Conquering Poverty
For someone who had always had everything he needed, even if he had to work hard for it, imagining how it is like to be poor in the real sense of the word would be very difficult. It requires one to experience getting on in an empty stomach to know how it’s like not to have a roof over one’s head, or to send your kids to sleep without supper. Seeing emptiness on the eyes of people whose only possession is ‘nothing’ would never be enough to comprehend the desperation and the self-pity that set in in them who subsist on almost nothing.
I’ve been poor myself. No, not the kind of poor that required me to walk on streets to beg for alms, but I’ve experienced not eating three square meals a day. And I tell you, it was so hard, it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about the things my family and I had to go through.
My parents are hard working. And I know for a fact that they started our family okay. But a series of wrong decisions and some misfortunes brought the whole family to its knees, long before my brothers and I were old enough to remember how it was like to be born to a family with a thriving small-scale RTW business. As long as I remember, we had always been poor. I remember, Dad had had to divide our food equally so we all would have enough to eat. I still couldn’t fathom what kind of magic he and Mom must have exercised that they were able to feed the whole family on a regular-sized-fish meal, or a three-egg breakfast for a family of six.
Yes, we were poor, but we were doing fine. Until everything went further downhill.
In my sixth grade, Mom lost her job. Illegal dismissal. My parents had to go to court for this. In the next few years, as Mom and Dad battled with my Mom’s former employer, my brothers and I learned to chew legal terms and to take care of each other, as our parents had to travel here and there for the legal battle we barely understood. It was then that I started dreaming of becoming a lawyer, thinking that if you were a lawyer, nobody would dare step on your feet. And if you were a lawyer, you would be able to end the injustices in the world. (Or so I thought).
Then, on my third year high school, Dad got down with pneumonia. It was then that we learned how it was like to be truly poor. Unemployed as the legal battle was still on, Mom had to buy small items like oven toasters, umbrellas and so on and sell them to those who need them but can’t buy them at once, collecting their payments on a daily basis (say P10 per day) to support us and buy Dad’s medicines. There were times we had nothing to eat, except lugaw (rice gruel). Mom had even learned a thousand ways to cook instant noodles, adding different vegetables, just so we wouldn’t realize that we’ve been eating the same thing for days. There were also times we had to absent ourselves from school on rotation to keep our sick father company.
We knew then that our future looked bleak. What if Dad died? What if we had to stop school altogether? What if…
But we were a strong family. Where others had chosen to go down because of poverty, we decided to lift our chins, and continue with our struggle. I remember it was our financial hardship that made us become closer as a family. While tottering on helplessness, we dreamed as a family and painted the kind of life we wanted for ourselves, not using the dark colors and hues of our present reality. We prayed.
And it worked. Dad miraculously got well, and in a little more than two years, he recovered. While studying, my brothers and I held odd jobs. My brothers sold ice candy in the streets; one of my brothers even became hueteng kobrador for a while, until he got sick; I became a dishwasher in my aunt’s small karinderia, and we all learned the craft of making rattan furniture which was then our uncles’ business.
University life was difficult and for a while, simply a dream for me and my brothers. Good thing we all had some scholarships. Good thing too that we were a determined lot. I even managed to study in the country’s top university through the STFAP program. But it was difficult. There were times that all the money I had was enough for transportation. Good thing I had friends who would share with me their food. Good thing I was able to find work, although the pay was minimal. There was even a time my landlord was kicking me out of the house because I was late in paying my rent. And many times, I had just a piece of crackers and glass of water for lunch. Every semestral break I would be sick with anemia.
Those were depressing times, indeed. Desperate thoughts had crossed my mind. Many times, I had been tempted to steal. If I had not been a church-goer and if I had not been thinking that I would lose my friends’ respect if I were caught and that it was a lousy way to repay them, perhaps I would have. When it’s your empty stomach talking, you’d find justification in everything you think you must do to survive. You’d forget the concepts of good and evil; all you will be thinking of is survival. And you’ll learn to eat your pride.
I’m glad I’ve had really good friends who shared with me what they had. I’m glad their parents had treated me almost like a daughter. Without them, I don’t know where I’d be now. They were the angels God put there to help me through. It was they who saved me. It was because they believed I had a bright future that I continued with the struggle, to do well in school, to believe in the future.
Here I am now, a survivor of abject poverty. My family and I are not yet rich by any means; in fact we don’t even own a house yet. But by God, we now eat three square meals a day, with some snacks in between.
