Faith & the cross of global economic recession
When I saw families living under a bridge along
Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, I thought of
how many more families would end up living under
bridges in Metro Manila. When I saw small children
begging along the streets and at intersection stops, I
thought of how many more children will join their ranks
in the days ahead.
I visited relatives who could not even afford to go to
the doctor nor buy medications. I took care of their
medical needs during that visit, but I thought of what
will happen next if I could no longer afford to help
them. In the province where I grew up, I met people
who were without jobs or underemployed, many of
whom, unfortunately, did not complete primary or
secondary school. I went to shanties which were literally
submerged in murky waters caused by perennial
flooding of Laguna de Bay. I have seen, and felt,
poverty, even before America fell into recession.
To many Filipinos, poverty is not unusual, and the
only way out is for a member or members of the family
to be educated and/or highly skilled and to work abroad.
It is no coincidence that labor is the number one export
of the Philippines. But with this global recession, there
is a decreased demand for the Philippines’ number one
export.
Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, I thought of
how many more families would end up living under
bridges in Metro Manila. When I saw small children
begging along the streets and at intersection stops, I
thought of how many more children will join their ranks
in the days ahead.
I visited relatives who could not even afford to go to
the doctor nor buy medications. I took care of their
medical needs during that visit, but I thought of what
will happen next if I could no longer afford to help
them. In the province where I grew up, I met people
who were without jobs or underemployed, many of
whom, unfortunately, did not complete primary or
secondary school. I went to shanties which were literally
submerged in murky waters caused by perennial
flooding of Laguna de Bay. I have seen, and felt,
poverty, even before America fell into recession.
To many Filipinos, poverty is not unusual, and the
only way out is for a member or members of the family
to be educated and/or highly skilled and to work abroad.
It is no coincidence that labor is the number one export
of the Philippines. But with this global recession, there
is a decreased demand for the Philippines’ number one
export.
by Heidi M. Pascual
By all indications, we in the United States are in a deep economic
recession — a “decline in economic activity” significantly brought about by
the housing crisis, the fall of Wall Street, company closings, massive
layoffs/unprecedented unemployment rates, rising cost of goods and
services, and overall credit crunch. Donald Trump even said in CNN’s Larry
King’s interview that we are no longer in a recession but in a depression. We’
re not even talking here of stocks and bonds which are beyond the
imagination of ordinary Americans like me. We are talking of basic
necessities in order to live and support our families: a stable job, a steady
income, and a roof over our heads. As days gone by, they are slipping away
fast. The so-called “American Dream” seems to be just that — a dream.
With the election of President Barack Obama, however, Americans have
found hope, that somehow major economic policies in Washington D.C. will
change and that their impact will be felt, perhaps not in the immediate
future, but realistically, within the next two years of his administration.
Many Americans, I’m sure, pray to our supreme being, our god, to help us
get out of this economic rut. What started here has gradually seeped into
other countries’ economic systems, simply because the domino effect is at
play. If the United States stops buying goods from its trade partners, the
effect of our economic hardship will be felt globally. If our banking system
fails completely, other banking systems abroad will follow suit. The United
States is like the global leader whose economic defeat will affect everyone
behind it.
Developing countries like the Philippines, would definitely be affected
by this recession big time, through plant closings (there are several
American corporations in the Philippines), decreased international
development grants-in-aid, and decreased exports of raw agricultural and
other products. In addition, many laid-off legal immigrants (and naturalized
American citizens) from the Philippines are now unable to send financial
support to their families back home.
Poverty and Faith
I was in the Philippines last December to visit relatives and friends in
Metro Manila, in Baguio City in northern Luzon, province of Laguna in
southern Luzon, and Tacloban City in the Visayas. The news of Overseas
Filipino Workers coming back home because they lost their jobs abroad
brought a cloud of gloom over an otherwise happy Holiday Season.
Although the economic recession in my original country seemed to have
been with the poor since time immemorial, a new wave of bad economic
news was double whammy.
