Rodriguez, Iann Patrick D.C.

11 -GA Pope Leo

9/17/2021
Quiz 1 – Introduction to 21st Century Philippine Literature

In the Philippines, death is just a collateral damage

Collateral Damage, the story focuses on Philippine Drug War also known as the “War on
Drugs”. Drugs have been part of the world for how many years and it is considered as one
of the social issues. Year by year, the number of being involved in drugs keeps on
skyrocketing on adults but most especially the young ones no matter the social status.
Laws, campaigns, and policies are created yet pushers and users are still in the wild. War
on drugs only resulted in major killings even among the innocent. Among those who died
have been dozens of children under age 18 who were either specifically targeted or were
inadvertently shot during anti-drug raids, what authorities have called “collateral damage.”
The main character in the short story is a boy who grew up in slums. He grew up in the
city, which is where the majority of the crimes take place—a place where possibilities are
squandered and individuals struggle to cope with life's difficulties. It then continues to the
main character talks about his experience and how he continues to remain silent while
knowing that his family and he are at risk.
The text exposes government corruption. The government could easily finance and
influence their campaigns. They also understand that slums are by far the worst. The
slums are the easiest targets since no one knows anything about them.
The text is a perfect example of social movement. The author is battling government
corruption by exposing it through flash fiction. Literature's objective is to inspire people to
take action for social change, not only to entertain them.
In conclusion, DLS Pineda's "Collateral Damage" depicts the social movement which is
fighting government corruption. A person's final resort for survival, especially if they are
underprivileged, is to commit criminal acts. It's merely a way of living in an unjust system in
this country. The article shows the outcome of the war on drugs for poor people.