By Anthony A. Araos
Long queues at both Cebuana Lhuillier and M. Lhuillier pawnshops are signs of the difficult times. These lines are indeed indicative of the unbearable hardships of a vast majority of the people.
Filipinos are lining up for hours because they are running out of cash. They don’t have money to buy food and meet their other basic needs. Their only other remaining option is to go to these pawnshops where cellphones, watches, necklaces and other valuables are appraised. At most, they end up shortchanged but there is no other option. They are in dire need of money. They need money to buy food. They can’t sacrifice their loved ones.
I hate to say it, but the scenes at Cebuana Lhuillier an M. Lhuillier (and possibly at other pawnshops in the country) suggest the people are nearly inching their way to the threshold of absolute hardship. What’s next? This situation can’t go on for long. Hunger may contribute to social unrest. Joblessness may lead to social upheaval.
If you have an opportunity to watch at the Internet, please watch and observe what took place at Barangay Pag-asa in Quezon City. There was chaos in the scene involving poor residents and law enforcers. There was high tension. Poor Filipinos are hungry. Poor Filipinos are complaining. Poor Filipinos are angry. The situation should not be taken lightly. The COVID-19 crisis is serious.
The COVID-19 health crisis is really taking a heavy toll on poor Filipinos. A facial mask at the Alfonso Lista public market is selling at Php50. There are no buyers. The poor Alfonso Lista resident can’t buy the mask. I bought an alcohol at Php35. The poor Alfonso Lista resident can’t buy the alcohol. I bought a soap at Php16.The poor Alfonso Lista resident can’t buy a soap.I bought a kilo of rice at Php30. The poor Alfonso Lista resident can’t buy rice.
The poor Filipino can’t buy his or her food. The problem boils down to the poor Filipino’s empty stomach. It is not only the “rich and famous” who should be eating three times a day. Poor Filipinos are also the children of God. They need food at breakfast, lunch and dinner meal times. Not just well-to-do Filipinos. Not just the moneyed Filipinos. Rich Filipinos are lucky. Poor Filipinos are unlucky. Rich Filipinos are still well-fed. Poor Filipinos are hardly eating. Their grievances on insufficient food are legitimate.
All told, the COVID-19 disease brought forth not only a grave health crisis, but also an alarming economic crisis.
The COVID-19 crisis then is a time of action, a time to emerge from our places of comfort and adhere ourselves to bringing hope and relief to desolate and abject poverty situations.
Notice that the same line can be drawn from the ongoing thrust of the government’s move of tripling its efforts to help poor Filipinos by pushing its social amelioration program. Government officials are now working 24/7 of providing food and financial assistance to poor Filipinos to fruition in underserved communities. Ironically in Ifugao, we are now seeing the extent of the poverty problem. For quite some time, past and present provincial government officials have the penchant of denying that the poverty problem even exists.
Call it a “state of denial.” Why? For them to admit that folks are living in grueling poverty is an admission of “failure in leadership.” These good-for-nothing officials have been denying the glaring fact that Ifugao is one of the poorest provinces in the country.
The bitter lessons of the COVID-19 crisis help explain yearnings for actions to be aggressively taken when this frightening episode of the people’s lives is finally over. It should be undertaken by well-meaning and concerned Filipinos in Ifugao and elsewhere. Otherwise, they are merely passing on the poverty problem to the next generation. The poverty problem must be licked once and for all. Positive action to curb poverty in a community would make a caring gift to the incoming generation. Such action should be valued immensely by the forthcoming generation of Ifugao folks.
-oOo-
The Philppine economy is badly damaged by the COVID-19 crisis. Truth to tell, with the malls closed and business establishments not in operations, the economy is in shatters. Most Filipinos are not going to perish because of the COVID-19 disease. But many are likely to die out of starvation.
We should always remember the importance of the economy at any given time of history. An economic collapse has direct effect in the political landscape. Economics and politics are interrelated.
-oOo-
Random update on usage of face masks: At the Alfonso Lista Public Market, I saw and counted 20 folks in the area at 9 in the morning. Result: four wore masks (20%) and 16 wore no masks (80%). These16 folks are in the masses bracket. Filipinos are bombarded with announcements and appeals for them to wear masks to avoid catching the coronavirus. At this market, there is even a sign “no mask, no entry.” The incredibly stupid masses don’t know how to read. That’s the naked truth. Punitive actions should immediately be taken on them.
