Disparity in the Philippines

In Pontiac, Michigan one cannot help but notice the half dozen panhandlers who constantly work Saginaw Street. I have been going through some tough financial times myself lately, so I tend to have a little more compassion for them then usual. I wish I could help them, but it’s a difficult situation. For one thing, I don’t have a lot of money myself and to give it away to help them would only worsen my own situation. I don’t even have enough to meet my own needs; the bank is hounding me about car insurance, which I just don’t have the money for after paying my rent, car payment, and grocery bills. I would love to help them, but I am helpless to do anything. I feel bad about it, but the situation is currently beyond my control.

Homelessness, poverty, and hunger exist in every country in the world; even here in the richest county in Michigan, Oakland County. Other parts of the world seem to have it even worse than worse than we do. I was in the Philippines in the summer of 2006. I went to visit my friends there, one of whom is now my fiancee. While there, I observed tremendous disparity between the classes. There were homeless people everywhere. It seemed like there was no middle class – you either had money, or you were poor.

Manila – Image via Wikipedia

I saw many people sleeping in the park in Manila, unable to escape the cool rain as it came in from the ocean. Some were fortunate enough to have plastic bags to hide under. Many just got wet. One man at the market in Buenavista started pestering us as we shopped for our food. I was told that he was “not all there” mentally and that I should just try to ignore him. But he annoyed us relentlessly and eventually so irritatedg me that I had to raise my voice and tell him to leave. I suppose I should have been a little more compassionate toward him, but there comes a point when you just have to say “enough is enough.”

My friends and fiancee are also quite poor. We ate pretty well while I was there, but I suspect that was because I was buying all the food. The house they live in was inherited by their grandfather and the wood is rotting to the point that the walls are starting to fall. They have no money to fix the house; and out of eight people, none of them are employed. I have no clue how they have survived through the years.

I stayed about a week-and-a-half and flew back to the U.S. in early June. I first met my fiancee and her family through an internet chat service and we continue to communicate that way even now. After arriving home from my visit there, I went online to chat with My fiancee Jean, her sisters, and little nephew “RR”. Jean always likes to see me when we chat, so we usually have our webcams on. On time, I went to grab a snack while we were chatting. As I sat at the computer I saw their outstretched hands gesturing that they wanted some too. I hadn’t thought about their situation before nonchalantly enjoying a snack at my desk. But when I saw their outstretched hands, it completely broke my heart.

It was inconsiderate of me to have my snack in front of them, but the effect was dramatic. Although I am by no means a rich person, that scene drove home the point that I have it much better than they. I did not cry any physical tears then, but I sure felt a heavy tug at my heart.