Poverty in the Philippines
Poverty in the Philippines
Watch the shocking video above to learn about poverty in the Philippines.
Watch a TED talk by Gary Haugen. He discusses the hidden reasons for poverty and the solution.
Read about poverty from the viewpoint of a young girl who is living in poverty in the Philippines. There are many boys and girls who go to bed hungry at night.
I have lived in the Philippines for 5 years and have seen many levels of poverty. From the totally destitute to squatters who live in rather nice neighborhoods with paved streets. From those who are forced by poverty to sleep on sidewalks, to live under overpasses, under bridges, to living in makeshift wooden structures near railroad tracks or living in stilt "houses" over the edge of waterways.
28 percent of the population is living below the poverty level. These people are no different than you or I. They have feelings and emotions just like us. Many are educated. They speak their local dialects AND English! Most just lack employment. Many people travel from the provinces to the big cities in search of opportunity. Some find employment which allows them to climb up out of their meager existence. Many do not.
But most have a great love of family. And immediate family members are very close and supportive of each other. I lived with my new family for a year in a compound in Paranaque City in the Greater Manila area. It is a sort of apartment complex of about 20 attached units around a central "courtyard." About 20 families live there. The children play in the courtyard, the women do laundry and hang it up to dry in the courtyard and the older ladies watch the children play so the others can tend to babies, cooking and household chores. If a family is in need the others will help as much as possible.
See a Wikipedia article about poverty in the Philippines ("Philippines' poverty line marks a per capita income of 16,841 pesos a year.") See another article about income inequality in the Philippines.
"As for social spending to provide better health, education, and other social services, the situation is even worse. At 28 per cent of the population, the poverty rate is at the same level as in the early 1990’s." Excerpt from a Rappler dot com article.
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Watch a TED talk by Gary Haugen. He discusses the hidden reasons for poverty and the solution.
Read about poverty from the viewpoint of a young girl who is living in poverty in the Philippines. There are many boys and girls who go to bed hungry at night.
I have lived in the Philippines for 5 years and have seen many levels of poverty. From the totally destitute to squatters who live in rather nice neighborhoods with paved streets. From those who are forced by poverty to sleep on sidewalks, to live under overpasses, under bridges, to living in makeshift wooden structures near railroad tracks or living in stilt "houses" over the edge of waterways.
28 percent of the population is living below the poverty level. These people are no different than you or I. They have feelings and emotions just like us. Many are educated. They speak their local dialects AND English! Most just lack employment. Many people travel from the provinces to the big cities in search of opportunity. Some find employment which allows them to climb up out of their meager existence. Many do not.
But most have a great love of family. And immediate family members are very close and supportive of each other. I lived with my new family for a year in a compound in Paranaque City in the Greater Manila area. It is a sort of apartment complex of about 20 attached units around a central "courtyard." About 20 families live there. The children play in the courtyard, the women do laundry and hang it up to dry in the courtyard and the older ladies watch the children play so the others can tend to babies, cooking and household chores. If a family is in need the others will help as much as possible.
See a Wikipedia article about poverty in the Philippines ("Philippines' poverty line marks a per capita income of 16,841 pesos a year.") See another article about income inequality in the Philippines.
"As for social spending to provide better health, education, and other social services, the situation is even worse. At 28 per cent of the population, the poverty rate is at the same level as in the early 1990’s." Excerpt from a Rappler dot com article.
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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back for more information about poverty in the Philippines. This page last updated May 1, 2022.
