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- Nov 28, 2014
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There’s two types of economically disadvantaged Filipinos - urban and rural.
Both live an essentially hand-to-mouth existence.
The rural folk make a living from agriculture, fishing or livestock. I cannot describe their way of life, as I’ve lived in the city all my life, and am more familiar with the urban folk.
The urban folk are mostly rural folk who came to the cities to try and earn money. Those who are uneducated find odd jobs like cleaning, washing laundry, looking for recyclable garbage to sell, or watching and washing cars.
Some urban folk live in what are called “squatter areas” - basically an empty lot where they built shelter from whatever materials they can muster. Entire communities spring up from such settlements. I’ve visited a few, including houses next to the train tracks. It’s a precarious existence. There’s hardly any clean water, no sewage system. But people are enterprising. They’ll find water from some busted pipe, and “steal” electricity from nearby neighbourhoods. They will have little shops, selling a few groceries, or breakfast food.
Sometimes these areas become recognised by the government as legitimate barangays. A lot of people go to live there and not all of the residents look “poor.” They look like they’re doing ok; they wear branded clothing, they sport jewelry, and their homes are built of cement blocks.
Some people are hardworking enough to send kids to school. I’ve seen a kid with his box of wares next to him - cigarettes and candies - while he laboriously did his homework, right there on the side walk. These kids go on to become success stories. You might read of them in papers -those who graduated top of the class, while their parents worked as cleaners or laundry women.
Then on the other end of the spectrum are those who never make it. They live in whatever spot they can find - under bridges, in front of abandoned shops. They scrounge around for food in garbage heaps, or beg from strangers. Their children grow up in the streets, they run around filthy, they knock on cars while carrying younger siblings. These folks have no thought other than to live day to day. The kids buy glue to sniff; the adults drink, or seek cheap recreational drugs.
More at https://www.quora.com/How-do-poor-Filipinos-live
Both live an essentially hand-to-mouth existence.
The rural folk make a living from agriculture, fishing or livestock. I cannot describe their way of life, as I’ve lived in the city all my life, and am more familiar with the urban folk.
The urban folk are mostly rural folk who came to the cities to try and earn money. Those who are uneducated find odd jobs like cleaning, washing laundry, looking for recyclable garbage to sell, or watching and washing cars.
Some urban folk live in what are called “squatter areas” - basically an empty lot where they built shelter from whatever materials they can muster. Entire communities spring up from such settlements. I’ve visited a few, including houses next to the train tracks. It’s a precarious existence. There’s hardly any clean water, no sewage system. But people are enterprising. They’ll find water from some busted pipe, and “steal” electricity from nearby neighbourhoods. They will have little shops, selling a few groceries, or breakfast food.
Sometimes these areas become recognised by the government as legitimate barangays. A lot of people go to live there and not all of the residents look “poor.” They look like they’re doing ok; they wear branded clothing, they sport jewelry, and their homes are built of cement blocks.
Some people are hardworking enough to send kids to school. I’ve seen a kid with his box of wares next to him - cigarettes and candies - while he laboriously did his homework, right there on the side walk. These kids go on to become success stories. You might read of them in papers -those who graduated top of the class, while their parents worked as cleaners or laundry women.
Then on the other end of the spectrum are those who never make it. They live in whatever spot they can find - under bridges, in front of abandoned shops. They scrounge around for food in garbage heaps, or beg from strangers. Their children grow up in the streets, they run around filthy, they knock on cars while carrying younger siblings. These folks have no thought other than to live day to day. The kids buy glue to sniff; the adults drink, or seek cheap recreational drugs.
More at https://www.quora.com/How-do-poor-Filipinos-live
