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Buto’t Balat (reflection for theology)

December 13, 2008

As I was eating my lasagna and drinking my cup of tea at San Francisco Coffee at El Pueblo, I saw this little girl outside the coffee shop holding a plastic bag. She looked tired and hungry. I wanted to give her something to eat but she was gone by the time I got a pack of skyflakes out of my bag. It was so ironic how I was drinking my expensive coffee while this kid was trying to find some leftover food to fill up her stomach. This got me to recall the documentary we watched the other day. 

 The documentary Buto’t Balat hosted by Kara David focused on the living conditions of some of the people in the Philippines. In the documentary, a family from Mercedes, Bicol was shown. They did not have enough food to eat that they would eat plain cooked rice in order to fill up their tummies. The money they have is only enough to buy rice, coffee and sugar. All these things would ensure that their tummies will be filled. However they do not get the nutrition that they badly need for their bodies to be able to function properly.

Another family’s breadwinner was a fisherman. He could not buy the fish he would catch because they cost much higher than what he actually makes. Because of this, his 2 year old child’s weight is only equivalent to that of a 3 month old baby and his 14 years old child’s weight is only equivalent to that of a 2 year old child.

Another family relies on a pedicab driver for their daily sustenance. Because of the rather small amount of money he can bring home, they can only live on 30 pesos a day. A little meal like a 7 eggs and rice would be shared by the whole family of 7 children and 2 adults.

This documentary was extremely disturbing for me. I did not realize how bad the malnutrition situation is in the Philippines. I knew that many people were suffering from poverty but I did not realize that this was the extent of it all.In fact the Philippines is just 2% lower in terms of malnutrition rate as compared to Africa. The problem is so big that I am not sure how it can be addressed anymore.  I am just at a loss. One problem that could be seen would be the ignorance of people. A lot of them do not realize the importance of what they eat in accordance to the function of their bodies. The sick child in Bicol kept on praying to Mama Mary because she felt that Mama Mary could cure her. But the ultimate cure for her condition was proper food and not Mama Mary (but of course praying helps). The mother who did not want to leave her malnourished child in the hospital probably did not realize the gravity of the situation and the extent of the child’s condition. Couples who already did not have money would have a large number of children and others to come along the way. One cannot fathom how they can actually still procreate while knowing that they are already unable to feed the rest of their brood. This is why I support the Reproductive Health Bill (which is something else to blog about). After all if there were lesser mouths to feed, the government might have an easier time helping them. 

Another problem would be the lack of full blown programs. A lof of the programs we have are just for a certain period of time. The local governments should try to  fix the budget in such a way that the people would be able to benefit all year round from feeding programs. 

 Basically I think all the problems stemmed from ignorance. Lack of education left the people handicapped. But I am really not sure how to reach out to so many people now. It is so difficult at this stage because so many people are suffering. When will this all end? 

When will the children be like this?  

 

Posted by tahn at 10:39 am | permalink

Previous Comments

I’m at a loss too as to how to contribute to those who are in need. Whenever I see street children begging, on one hand I want to lecture them on how they should just get a real job instead, but even if they do that, will they earn enough?

It always break my heart that whenever I go home I pass by sidewalks that, 2 years ago, wasn’t populated by homeless people. Even pedicabs double as the shelter of the driver’s family. Quite a sad sight.

Like Peter in your previous post, I think that change has to come from the grassroots level. Someone has to educate people on why it is important that we care for others and why we should not be ignorant.

But of course we should also stand up when the government screws us up.

Posted by Nightdreamer at December 16, 2008, 2:30 pm

@Nightdreamer I know what you mean night dreamer. It hurts me also to see them in that state. I want to give them money but I cannot be sure that the money given to them will actually go to something good, like food for them. However if we always give money, we will encourage them to beg. But I am now thinking, is there another recourse other than to beg with the lack of jobs for the uneducated.

Posted by tahn at December 16, 2008, 2:42 pm

gustong gusto ko ang yong video. dahil iminulat ni kara david ang malnutrition sa pilipinas na madalas itong maranasan ng mga mahihirap na pilipino o ng ating mga kababayan. maraming tao sa pilipinas ang nakakaranas nito lalo na sa mga probinsya.

Posted by noel dominic c. obor at July 6, 2009, 3:54 pm

i liked the video it really give me a big sympathy about they’re situation..

Posted by xhylle at December 9, 2009, 10:39 am

When the time I watched this documentary, I felt guilty because I usually waste my money for pleasure’s sake. Now, i will no longer waste my money………thanks for the video i’d watched….

Posted by Jam at January 20, 2010, 2:34 pm

I was pity on them when I watched the documentary. It realize me that there are some people in a nook places in the Philippines that could no longer sustain their foods everyday. Thousands of Filipino are dying of starvation like Angela. These starvation of deaths are not mere a nightmare but a stark reality. It was absolutely amazing that Kara David and the rest of the staffs covered this documentary to warn us and to the government that this kind of people needs help. I did not realize how bad the malnutrition situation is in the Philippines. I knew that many people were suffering from poverty but I did not realize that this was the rampant All of these problems have been created by slumping in prices of food that the people could no longer afford the right food for them,

Malnutrition kills poor Filipinos. The documentary was a true picture of the food crisis which was alarming for us. There are many better topics to talk about but Kara really broadened and emphasized those situations that are simply but worthwhile for me. It was pretty amazing.

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