And I am much stronger now. Afterall, abject poverty and strong determination together do not breed a weakling; they give birth to a survivor.
Coming from almost nothing, and having not just survived but conquered it, I know there is nothing in this world that will make me fear any kind of risk again. Poverty had made me sift life’s essentials from the inessential. It had given me the strength to keep moving on, knowing I’ve got nothing to lose, for I’ve been there, and I am still alive.
It was because I was poor that I dreamed of a better life for myself and for my loved ones. It was because I dreamed and worked that I survived. And it was because I survived that I believe that we can get through anything if we work hard for it, and if there are good hands that would reach out to us. And it is because I survived that I know we can all make a difference and help others survive too if we choose to become the angels that will inspire them to dream and to believe there is a ray of sunshine at the end of the tunnel; and the hands that will pull up the flailing arms of our brothers that are drowning in the chasm of hopelessness brought about by abject poverty.
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This post is my contribution to the Blog Acton Day 08 - Poverty
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October 15th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
wow… while i was reading your post.. i couldn’t help but to wipe my tears.. and some of my japanese officemates noticed me so i went out for a break.. this a a very wonderful post.. it emanates love and determination.. people do tend to go the easy way out.. but you proved that with God’s help and the people around you.. things do get better.. i am touched.. truly… thank you for sharing… have a nice day brainteaser!
potsquared’s last blog post..Emcee Mwahugz…
October 16th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
You are one kind of a very courageous woman. I don’t see a tinge of pretence in your approach on the very purpose of this article –‘Blog Action Day on Poverty’. You just plainly shared instead, that where there is courage and perseverance, there is success.
Let me do the ranting.
Where do we draw the line to separate the poor from the rich? Let me start from the simplest form of poverty; the contents of the stomach –famine.
In some few rich countries, food production is closely regulated by the government. There was a time that the farmers in the EU countries launched a protest by ‘flooding’ the streets with tanker-loads of fresh milk and strew truck-loads of apples in the streets of the EC capital. Reason, they were accused of overproduction and they were threatened not to receive subsidies from the common market anymore if they continue to overproduce.
What does this mean? It is basic economics and selfish politics. It’s designed to tilt the balance of world trade so that they can impose their power and influence. If only the rich nations can trade their extra milk and butter in equal terms with the raw coffee and cocoa of the developing nations, then poverty would have been easier to handle. But no, the capitalist world prefers to speculate on prices and consequently exploit poor nations.
Yes, human caused poverty (on food) is a very powerful weapon to wield against developing nations in order for the rich nations to dictate whatever they want.
Ah, there’s so much to discuss but I’m too dumb to write what’s in my mind!
(I maybe go off topic again hehehehe!)
October 16th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
I’ve never seen this type of poverty. By American standards we lived at the poverty level for a time and while living in England we made less than those on welfare. But it wasn’t anything like this. I’ve never known hunger. I am clueless to this need.
What can be done? I don’t understand the politics. Is it political?
October 16th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Hello, VF. There’s no point for pretense, I think. When I was writing the piece, I was thinking of helping people who would read it who might have lost their hope somewhere, to remember to dream… and to hope again. That dream and hope, coupled with determination and hard work can pull us out from the abyss of hopelessness.
I think people can relate to me more because I’ve been there myself, yet I survived.
I had help, of course, in the person of my friends who had shared with me what they had, but I wanted to show that accepting help is not such a bad thing when you do need it, and that extending help, no matter how small it seems to the one giving it, may spell a lot of difference to the recipient.
Thank you for explaining the politics of poverty. I learned a lot from your explanation.
October 16th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Hello, Michelle.
Indeed, American poor is Philippine’s middle class. Or perhaps even higher.
I’m glad you have not experienced this kind of poverty. For while it could strengthen people, too much of it can snatch the hope from many. No, abject poverty is not something I would wish upon anyone.
I don’t understand the politics of poverty either. Is it political? I cannot explain it, but yes, I agree that to a big extent, it is.
Of course, there are those who are poor because they do not work hard enough (and then they would blame their government for their misfortune). But I know of a lot of people who are hardworking and honest, but for some reason, couldn’t get out of their poverty.
I sometimes think that in a country manned by corrupt politicians, honesty equals living in poverty. Not always, but it’s true in many cases.
October 18th, 2008 at 1:38 am
More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of. — Shakespeare
Just wanted to share that with you. I could really relate to what you had to say, and I’ll forever look up to you… the courageous Filipina lady.
