the companies who call you up in the office through your local or through the floor phone, or through your mobile number. I have suspicions that this Hector Abaya (I doubt that that is his real name), using the land line number (02) 728-7359, was referred by someone from a company I applied for a credit card at recently.

I cannot reiterate this enough, but please remember:

1. Do not give out any information regarding your credit cards. Never disclose the last four digits of your card number, and never ever the three digit security code on the back of your credit cards. (For ATMs, never ever give out your pin code.)
2. Do not give out any other personal details. Remember not to give out your birthday or permanent home address, and most especially never your Mother’s maiden name.
3. Always ask for the full name and credentials of the person on the other line and list it down. By doing so, you will be able to tell if they come from a credible company or are just scammers with evil motives.

I Love You in the Morning *

I am more than brimming with happiness, but I have never felt more speechless.

I came in 10 minutes late to work today, despite a huge effort to leave home early. Even worse, I left my badge and bin key at home. To get inside the office, I had to wait 10 minutes for a temporary badge and get hit on by the guy who issued it. Finally seated in front of my computer, I checked my email only to read a third party’s stupid clarification of a previous situation with a client. I composed an almost novel-like reply, as I couldn’t resist voicing out my side. Not having eaten breakfast, I was incredibly irritated already. I logged in to YM, and after a few seconds, my offline messages window popped up. An unexpected message just made my day: “hi! hon… happy monthsarry…. i love you… :*”. For a person of few words, that is already saying a lot. So I smiled.

I almost forgot that it is our monthsary today, but I have never felt more inlove.

Sunday

Heavy night, it was a heavy night

Feels like we’ve just, come back from the dead

Heavy night, it was a heavy night

I cannot remember what I said to anyone

If we get up now, we can catch the afternoon

Watch the under15’s playing football in the park

Let’s sit in St Leonard’s on this alcoholic day

We’re doing the best, with what we’ve got

I love you in the morning

When you’re still hung over

I love you in the morning

When you’re still strung out

I work hard all week and so do you

We deserve to let off some steam

Less orthodox creeping,

We need to rage through all of this life

There might be ones who are smarter than you

That have the right answers that wear better shoes

Forget about those melting ice caps

We’re doing the best, with what we’ve got

I love you in the morning

When you’re still hung over

I love you in the morning

When you’re still strung out

When I’m with you, I am calm

A pearl in your oyster

Head on my chest a silent smile

A private kind of happiness

You see giant proclamations

Are all very well

But our love is louder than words

I love you in the morning

* Bloc Party’s Sunday has never failed to make me appreciate how much I love you. I’m reminded of the Sunday mornings we spend together, just like how the song says it all.

Happy 14th month hon.

I love you.