Life holds immense value and allure, even in the face of daily obstacles and challenges. It is our reason for being. The inherent beauty and magnetic attraction of life are undeniable. There is no need for debate – we instinctively understand the worth and abundance that life offers. However, many question why this potential for magnificence often transforms into a reality of scarcity.
Throughout history, family has served as the traditional and primary source of nourishment for life. It is within our families that we first experience security and innocent happiness. Unfortunately, if one finds themselves poor, homeless, and hungry, the family may not be able to shield them from the basic threats to life, leading to fear and deprivation.
It is disheartening to acknowledge that poverty has always existed. This truth is even mentioned in religious texts – that poverty will always be present. While it’s difficult to comprehend, poverty is undeniably anti-life. As someone who was raised Catholic and educated in Catholic schools, I also discovered my Filipino citizenship later in life. Religion demands more from its faithful at a young age, even during peaceful times. However, the emphasis on the more serious aspects of citizenship was lacking in my upbringing, likely due to my parents’ hope that we would not endure the same hardships they faced during World War II.
During my youth, the absence of societal violence meant that poverty became the only visible enemy harming a significant portion of the population. Sadly, there was not much discussion about poverty as a destructive force. If one wasn’t personally affected by poverty, it wasn’t seen as an enemy. Looking back, I now realize that this narrow understanding was selfish. In the 50s and 60s, poverty took a backseat to corruption when it came to being identified as the greatest scourge in Philippine society. Perhaps the politicians and businessmen were simply more vocal at that time than the priests and scholars.
During that era, feudalism and authoritarianism were prominent in our region, and poverty seemed smaller in comparison to corruption on the global value index. This pattern reflects a recurring theme in human history, where even the poor in democracies were better off than slaves. Corruption emerged as the new evil, particularly in nations controlled or influenced by the West. Even under new dictatorships like Mao’s, corruption was deemed a great enemy, except for the corruption committed by those in power. The ruling regime often pursued corruption committed by others while turning a blind eye to their own misdeeds. Consequently, combating corruption became a top priority.
Today, poverty is gaining recognition as a global threat that must be dismantled. Economies worldwide are paying more attention to poverty and its alleviation. Economic aid is being raised and directed towards the less fortunate in every corner of the world. Developed nations are striving to showcase their humanity and not just their power and wealth.
As an underdeveloped nation striving to rise in the global ranks, the Philippines is following the trend set by the West. Institutions like the World Bank, IMF, IFC, and more demand a focus on poverty if nations seek financial assistance. Our long-standing awareness of corruption as an evil can now be understood as an insidious tool perpetuating poverty. Conversely, it is not widely recognized how combating poverty also serves as a powerful mechanism against corruption.
Simply providing assistance to the poor can often lead to dependency and a worsening beggar mentality. Politicians and populist regimes are often accused of enabling the weak and poor without offering a sustainable path towards development. However, the duty to uplift the less fortunate does not rest solely on the government. It is a collective obligation. A nation is like a family, with the stronger members obligated to protect and develop the weaker ones.
Consider this thought: if we, as members of our communities, cannot take care of the needy and helpless among us, how can we expect the government to be more compassionate? It must be our own commitment and actions to assist the less fortunate that can motivate the government to do the same or even better. Poverty enables corruption, and to combat corruption, we must strive to eradicate poverty. Remember the saying about pointing fingers – three fingers point back at us.
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