**The Fruit of Poverty**

“BUTO’T BALAT”
(bones and skins)

Poverty is one of the biggest problems our country is facing today. And one indication that poverty rate here in the Philippines is the increasing in the malnutrition rate. And based on the documentary film that I watch, Bicol area is one of the places where malnutrition is at its biggest rate.There was one family, the father works at a fish port so if you think about it, the father will be able to earn enough but the truth is that the father can't even afford to buy one fish.He just buy fish from stores which sells rejected fish and seafoods.These kind of foods can also cause food poisoning which is very dangerous to our health.

There was one woman, who is severely malnourished.She was just in her late twenties, I think. She is so skinny that she looks older than her mother. She would just lie down because she cannot move her body as the way she does before she bbecame malnourished.She was only taking a cup of coffee as her breakfast and the situation at their place was really unpredictable. They cannot tell when to have their next meal. And the only way they were fighting malnutrition is through their quack doctors or “albularyos”.On the documentary she was telling the reporter that her only wish was to be well again. And 4 days later, after the film was documented, she died.

There is also a family in Malabon where the father is a trisikad driver. He is only earning around 100 pesos a day and that is being budgeted for the whole day's allowance. But more than that, they have 9 children so it’s really sad to think that a family of 11 will share on 100 pesos a day for meal.
It is said that “instant noodle” is now the poor people's diet. But if you think about it, there no much to get from an instant noodle except for salts and preservatives.They are processed foods.But since its the only food that is cheap and can feed 4-5 people because of its "sabaw".

In these documentary we can see that poverty is really growing rapidly here in our country. There are a lot of effects that it gives us including malnutrition and death. And the government are deaf to these kind of problems.They just waist their money on political propaganda or unneccesary things.But then the blame is not sole to the government accounts but also to the people. Because to think that we are aware of their situation but some parents still keep on having a lot of children. If you think about it, those who are well-off have 2-3 children but those who are suffering are the ones who have a lot of children.We should think before wantin to have children if we can support them financially,emotionally,physically.When others would just take on a diet or spoil their meal they should realize and visualize the impact of these actions to other people,especially to those who can't afford to eat three meals a day.

BASURERO (garbage boy)

"The No Collar Job"

In the documentary, people in the dump sites were born and raise in that particular place.They were accustomed to the routines around them. Waking up in the morning drinking a cup of coffee for their breakfast with flies surrounding them. These were the usual things for them.The dump sites are just one of the typically landscaped area for them.In order for them to survive they search the dump sites for garbage that can still be sold to the junk shops.Their survival and meals depend on the garbages.The more garbages, the more money to buy food.

They didn't mind the flies,animal manure, rotten animals, that are hazardous to our health that can cause different diseases and can be the death of them.Young or adult people in these area are always exposed to sickness and accidents.There is a man in the film which loses a finger due to the accident in that place.As young as 4 years old children in these place were already exposed to these jobs and in order for them to help their families in feeding their hungry stomachs.
In the film, the reporter tried to live like one of the basureros.It took him almost half a day to full the basket he is carrying on his back. When he let it be weighted in a junk shop,he was surprised to know that 1 kilo is only equivalent to 1 peso. His junk is only equivalent to 6 pesos and he was asking other basureros how can they live with that.
In the other part of the film, there was an eatery that don't have proper sanitation.I'm thinking how the hell can people in that place eat those foods which were surrounded by flies and other micro-organism which carries germs with them.


Aside from the malnutrition problem, the government must also consider these problems in our society. Everyday we can see garbage.It is a growing call to the government to seriously take actions regarding these matter and to the people to take part in these actions.Unity among the Filipinos must be observe for these goal to be achieved.


In my own opinion,one of the issues that the current President-elect Benigno Aquino III must face and solve is the environmental issues and sanitary issues in the country,since it is one of the cause of malnutrition.Next is the poverty rate in the country and the child labor issues. The families in these areas can be relocated in different area away from sites which can cause diseases.I bet there are still more vacant government lots that are reserved for these people but some politicians are too greedy and can't control their lust for wealth. Their main purpose is to serve the people and help them so that in return they can also help in improving our nation.

These social issues are just some of the drawbacks to our nation's progress.As one saying goes "In unity we prosper", if everyone of us just practice few little things in helping our country, I can visualize prosperity and progress in the Filipino land.

Quoted Quote

Kapag sabing ayaw, ayaw na..

..Kapag sabing hindi, hindi na..

Kapag sabing tama na, tama na. Wag nang ipilit..

Pareho lang kayong masasaktan..

..Huwag mong isipin ang sarili mong kaligayahan..

Masaya ka nga pero siya hindi naman..

Kaya nga may salitang

"TAYO"..

Hindi lang

IKAW,

dapat may

AKO rin.

"AT FIRST SIGHT"

It all started when he first saw her down the bleachers..

Sitting in the upper deck,he just can't hold back his gaze..
Chatting happily with her friends,he was mesmerized by her charm..

He didn't believe in love at first sight until now..

During the duration of the program he was just staring at her..

Forgot the reason why he is in that place..

He was just thinking ways to ask her name..

To get close to her..
to ask her out..
suddenly,
he was deaf to the noise around him.
His mind was now in LaLa-land..
Dreaming of that one particular illusion.

being her ROMEO..

Dawn of the New Era

As i slowly entered the school campus,my heart beats faster than it mormally does.

Every step im making adds up to my hesitation and nervousness.

