From Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: What do you think went wrong with the assistance extended to Mang Pandoy that he died a poor man just as he had lived?

If you can’t even walk, there is no chance for you to fly. Hope this serves as a lesson to the giver as well as the receiver. You can give wealth but never wisdom. May you rest in peace, Mang Pandoy. – Rico Fabello, PARAÑAQUE CITY

Mang Pandoy’s case is a classic example of exploitation of the highest level, which lost steam after the euphoria died down and publicity was squeezed dry. – Ruel Bautista, Laguna

He allowed himself to be used

Mang Pandoy was a creation of FVR’s media cum PR brigade. Ginamit lang si Mang Pandoy sa kasagsagan ng FVR rule. Nagpagamit naman siya. – Erwin Espinosa, Pangasinan

If they only taught Mang Pandoy how to fish, his fate would have been different. Moral of the story: Don’t trust politicians. Huwag magpagamit. - Gil Planas, Davao City

Perhaps nothing went wrong with the assistance, but maybe Mang Pandoy just envisioned that the Filipinos’ poverty is worth dying for! – Leandro Tolentino, Batangas City

No continuity in government programs

And what do you think should have happened to Mang Pandoy? Become rich? He could barely read and write and the government gave him a job according to his qualifications. The problem is, there’s no continuity in our government. When the Ramos administration ended, so did support for Mang Pandoy. FVR should not be blamed, as he did his job till the end of his term. – Danny de Leon, Al-Khafji, Saudi Arabia

I think it’s due to our politicians’ habit, since Cory’s era, to scrap any good done by the ones they replaced, in their zeal to promote their own agenda. – Virgilio Monzon, Caloocan City

He didn’t get the right opportunities

Being uneducated, Mang Pandoy should have been given capital to start a small business and not given work in government. In short, he was misplaced. – Jim Veneracion, Naga City

It’s frustration and regret for symbolizing poverty. Nothing made him uplift his condition due to lack of skills to do the job given to him. – C. Gaspar, Laoag City

He should have been given a livelihood package commensurate to his ability and skills that would have provided the boost he and his family badly needed. – L.C. Fiel, Quezon City

As the saying goes, “Don’t give them fish, but teach them how to fish.” For every appearance on TV, Mang Pandoy merely received doleouts or allowances from the FVR government instead of providing him with a steady source of income, like a livelihood project. – Osmundo Lim, Caloocan City

Political propaganda

Mang Pandoy was a victim of political propaganda. His only fault is that he did not make the most out of the assistance he was receiving. – Eric Gopilan, Quezon City

Was he really given assistance? Just asking! I thought he was only an item for publicity. Poor Mang Pandoy. – Lydia Reyes, Bataan

Mang Pandoy was a mere prop used by FVR and the latter was not really concerned about the farmer’s well-being. It was a propaganda that flipped-flopped totally. – Leonard Villa, Batac City

Mang Pandoy was the living embodiment of Philippine poverty. Used as a political tool in a presidential election campaign that had that candidate win, Mang Pandoy became a by-word in an impoverished nation that was made to believe and expect a change for the better in the quality of life of the people. It never came. As for Mang Pandoy, I don’t know the extent of the assistance given him, but because he died still a poor man, I’m sure those who used him failed to make his life better just as they failed the Filipino people. – I.Q. Calata, Parañaque City

Mang Pandoy was used by greedy politicians for their publicity stunt. He is proof that the government is not sincere in its commitment to help the poor. How very sad, indeed. – Johann Lucas, Quezon City

Typically Filipino

Mang Pandoy truly represents the typical Filipino. Like him, the majority of Pinoys want the government to provide everything instead of doing it themselves. – Seth Carranza, Catanduanes

Mang Pandoy’s life and death was typically Filipino. Born poor, die poor. The lack of genuine concern from the government for the poor to alleviate them from poverty is the main reason. We lack opportunities for the poor. How many more Mang Pandoys join the roll each day? The numbers are still increasing, but only Mang Pandoy made the headlines. – Condrad Diokno, California

Mang Pandoy merely relied on assistance. He lacked the opportunity to use that to enhance his endeavors. Perhaps that was his way of life. – Dave Velasco, Marinduque

Mang Pandoy represents the typical Filipino poor urgently needing job opportunities, so government assistance should focus on providing livelihood. – Rey Ibalan, Antipolo

Wasted opportunities

The government gave Mang Pandoy a chance to catch his own fish so that he need not go hungry. What he did with his chance after that was no longer the government’s burden. His children were given scholarships, but they preferred to stay poor than be educated. It is unfortunate. Not all poor Filipinos had the same opportunity. – Edgar Artates, Parañaque City

Mang Pandoy and his family didn’t use the help extended to them wisely. His children were given scholarships, but instead, they married rather than pursuing their studies. – Joel Caluag, Bulacan

