Being Poor at Christmas

Thirty million Filipinos were poor three years ago. Now, little children still roam the streets, but this time they take with them their smaller and younger siblings to gather food remnants from a big eatery garbage drum. The adolescents go after pockets or slash bags of the uncanny passers-by. They go home to a shanty that offers nothing but a floor where they all together sleep on. Mothers with infants and pregnant women peddle, if not beg, for the day’s sustenance. Men gather for the early shots of gin.

Poverty is a vicious cycle of deprivation, loss of self-esteem and desperation that sometimes lead to inaction and self-destruction. It is a social malady that, left unattended, corrodes the moral fiber of the community. With international assistance coming in billions of dollars, why was the poor Juan de la Cruz never reached, now that he is poorer and in more need?  When before he had a roof above his head, he now lost it from the floods, or an outburst of fire caused by a faulty wiring, or a demolition team. When before he was overseas and able to earn for his family’s needs, he is now forced to come home jobless and empty-handed, to a household that waits for his remittances in order to eat everyday. When before he had a little, now he has nothing but the clothes on his back.

In this December month, Filipinos look forward to a grand celebration and merry-making, to great family reunions and gift-giving. These things should happen, whether or not one has everything or nothing. One Juan could get friends together to stage a bank robbery. Another could just be content with what will come from the kind- hearted. Yet another thinks the community Christmas party is just fine. Nothing beats Juan when he has nothing but a smile and kind words to give to friends and acquaintances. At this instant, he shares the charity of the poor.

Juan looks at the bright mansions glittering with multi-colored lights and animation. He couldn’t fathom how much riches the owners possess. More often than not, the owners don’t have time for happiness as they watch over their wealth either grow or gradually vanish. Juan doesn’t understand the poverty of the rich.

And Juan looks at the friendly worker who helps him gain other skills that could give him employment, and wonders at how meager the worker’s resources are while the worker has the heart to have much more in order to help a lot more like himself. Juan unknowingly hopes that someday the frozen middle class will be able to have more and move further while taking his hands and the hands of millions more up the ladder of comfort and humane living.

Hear! Hear! The carols are in the air, as we sing “Merry Christmas!”, no matter what.