The "Other Side" of Divisoria (Manila, Philippines)
Posted on Sunday, 24 January 2016
The
“Other Side” of Divisoria (Manila, Philippines)
By Apolinario Villalobos
While Divisoria has always been known as
the shoppers’ Mecca, especially, during Christmas, there is” another side” of
it which I do not want to present as an image of poverty but that of
perseverance, patience, and honest endeavor. This is the “other Divisoria”
which many people just refuse to see as it might cause them to puke! The
accompanying photos show how these honest Filipinos contentedly strive to live
in sheer honesty.
The skeptics always say, “it is their fault
for going to Manila and suffer deprivation”. These hypocrite skeptics have TV, radio, and occasionally read newspapers,
so they should know that the provinces from where these people who are eking
out an honest living on the “other side” of Divisoria, are infested with NPAs,
Abu Sayyaf, opportunistic landlords, and loan sharks. For the arrogant, the
world is just for those who can afford to live decently. On the other hand, as
these skeptics have not endured days of hunger, they may not understand how it
is to make a difficult decision to live a hand-to-mouth life in Manila by
scavenging in garbage dumps, rather than die of hunger and be in constant fear
for dear life in the province.
It is true that the slums have been in
existence for many decades now, but there would be no slums had the government ever
since the time the nation has become independent, did not get infested with
corrupt lawmakers and officials. The slums have been around since the time that
deprivation and exploitation have been propagated by learned Filipinos who
found their way in the halls of Congress and Senate, as well as, agencies, even
at the helm of the government. Unfortunately, the seed of exploitation has
grown into an uncontrollable proportion today, making corruption as wrongly and
unfairly viewed to be always a part of the Filipino culture.
The striving people from the slums near
Divisoria, and other districts of Manila, in this regard, may be viewed by the
arrogant as akin to dogs and cats, because of their many children, oftentimes
making them utter unsavory remark, such as, “they know they are poor, yet, they
keep on having children”.
How I wish these skeptics can also openly,
make biting remarks –
·
to the corrupt politicians and
government officials, such as, “they graduated from prestigious universities
and colleges, yet, they do not know what is right or wrong”
·
to the filthy rich, such as,
“they have plenty of money, yet they can’t even throw a piece of bread to a
beggar”
·
to the stiff-necked Catholic
priests, pastors, and other religious ministers such as, “they are supposed to
be representatives of the Lord, but they can’t afford to take a look at the spiritually
hungry”
Finally, compared to the disgusting hypocrites, loan sharks, corrupt
government officials, arrogant “religious ministers” and conscienceless rich,
who are supposed to be learned and intelligent, the people who honestly make a
living such as those who belong to the “other side” of Divisoria, are worthy to
be called creatures of God – true human beings…slum denizens who are viewed by
aforementioned with utter repugnance.
(This blog will definitely, not hurt those who do not belong to the
mentioned “classes” of loathsome Filipinos.)
Discussion