He lacked education and guidance

Assistance given to Mang Pandoy was not enough to feed his family of eight children and he was given no guidance on how to handle it. – June Deoferio, Cavite

Everyone wanted Mang Pandoy to succeed but he failed. Blame it on his poor health and illiteracy. – Vic Alim, Caloocan City

Lack of education and a big family are two major contributory factors to Mang Pandoy’s poverty. – Justo Cammayo, Isabela

I think that the surrounding influence of the assistance provided is not appropriate with his background and abilities. Nabigla at naalangan. – Rey Onate, Palayan City

To start off, Ramos used him. Then, he wasn’t prepared to receive his blessings. Gawad Kalinga is a success because training comes with the gift of a house. – Rene Poder, Manila

Planting seeds requires fertilizer, water, pesticide, and care to make it grow. You don’t just drop the seed. Mang Pandoy’s limited knowledge needed guidance; nasayang lang. – Fortunato Aguirre, Bulacan

Dr. Jose Rizal advocated that Spain should educate first our forefathers before granting them independence. That advocacy should have been observed in helping Mang Pandoy, guiding and training him first how to manage himself before leaving him on his own. Since there are millions of his like, useless political programs should be banned so that government funds would go to developing those poor souls into independent and productive citizens. – Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City

Mang Pandoy was used

Since Mang Pandoy was a symbol of poverty, his legacy as a poor man lives on. He was just used by the Ramos administration, who did nothing to alleviate his suffering. If Mang Pandoy, through the assistance of the Ramos government, had become rich, he would have no longer been an effective icon of poverty. I pity him so much. – Jae delos Santos, Muntinlupa City

Si Mang Pandoy ay biktima ng mga pulitikong puro pangakong napapako. The old man was used by PR boys to prop-up the sagging image of the FVR regime. “Mr. Bull and Mr. Right” by Ang Grupong Pendong said it all: Mr. Right’s okay with Mr. Bull because he follows all the rules, he’s a regular technocrat double-talking like a bureaucrat, he’s got the nation. We’ve been sold, domination, intervention, ayayay, yayay. FM, Cory, FVR, Erap, PGMA, iisa lang yan. – G. Calupitan, Quezon City

Obviously it went pfft! Financial assistance that was meant for political gimmicks and photo-ops will always be short-lived. Remember bangkang papel? – Nap Cinco, Rizal

Obvious ba that the Mang Pandoy episode was just a pa-pogi political show? We just never learn kahit ginagago na tayo ng harap-harapan. – J. Gregorio, Manila

The problem with dole-outs

It is never enough to give somebody fish to eat for a day; instead, he must be taught how to fish for himself in order to eat for a lifetime. It is not in direct giving that you really help people, but in educating them to prosper on their own. – Ma. Belinda Badiola, Manila

People who have a dole-out mentality will surely experience Mang Pandoy’s fate. Reports said that Mang Pandoy’s children did not fully benefit from FVR’s scholarships as they married early. What an opportunity sadly wasted due to wrong priorities! These cases are replicated countless of times and the government is always wrongly accused of their failures. – William Gonzaga, Marikina City

No amount of dole-out could have uplifted Mang Pandoy from his conditions. An illegal settler, illiterate with eight children, he did not know how to manage his newfound wealth. Whatever dole-out he received from the government was readily spent; he even sold his pigs, intended for his livelihood, for want of feeds. Many poor folk treat financial aid as lotto winnings and many of them spend money as if there is no tomorrow. Sadly, the failed experiment on one Mang Pandoy is being propagated by the administration to alleviate the conditions of the masses in P500 electric bill subsidy, P18.25 per kilo of rice, and sacks of free fertilizer using e-VAT collection from the middle class who can hardly make ends meet themselves. These are only band-aid solutions to the poverty problem. The key to solving poverty is controlling population growth, educating the people, providing jobs for the masses, and eliminating corruption in government and business. Why do officials refuse to open their eyes? – Robert Young Jr., San Juan

Lack of knowledge and skill. That’s the thing with dole-outs. The recipient believes that he is entitled to it forever. – Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City

Instead of dole -outs and cash, the government should have taught Mang Pandoy how to earn a living. Confucius said, “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach him to fish, and he eats for a lifetime.” – C.K. Yeo, Iloilo City

Can’t trust ‘em politicians

If Mang Pandoy truly received all the promised assistance in his life, he would still be alive today. When a politician promises something, expect him to mean something different. – E. Linsangan, Isabela

A lot of things could go wrong

I can think of three things that went wrong. First, since he was the poster boy of poverty in the Philippines, he never was meant to be more than what he already was. Second, no actual assistance came to him, whether financial or in kind. Third, the poor man was given fish rather than taught how to fish, and after all the fish was gone, perhaps from his own consumption or while sharing them with his family, neighbors and (instant) relatives, he again found himself in need of fish. It’s just that the fisherman who used to give him fish wasn’t in power anymore to give any more fish. – Marielle Quiboquibo, Rizal