New faces, new school, new place.I am feeling quite uneasy already.

As I pace the path I subconsciously travel through memory lane and reminsce my high school days.

I used to see my friends everyday, twelve hours a day since we are classmates.

We were like brothers and sisters and very inseparable.

On weekends we are together again in rehearsing and practising for our practicums and school programs.

We never get tired of each others face.

Graduation came and everything's changed.

We've taken different roads and we have different lives now..

The Angelus prayer brought my senses back to reality.

I let out a deep sigh, and smiled mirthlessly..

With no friends to talk to while im walking down the covered walk,

I have been infected by the loneliness virus.

My uneasiness grew when I entered the classroom,everyone were strangers to me even the language they're speaking are hard to grasp.

It seems like eveyone knows each other and I'm like an alien from outer space.

I want to approach them and introduce myself but I'm tongue tied due to my shyness.

I'm teary eyed already when someone approached me and ask my name.

"I..I..I'm Jane" I said while stammering..

"nice to meet you. I'm Daniel"

He introduced me to my other classmates and again I am feeling tensed, but their friendly smiles gave me the assurance that I will be okay..

After a few talks,I have known almost everybody in the class, and I have meet new friends.

As the first day ended I silently smiled and thank God for giving me new friends and helping me in surviving in the first few hours of my college life..

I realize that I should learn to face new challenges in life.

I should breakfree from my comfort zone and remove all the barriers that's stopping me to succeed..

As what Mahatma Gandhi says

“Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If we keep on saying to myself that we cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that we may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if we have the belief that we can do it, we shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if we may not have it at the beginning.”

Maybe college life is not so bad after all.

I still have three years to discover it myself and learn from it in order to succeed..

"At first Sight" **the story**

Is love at first sight truly possible?

He couldn't fathom the possibilities.He didn't believe in love at first sight until then..
It all started when I first saw her down the bleachers of the school gym..
All the students were gathered in the gym.The entrance as the time goes are now covered with students.
In the midst of the crowd, Daniel caught a glimpse of her.The wind played with her hair and the sun's rays from the windows touched her cheeks.Then everything seemed to be snail's pace,like a movie in a slow motion.

I wanted to approach her but I hesitated because the program is set to start already.The next day I asked my friend who sits beside her at the gym yesterday.He told me that the girl's name is Jeinu.I seems to be inspired everyday.
My simple crush for her grew


My cellphone's beeping sound woke me up one night. Used to receiving important messages only, I grabbed my cell and sleepily pushed the keys and read the message.

"Hi! Care 2 b my txtmate?"

Not knowing who the sender was, I deleted the message right away and placed the phone on my bedside table, I tried to go back to sleep.

I had just closed my eyes when I heard the message tone again.

"Hi there, again! Care 2 b my txtmate?" again, the message said.

still annoyed, I replied to my stubborn textpal.

"I don't have time for this craziness.pls stop texting me.u r irritating" i said.

seconds later my phone beeped again.I let a deep sigh as i read the text message.My sleepiness were gone the moment i read the text message.

"I jst wana mke frnds with u.btw,im Jeinu.and u r?"

Amazement and curiousity filled my mind that time.Could it be coincidence or destiny?

I got up and pushed the keys... I just realized I was replying to the messages again.
But I can't control my curiuosity,much more my emotions..

My heart was pounding hard than ever. Could it be that this is Jeinu,the girl im in love with? I thought.
My uneasiness grew when i received the next text.

"im a student at Ouran University.. hey!stil der?" it says..

I froze upon reading it.. the next thing I knew i keep on shouting like a madman..
I feel so happy..She is really Jeinu.I don't know how she got my digits but im grateful for it..
We exchange text messages and quotes.

A day would not pass without a loving and thoughtful messages from her. It was then I had learned to appreciate text messages and become eager and excited every time my phone beeped, hoping it would be her.

I couldn't understand what I felt that moment, but one thing I was sure though... I could not go on a day without a single word from her. I'd become used to having her. But truly, she already occupied a space, a large one, in fact in my life.We met on the school lounge. I was like a little boy blushing in front of his crush. Jeinu confessed that she was falling in love for me.
I remain speechless for a few minutes.I began to sweat. I am gasping for the word to say to her.I still don't know what to say to her when she bid me goodbye.
I was a dork,a coward for not confessing to Jeinu that I love her too.I want to court her but im scared that she might not approve of it.Every time she texted me I would delete it immediately and i would ignore her calls.
It's been a month when I started avoided her. I passed by the school gym and remembered that it is where i first saw Jeinu and fell in love with her at fist sight.. That moment I decided to go home and go to Jeinu's place.

Outside the school gate I saw Jeinu crossing the streets from the opposite side of the road when an over speeding car hit her that threw her 10m.from her position, she was knocked down by a car that lost control. I was still shocked.My body was paralyzed.I was deaf to the noise around me..Beside me,someone called an ambulance.. I ran towards the road. There lies Jeinu bathing in her own blood. The siren of the ambulance caught everybody's attention..Everyone backed off for the first aiders and crime scene to pass through and get Jeinu's body.

A thousand emotions swept through Daniel at that moment: the failure he'd felt for not letting Jeinu his feelings.the shock and horror of what happened to Jeinu and the grief for losing his only love..

The moral of this story is :
Treasure what you have...
Time is too slow for those who wait;
Too swift for those who fear;
Too long for those who grief;
Too short for those who rejoice;
But for those who love...
Time is Eternity.