By all indications, we in the United States are in a deep economic
recession — a “decline in economic activity” significantly brought about by
the housing crisis, the fall of Wall Street, company closings, massive
layoffs/unprecedented unemployment rates, rising cost of goods and
services, and overall credit crunch. Donald Trump even said in CNN’s Larry
King’s interview that we are no longer in a recession but in a depression. We’
re not even talking here of stocks and bonds which are beyond the
imagination of ordinary Americans like me. We are talking of basic
necessities in order to live and support our families: a stable job, a steady
income, and a roof over our heads. As days gone by, they are slipping away
fast. The so-called “American Dream” seems to be just that — a dream.
With the election of President Barack Obama, however, Americans have
found hope, that somehow major economic policies in Washington D.C. will
change and that their impact will be felt, perhaps not in the immediate
future, but realistically, within the next two years of his administration.
Many Americans, I’m sure, pray to our supreme being, our god, to help us
get out of this economic rut. What started here has gradually seeped into
other countries’ economic systems, simply because the domino effect is at
play. If the United States stops buying goods from its trade partners, the
effect of our economic hardship will be felt globally. If our banking system
fails completely, other banking systems abroad will follow suit. The United
States is like the global leader whose economic defeat will affect everyone
behind it.
Developing countries like the Philippines, would definitely be affected
by this recession big time, through plant closings (there are several
American corporations in the Philippines), decreased international
development grants-in-aid, and decreased exports of raw agricultural and
other products. In addition, many laid-off legal immigrants (and naturalized
American citizens) from the Philippines are now unable to send financial
support to their families back home.
Poverty and Faith
I was in the Philippines last December to visit relatives and friends in
Metro Manila, in Baguio City in northern Luzon, province of Laguna in
southern Luzon, and Tacloban City in the Visayas. The news of Overseas
Filipino Workers coming back home because they lost their jobs abroad
brought a cloud of gloom over an otherwise happy Holiday Season.
Although the economic recession in my original country seemed to have
been with the poor since time immemorial, a new wave of bad economic
news was double whammy.
| (Counterclockwise fromt op left) Jesus on the cross in Tacloban City; Makeshift bridge to reach eternally- flooded homes in Laguna; a delivery man with his bike waits for fishermen by Laguna de Bay; church youth urge people to have faith; woman lights candles at Virgin Mary’s Grotto in Baguio City; Jesus Christ in Sto. Niño Shrine, Tacloban City. |
Wherever I went in the Philippines, however, there was one common trait that didn’t escape my sensitivity: strong faith in God. People, young and old,
were in churches; in shrines; in community faith gatherings; and in neighborhood prayer meetings. And they came in droves! One particular gathering I went
to was hosted by a group of youth who presented a skit about what Christmas should really mean. The skit’s message was to set aside greed, materialism,
selfishness and love of power. The young participants criticized society’s preoccupation with power and money that breeds graft and corruption. They
attacked lawlessness, even by those who are supposed to enforce the law, the lack of discipline among youth whose parents are never at home, the abuse of
those in very high offices of the land, and the growing criminality and violence brought about by drugs, alcohol, and other vices. The skit concluded with a
message of true spirituality, a focus on love of family and caring for others in need, and the strengthening of the people’s faith in God.
Many in the audience got the message, and left the church with tears in their eyes. Hopefully, the message will reach those who needed to hear them.
Deep in my heart, I felt that the same message should be heard by all people, regardless of their beliefs; and regardless of time and place in the world.
were in churches; in shrines; in community faith gatherings; and in neighborhood prayer meetings. And they came in droves! One particular gathering I went
to was hosted by a group of youth who presented a skit about what Christmas should really mean. The skit’s message was to set aside greed, materialism,
selfishness and love of power. The young participants criticized society’s preoccupation with power and money that breeds graft and corruption. They
attacked lawlessness, even by those who are supposed to enforce the law, the lack of discipline among youth whose parents are never at home, the abuse of
those in very high offices of the land, and the growing criminality and violence brought about by drugs, alcohol, and other vices. The skit concluded with a
message of true spirituality, a focus on love of family and caring for others in need, and the strengthening of the people’s faith in God.
Many in the audience got the message, and left the church with tears in their eyes. Hopefully, the message will reach those who needed to hear them.
Deep in my heart, I felt that the same message should be heard by all people, regardless of their beliefs; and regardless of time and place in the world.