Perhaps the financial aid promised to Mang Pandoy did not reach him in time, or if ever, the amount was very much reduced due to red tape. – Ed Alawi, Davao City

Mang Pandoy, a typical Filipino and with a deep-rooted Filipino custom, shared his “good fortune” with his relatives and friends. He died a poor man because somebody forgot to teach him fiscal management. – Jose Fabello Jr., Misamis Oriental

Mang Pandoy wasn’t able to save much for his future. He had six years to prepare under Ramos’ care but he failed to do so. Nang umupo si Erap, di na siya pang-props. – Edwin Castillo, Batangas

There’s nothing wrong with helping the less fortunate, but poor Mang Pandoy was already on his way out. – Noel Navales, Antipolo City

We should help ourselves, too

I think the government had relayed its message perfectly by giving Mang Pandoy a job in the government to live and support his family. We have to work to earn money, we have to be patient and be trustworthy to stay in our job. We must not rely solely on the government. Our government cannot feed all Filipinos. – Rommer Ryan Torres, Angeles City

Mang Pandoy and family expected too much aid from the government when he was made part of the FVR SONA. – C.B. Manalastas, Manila

Why did this have to happen?

It’s hard to speculate. But why does this thing have to happen? What an irony. RP is rich in natural resources, but some of its people live in poverty. Why? – Cris Rivera, Rizal

It would be unfair to cast blame

Mang Pandoy was lucky that he received so much attention from the government when there are so many who are worse situations, yet he died of TB, which the government has long been trying to eradicate for free. It’s not enough that we blame the government for this specific case, which pictures the true state of our nation suffering from too much politics and massive graft and corruption. Let us rather join hands for drastic and meaningful change. – Rodolfo Capili, Caloocan City

Mang Pandoy was already given the chance to improve his life. His children were given educational assistance. What happened was that, the once-in-a-lifetime chance all went to waste because the beneficiary didn’t make good with what was given to him. His exposure to the limelight was definitely not equivalent to a big amount of money, but nevertheless, it came with blessings na dapat pinagyaman niya. You see, even his children wasted the scholarship grants. All of them plunged into marriage without even thinking of the kind of life that their children would have. – Rose Leobrera, Manila

No escaping poverty

Mang Pandoy became an icon for the marginal poor who barely survive the angst of poverty. His group represents a majority of Filipinos. – Mar Alarcio, Metro Manila

Mang Pandoy died a poor man because the assistance given to him for his services as a political prop-man, as the personification of the poor man, was only up to the end of FVR’s term. It appeared that his “financial assistance” was co-terminus with FVR. Till the end, he personified the poor man. – Elpidio Que, Vigan

Mang Pandoy, “the face of the poor”, is now the grim face of poverty. It’s a reality that poverty is now the country’s paramount problem. There’s no denying the fact that poverty is the after-effect of a storm of corruption inspired by corrupt government officials who never admitted nor had the conscience to be bothered by their evil deeds. Poverty is here to stay. – Ella Arenas, Pangasinan

May he rest in peace

The assistance extended to Mang Pandoy was simply not enough to change the course of his destiny. My heartfelt condolences to his family and may he rest in peace. – Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City

It’s unfair to blame or accuse anyone regarding the assistance extended to Mang Pandoy. Condolences to the family of the symbol of poverty in our country. – Gerry de Cano, Muntinlupa

THINKING OUT LOUD

Human error ba yung nasa budget, sinadya ba o talagang sinadya? Wow, nakakahiya ang Congress. Dapat mag-resign si Speaker Nograles. Papaano kung napasa ang bill? Human error? Nakakahiya sila. – Ed Angeles, Metro Manila

Americans are using mercenaries in their missions. Why can we not use our Ilaga brothers to fight the MILF terrorists? – Richard Decena, Quezon City

THE WAY I SEE IT

Batasan 5 militants could do more to help the country by convincing their fellow travelers to plant rice instead of land mines and use proper fertilizers instead of humans. – Norberto Robles, Taguig

Our sports associations should start tryouts now for the next Olympics. Get new faces, and forget those who failed miserably in Beijing. – Tony Aquino, Makati City

Sen. Lacson is right. Exposing anomalies is tiring most especially if you don’t have enough evidence and if some are fabricated. - Ferdinand Rafer, Manila

I think Manny Pacquiao, with a four-inch height disadvantage to Oscar dela Hoya, can become Iron Pacman like Mike Tyson who knocked out taller opponents. - Conrado Mendoza, Metro Manila

Manny versus Oscar fight, di na raw tuloy? Yehey! It would have just been a show for dough and would have ended in a draw. – Jess Ruivivar, Antipolo City

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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