“Pagpag”

-Sem. Venz Phillip C. Bernas

The Philippine archipelago is composed of 7, 107 islands. Most of the Philippine territories are
covered with water and in land mountainous area. A fertile land with vast quality of natural
resources, why back Philippines is called “the Queen of the South”. After a century what
happened?

Before the Philippines were the exporters of other countries in terms of goods especially rice
and corn. Today, Philippines bought those goods in other countries. What an insult to our
mother land. But, what can we do fir it is the reality. The reality that we need to buy those
goods in other countries in order to sustain the food consumption in the country. After
watching that documentary a question formulated in my mind. Why do people consume
resources that is beyond their needs, while, others are huger because of insufficient resources?

One of the reason why Filipinos are hunger is that the lack of jobs. That is one of the main
reason why they cannot buy food for themselves. In the past years they say that the economy is
increasing (this report was before the pandemic), as well as the rate of Filipinos that are hunger
and poor. In short, the higher the economy the higher the ratings of poverty? I sighted one
reason, this is because of the abuses in manpower that the laborers cannot survive. As well as
less educated Filipinos increases resulting to a less qualified workers. Followed by the low salary
rate and the continuous end of contract scheme of the Philippine industry. Most of the workers
suffers because they are less educated. This errors in the Philippine society creates a huge
undignified man in order to survive. The more undignified they are the less they become
productive and creative. The result, their lives are static in the squatters’ area of Metro Manila.
It is not about over population it is all about improper way of living.

Pagag is the Philippines lowest food as I think, but it is also the means to survive for most of the
Filipinos waiting for graces in the slums. Eating pagpag only happens in the areas of Metro
Manila. What an insult to Manila, where vast opportunities are there but only few were
satisfied. Pagpag is a reflection of failures of both government and Philippine society. I’m
certain to say that change starts within our very selves. Every Filipinos has the responsibility to
stabilize their lives and not to cling to their vices and games in life. Pagpag is a symbolic picture
of how and in what way Filipinos lives. Pagpag is also a way to show to the higher ranking
officials of what is happening in the bottom of the society.

This era is focusing on the development of industrial sectors including the advancement of the
technologies. But, we forget on thing, human development is still static for some Filipinos
around the areas in the Metro. Yes, it is possible to create a better future through empowering
our less and least countrymen. We can make our lives comfortable without eating pagpag if the
government funds are used in appropriate manner.