And in the mean time, I’m really upset with myself for having missed Blog Action Day. Excuses aplenty, but I’ve still let myself down.
Anyway, that’s just my end. I hope I can make a post for Bloggers Unite at least.
Sayan’s last blog post..Lost
October 18th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I admire your courage, determination and intelligence, mare
But not everybody is strong-willed, you’re one of a kind. My heart wants to burst every time I see hungry kids and babies on the streets. I just hope, really hope and pray that their mothers won’t end up killing them. Remember the report about a woman who gave each of her babies a teaspoon of muriatic acid because she didn’t want to see them suffer in hunger? When they were all dead, she helped herself to the poison to end her life as well. It’s such a tragedy.
Sonnetshaven’s last blog post..Still blogging, peeps!
October 18th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Hello Sayan! Thank you for sharing that Shakespearean quote, and thus sparking a ray of hope upon our readers/friends.
And thank you so much for the kind words. You do humble me.
I did go to your blog; I wanted to read your post on poverty. I was surprised to see you did not post anything. I had hoped to see how it is in your world. But please do not feel so upset. There will be so many other good causes we bloggers can take part of. Don’t forget I learned about the Blog Action Day through your blog. That already is a contribution from you. Cheer up, friend.
And yes, you can still post many eye-opening pieces.
October 18th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Hello, Sonnet. You make me blush! Thank you for the kind words. I shall keep them in my heart. The admiration is mutual, you know that.
Oh yes, I remember that mother so well. So sad. So painful. What have we become?
When there has been no food on the table for days, and you hear your children’s cry of hunger and you’ve got nothing to feed them, and you know the same thing would happen again and again… what would you, as a mother, do?
I don’t want to answer the question.
I also remember the kid who killed herself, also because they were so poor. Oh, I so love to read a post/comment on what we can do!
Because we NEED to do something.
October 18th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
hi sherma! you are a very inspiring person, i was reading this post in the office and i can’t help but cry, you truly are a fighter and many people should learn to think and act like you do.. Godspeed!
potsquared’s last blog post..sinehan…
October 19th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Hello Potsquared.
Your comment made me speechless, my friend.
I just wanted to share that everything is possible as long as we hold on to hope and our dreams.
October 19th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
hi, thanks for this excellent story. trully, trials are meant to make us stronger.
eli’s last blog post..Pagkatapos ng Unos
October 19th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
napakahirap ang maging mahirap, at nasa atin na rin kung paano natin ito tatakasan.
October 19th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Hi Eli! Welcome to my blog, gayyem! Yes, indeed.
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Jake! True. Kailangan lang talaga, wag tayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Mahirap kung kumakalam ang sikmura, tapos wala ka pang maibigay na pagkain sa anak mo. Pero kailangan natin magtiyaga, magsipag, at tumuloy-tuloy lang…
Before we know it… everything’s behind us.
October 19th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
almost the same story here, we used to have a thriving tailor biz but was hit by hard times with a loosing battle for our rights coz of corruption… pero we never lost our faith and we had fun despite the challenges in life and despite being hungry, sometimes. at ang sabi nga ng tatay ko, kahit na walang pera basta masaya tayo, okay na yun.
kengkay’s last blog post..kapag namatay ako…
October 20th, 2008 at 7:25 am
Hello, Kengkay.
Thank you for sharing your story. Poverty is a common story in our country as a big percentage of the population is poor.
Most of us share the similar struggles…
October 20th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
wow i admire your courage, strong personality and faith in God that despite the waves in your life, you have risen up from a lot of people who failed. oh and by the way congrats on the 100th post! i hope sometime soon ill be writing a comment on your 1000th post.hehehehe.
October 21st, 2008 at 12:17 am
Heyyo, gmac! Thankie, friendtster.
100 posts! Yay. Am so happy. I almost did not notice it. In fact, the image was put up there 2 days after I’ve posted my piece… when i realized it was some sort of a blogging milestone.
Heh Heh!
October 21st, 2008 at 10:22 am
Hello Sherma. Our paths have crossed again and I have the pleasure of reviewing another one of your blogs. LUCKY ME!
Once again, I am more than happy to announce that “Bard and Brain” has been added to Blogging Women.
You have done another fabulous job and I thank you for sharing your blog with me.
As always, keep up the good work and I await another review of your next blog.
