The documentary depicts the grim fact that the media has been deriding for so long- poverty. The film also shows the street-bound Filipinos struggling for survival amid the hardships and unemployment status they are into. Jay Taruc made himself experience the life along the streets of Metro Manila by joining these individuals as they find ways to resolve hunger and earn a living in every matter they could.
The documentary features the ‘pag-pag’ or the left-over foods which the Filipinos inhabiting in the life-threatening roadsides crave for just to ease their appetite. Rotten meat or to be more colloquial- “batchoy” was likewise revealed for their dinner. Those who live in the streets tried the best of their luck to rise up from the valley of poverty by doing desperate things like child labor and even risking their lives to plead for leftovers from sorts of carinderias and even to some fast food restaurants along the busy highways.
Truly, this is a very huge blow towards the administration at that time. Even until now, poverty rate is at its peak and surveys and statistics show that everyday, things get worse as for every 10 Filipinos, 4 to 5 individuals could not manage to eat breakfast, lunch, merienda and dinner. Others look onto it as ‘AlTangHap’ (Almusal, Tanghalian and Hapunan) , an acronym referring to a meal that will satisfy an appetite for the whole day, it is the layman’s term for breakfast, lunch and dinner in one which really explains that some of our fellow Filipinos are not able to eat at least three times a day. These cases will eventually lead to illnesses especially the leftovers which remain unhealthy for a diet due to the contamination of harmful microorganisms.
The expository clips really caught the actual events that could explain the effects of corruption and the misdemeanor of the government. Numbers, lines, tabular presentations and other elements of economics will never ever deny the facts and these entailing information should be recognized by every citizen to make a move and fight against the worst-case scenarios brought about by incessant inflation and hunger. It is highly recommended to have documentaries like these to serve as an eye-opener. Needless to say but the scenes vividly revealed in Jay Taruc’s award-winning documentary will be a great help to make us realize that the Philippines is undoubtedly drudged into trouble and abyss of false hopes for a brighter future.
Isn’t it ironic?
This documentary was even applauded in various international conventions for documentary clips and films, as a matter of fact, it even won an award but despite of the cheers and the praises that we brought back home via this documentary, it was undeniable that the whole world still laughs at us and even foreign columnists denigrate the exposed situations on the Philippines’s urban scene.
Relating this to Filipino Psychology, it was great however that the Filipinos at the abyss of poverty could still survive by innovating some ways to find alternatives for life preservation. However, two of the most admired traits of the Filipinos are being resourceful and resilient but should we be ever proud of it in perpetuity? One day our street-bound fellows will become tedious and will also build hopes and dreams to rise from the bottomless pit of poverty. As a matter of fact, what the country needs is appropriate allocation of resources to provide employment and food and drugs to the unfortunate ones. We had undergone multiple forms of administrations beginning from the Pre-Hispanic Era up to the current Aquino Administration but all things are just the same. It felt like we are just living in darkness and false hope covered the whole society emptying the dreams for a brighter future. We Filipinos are really resistant or matiisin by nature but this Filipino psyche should not be the basis for us to stop aiming for a better community. It is pride boosting but at the same time, puts our own life at risk. It is really uncertain where this ‘resistance’ can bring us.
Speaking away from the hunger factor, the title itself makes sense. The garbage became the primary resources of all the Filipinos of the lowest class. For them, this is the source of living and can be considered a contributory factor.
Ridiculous as it seems that having tons of garbage in the metro cause stress, sickness and hazards to environment but how could this be a threat if it makes a living to the majority of the Filipinos especially in the marginal class? Can the Filipino Psychology still consider the adage, “may pera sa basura?” Can the poor last for longevity?
These are the major questions that the documentary leaves for us to answer. Life in the Philippines
This is being humanistic that an individual is an autonomous organism that nobody could resolve his or her dilemmas greater than himself/herself. With the external aid, only the Filipinos can have that ultimate power to find absolute solutions to the crux of the matters that the nation is facing at present.
The society in general is concerned with this matter, the experts and leaders have the utmost power to change the dire image of the raped nation. To sum it up, we are all responsible for whatever will be the outcome of our dear country for the next couple of years.
Aside from the negative side that this documentary showed, it is better if we could get learning points from what is currently happening to our weary nation and the rotten governance of our politicians. Let’s stop being ignorant. Some Filipinos tend to ignore all of these shameful situations because they are not affected and participating in campaigns against corruption and pollution is like a fire-and-brimstone sermon to them.
The aim of Filipino Psychology as seen in this film is actually to predict and change the Filipino behavior that could lead the society for betterment and access to prosperity. Another is to reestablish our identity which is full of unnecessary and not-so-nice ideals. Although we could reconsider the traits and beliefs of a particular Filipino, it would still be good to make adjustments and adapt principles that could take away the traditional methodologies we are used to.
Prior to being aware of the effects of corruption, political feuds and unabated inflation, it will be wiser to think first of the thoughts of man and his or beliefs that make all things possible as it seems. We became too submissive to the ideas of others. Most of the Filipinos conform to their fellows’ philosophy. What we have to do is to start thinking first what thought or idea is suitable depending on the form of government and leadership we have. In-depth analysis of the Filipino behavior is entirely needed for this matter.
There is no need for a siege, no need for another revolution, only an adjustment to our way of thinking and adapting new ways for arriving at the point where resolutions can be best achieved. Judgment and analysis make it innovative the psychological way.
Should we do this, a more prosperous nation can be ours for the taking…for at least in one point or another, it is never too late.
No comments:
Post a Comment