The sewers

It stemmed from a social media post, and now the whole world has learned that there are a bunch of homeless settlers passing through the sewers of Makati City. When it was first sent to me by a friend, I thought it was hilarious. I thought it was a real-life Sadako from the film “The Ring”. A couple of hours later, I found out that the person who took the photo followed where the sewer would lead --and there were more of them doing the same.

The national government gave the woman in the post over ?80,000, and as such, many were quick to lambast her for what she did, believing it earned her that much. News reports also tell us that she would start a sari-sari store, as if she had the space of her own to sell goods. What many are missing is the real issue: the lack of opportunities for the underprivileged. It all boomerangs back to education, and the means to live through this world with a decent job and the basic needs of any human.

At this point, it is truly difficult to put the blame. Just recently, the Philippine Statistics Authority released data on the current literacy rate of the country. We are seeing a gap between basic reading, writing, and actual comprehension. If we do a quick survey, there aren’t many who completed a bachelor’s degree --let alone basic education. If there were more options available for people to survive, there wouldn’t be an extreme extent of heading down to the sewers. The police are also dangling the thought that illegal activities might have been taking place underground, based on the different tools they saw during the investigation. But one wouldn’t engage in such acts if there were enough for them to eat at least three meals a day.

We are seeing all this in the middle of transitions between administrations, all of whom promised us a better life and a better Philippines. However, as the days progress into their term, there isn’t really that much progress --certainly not as much as before. Our country was once the apple of many smaller nations’ eyes, but now we are left with mouths open as they have overtaken us completely. Clearly, it is a matter of prioritizing what comes first, especially given the amount of money they hold.

The individuals beneath the ground are just a few of those who truly need attention in our country, even from local government units. They should be used as a point of study for any program that aims to benefit the indigent. The sewers will forever become a symbol of how inadequate our country can be in offering real opportunities to our fellowmen --especially those who are trying their luck in the big city. If education is the answer to all of this, then that is where the money should be spent. I trust that as the new administration takes on their roles by July, we will all be watching.