Fay’s last blog post..Bard and Brain
October 21st, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Putting my self in the shoes of the woman who killed her kids, I would never think of ending my child’s life. I’m definitely not the i-know-it-all kind but I’m saying this because there are government agencies that could help us out of this dilemma. She could have entrusted them to the DSWD and got a job for herself. So what if her husband has deliberately abandoned them? That’s not an excuse to end innocent lives not to mention your own flesh and blood. Nakakalungkot talaga. That news made me love my daughter even more than I already do.
Sonnetshaven’s last blog post..Still blogging, peeps!
October 21st, 2008 at 10:39 pm
A wonderful post, I haven’t read something like this for a long time now, and I have nothing but respect for you. I hope everyone would emulate your tenacity and determination to be good in the eyes of the Creator, despite the hardships your family endured. You are really in the best position to empathize with our poor. You are someone our kids can look up to. Take care and God bless you always…
Tom’s last blog post..Mover Versus Moved
October 21st, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Hiya there, Sonnet. Ah, thanks, mare, for your pointing that out. Indeed, I hope for us not to get in despair… to instead try hard to find an opening when the door and the windows are kept closed and we feel there’s no way out… because life does have a habit of righting itself, giving out openings, no matter how small, so that rays of hope can get in and slowly pull us out.
Thank you also for pointing out about government agencies. Indeed, for all its many faults, the government does have programs that help the poor. The only problems are that our poor do not know of these programs because of lack of access to information, and some of the funds are given to the kakilalas or friends of the government employees/officers, who may not be as poor as the ones who truly need the support.
We in the media hplay a big role in getting the information available to those who truly need help. :)
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Hiya, Fay! Thank you so much for linking Bard and Brain to Blogging Women and for your comments. The honor is mine, my friend. I feel so happy my second blog was approved. Being included in BW is an honor in itself — a badge. A proof that I am doing something right. Thank you so much!
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Hey, Tom! How are you now, my friend?
Ah, thank you so much to the kind words. Your post made me speechless. Thank you so much.
October 21st, 2008 at 11:49 pm
(hugs) Sherma, I have no words to say what I am thinking/feeling. You are right about how we are tempted with things we wouldnt do normally, when the stomach is talking. I had to once tell my American friend that they had no idea what poverty is until they actually see someone in loin-cloth in other parts of the world, that their grandiose ideas about rights of an employee, minimum wage and generally Rights of a Citizen cant hold in a place where if we can get ONE meal a day for whatever work we do, it was Good. Such is life for most.. its only a very small percentage of the over 7 billion of our world who actually can say that they have EVERYTHING they could ever want. But sadly its mostly the ones who have, who have no idea what it is to be happy, grateful and content with life. I guess thats God’s way of Balancing things- Give one nothing materially but make them either emotionally/spiritually strong and give another all they can have materially but make them unsatisfied with their lives and then there is an Island of wanna be’s (like me) who will end up stretching both ways- trying not to fall into what we know is not a great place and constantly wanting to get to that place where we can have EVERYTHING. The funny thing about “Everything” is there is really no way of knowing How much is out there, hence there is no limit for wanting.
Congratulations on the 100th post. May you always be blessed with the wisdom to know what Joy is :).
October 23rd, 2008 at 11:14 am
And warm hugs to you, too, Mysoul!
Wow, I am amazed at the wisdom you shared with us.
“Such is life for most.. its only a very small percentage of the over 7 billion of our world who actually can say that they have EVERYTHING they could ever want. But sadly its mostly the ones who have, who have no idea what it is to be happy, grateful and content with life. I guess thats God’s way of Balancing things- Give one nothing materially but make them either emotionally/spiritually strong and give another all they can have materially but make them unsatisfied with their lives and then there is an Island of wanna be’s (like me) who will end up stretching both ways- trying not to fall into what we know is not a great place and constantly wanting to get to that place where we can have EVERYTHING. The funny thing about “Everything” is there is really no way of knowing How much is out there, hence there is no limit for wanting.”
Very profound, my friend. I agree with you.
And thank you. Yes, I hope so too. May we all be blessed!
October 27th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
congratulations on your 100th post!
sorry for the late greeting
sobrang busy sa trabaho
talagang sinusulit nila ang training ko, ha
hehe
i wish i could say something intelligent about poverty
pero ako din pagod na sa trabaho at di rin makaahon sa buhay
eto na lang siguro
ika nga ni natalie merchant, “life is sweet in spite of the miseries.”
raft3r’s last blog post..The Omen