HUNGRY JUAN: “Anong mabibili ng isang-daang piso mo?” Kalam ng sikmura ni Juan, bigyan ng kasagutan.

HUNGRY JUAN: “Anong mabibili ng isang-daang piso mo?” Kalam ng sikmura ni Juan, bigyan ng kasagutan.

Posted by The Big MAC (Music/Arts/Culture) at 7:11 AM ✪ 2 comments

Posted by: Angelica B. Piolino. 

Poverty in general is a never-ending problem to the society. Juan should know how to respond when this crisis strikes, according to the National Statistical Coordination Board, (Highlights of the 2009 Official Poverty Statistics) In terms of the magnitude of the poor families, there was an increase of about 185,000 from 3.67 million in 2006 to 3.86 million in 2009. On the other hand, the magnitude of poor population increased by almost 970,000 Filipinos from 22.2 million in 2006 to 23.1 in 2009. Meaning, most of the Filipinos are on the poverty line and there are only few of them who are living in prosperous life and there are a lot of them who suffers everyday.

Few days ago, I’ve met a destitute family somewhere in Quezon City who has a low family income and a budget meal of more or less 100 pesos. As I’ve interviewed ate Shela (housewife) she stated that it’s really hard to budget their income because it’s not enough to sustain their basic needs ever day.




She is only a housewife of five children, all of them are schooling. Her husband is a contractual construction worker whose salary in one week is only 1000 pesos. They don’t have permanent home and it costs them to pay 1500 pesos a month for this. 700 pesos for the water bill and 200 pesos for the electric bill. Imagine how they make proper budgeting for all of these expenses. How about their food? Sad to say, it becomes their least priority.

Ate Shela, being the mother of the family knows very well their circumstances. That’s why she with her kids sells out barbecue on the street. According to her, 10% of the income belongs to her as the seller and the rest of the income will belong to the owner. She gains 40-80 pesos for half of a day. With this little income, it tends to sustain the needs of the family.    

Seeing those persevering people made me realize that life is a never-ending cycle of poverty, but in one point of their lives, they strive for a solution. For me, it’s a matter of choice whether to be poor for a life time or not. I am thankful even though I’ve experience poverty as well. That’s only a little percent from the part of the destitute persons who are experiencing this kind of circumstances in life.

preparing for the family's meal

Being the participant observant, I with my blog mates decided to be a part of the solution because we believe that as Filipino citizens of this community, we are responsible to help them. We know that in spite of their difficulties, they've try their best to make it possible to live each day.

budget list

We’ve prepared 100 pesos budget for their breakfast. With this, the possible food to cook is a soup. I’ve experienced to budget their food; went to the market with one of the kids. I’ve found it enjoyable since it’s my first time to cook on other house with the people who need food to eat. When I see this family eating the food I had prepared, in my heart, I feel the unexplainable gladness. I can’t tell how it feels like being the participant observant. It’s immeasurable to think these experiences.