-oOo-
At all times, Filipinos are told to obey the community quarantine regulations. To tell them that what they’re doing is utterly wrong is even unsafe because most of them are likely to tell you: “It is none of your business if I chose not to wear a mask!” It is just about the same. It is more of the same. The masses; compliance grade in a scale of one to ten with one as the lowest and ten as the highest: two, at most.
-oOo-
By April 15, the enhanced “community quarantine” imposed in Luzon should be lifted. However, restrictions on the masses (classes C, D and E) should not be relaxed. Instead, stronger measures on their mobility should be considered.
-oOo-
Recipients of the social amelioration program of the national government are entitled to receive cash grant assistance of various amounts of money. It depends on the minimum wage rate in the region. For the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Region 1 (or Ilocos Region) and Region 2 (Cagayan Valley Region) it is Php 5,500. For Metro Manila (or the National Capital region) it is Php 8,000.
Punong Barangays (village chieftains) play a key role in the determination of the recipients or beneficiaries of the social amelioration program cards. Apropos to this, Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Dino of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in an interview issued a stern warning to would-be erring barangay government officials: “Hindi lang kayo masususpinde, makukulong pa kayo!” (“You’ll not only be suspended. You’ll even be jailed.”) Mind you, Usec Dino is a very serious person. I knew him too well. Don’t mess with himTake my word before its too late!
Relatedly, a news report said that an enterprising person just sold “fake” social amelioration program application forms of the DSWD for Php 10 each in Baclaran, Pasay City. There were 3,000 poor folks who bought them. Why? There were 3,000 “gullible” Filipinos who wre around at that time.
The COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) states that a “one-time financial assistance equivalent to Php 5,000 shall be provided to affected formal sector workers in lump sum, non-conditional, regardless of employment status.
A friend of mine in Hungduan, Ifugao is receiving a monthly salary of Php12,000. Now she is jobless. She is waiting for an “assistance” from the government of an amount of money much, much, much lower than her salary. She has no other choice. It is far, far, far better than zero. That is life. Better still, that’s how life is bitter in the COVID-19 times.
-oOo-
I saw three Franks burger stores in Alfonso Lista and all of them closed down due to the COVID-19 crisis. Their personnel are now jobless. I wondered what is the rationale of closing them when food establishments should be operational during these times? Is it because there are no buyers? A friend of mine confided that a councilor is receiving a monthly salary of Php70,000 a month. The councilor keeps getting his or her salary even if there is no session at the Sangguniang Bayan. Let’s reopen even one Franks store and ask the ten councilors to buy Php10,000 worth of hamburgers (2 for Php30 or the buy 1 and take 1 promo, and be given to poor folks in an adopted barangay You help the poor folks out there and the Franks store employee at the same time. It is like shooting two birds in one shot. It is high time for the councilors to open their hearts for the needy.
-oOo-
Finally, here is a thought for our dear readers: “May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s richness- an abundance of grain and new wine.” Genesis 27:28
-oOo-
Blooper in Ifugao: I saw the following signs at a bathroom: “Leave your slipper outside.” And “Use a new slipper inside.” Written by one person. Only in Ifugao!
-oOo-
For our food delights corner: Believe it or not: I sampled the delicious “sizzling Bulalo” of my friend Jesus Domingo of Barangay Sto. Domingo in Alfonso Lista. Mr. Domingo is a noted chef and an accomplished businessman. He is also an advocate of farm tourism. It is one of the best “bulalo” soups I’ve ever tasted in my life. Best served with rice and ice-cold “buko” (coconut) rice on the side. I’ll tell you more of this in my incoming commentary. Meantime, don’t forget to pray before meals.
-oOo-
Despite the orders of the DILG to dismantle the checkpoints manned by barangay council personnel, I saw a number of these so-called barangay checkpoints still out there. This time around, more tanods (watchmen) even were seen around. This is clearly a case of ‘Simple instructions, can’t follow!” Only in the Philippines!
-oOo-
Brainy healthy tidbits: It is summer time and it is surely the best time to enjoy watermelon, banana and “singkamas” (turnips). These fruits are still relatively cheap and so buy these fruits for the family and loved ones. Stay fit and healthy at all times. It makes sense to eat a lot of fruits. It is supposed to be a “work at home” arrangement for some Filipinos. A stockpile of the season’s best fruits is a practical idea while working at home during these times. Beat the heat by eating a lot of fruits while working on some office papers or watching the television. Make your “home quarantine” extra special by eating lots of fruits. What are you waiting for? Prepare and partake a “banana split.” You won’t regret doing it.**
