The Bayanihan spirit and resilience of the Filipinos are just two of their many

great traits. You can see them always overcoming challenges, no matter how dire the
circumstances. They never back down from anything that comes their way. Even
though they are being squeezed from all sides, they are not being crushed. They may
be confused, but they are not hopeless. They might be taken out, but they won't be
annihilated. Whatever the circumstance, they always manage to survive. They develop
new uses for existing resources to fill in for others' shortcomings. Although their
adaptation is admirable, the government has used this as a justification for its ongoing
inaction. It is obvious how these residents' perceptions of poor living circumstances, a
lack of resources, and inadequate services have changed. In this essay, I want to
highlight the perspectives of individuals who live on the periphery of society, who are
the most at risk and exposed to dangers.
Napag-iwanan. Nakalimutan. Pinabayaan. These are the first phrases that come
to mind when I think about the Mangyans and Aetas who appear in the documentaries
"Ambulansyang de Paa" and "Napag-iwanan" by Kara David. Since these people reside
in extremely isolated places, they cannot get basic amenities like healthcare, education,
and help. These individuals are being left behind in their archaic lifestyles as massive
buildings and other types of infrastructure start to appear in the metropolis. These
Lumads are afflicted with ailments that urban dwellers have never even heard of while
they are so enthralled with the "progress" taking place right before their eyes. They are
dying because of their ignorance, despite the fact that it is not their fault. Development
is meant to be inclusive, so it must unquestionably include those who are excluded,
neglected, and abandoned.
Ironically, those who are secluded are more vulnerable to dangers. The Aetas in
the isolated settlement of Capaz, Tarlac's mountains, are depicted in the movies as
having goiter. It almost seems unreal how many of them have this sickness. They have
falsely claimed that heavy lifting causes this sickness due to their lack of education. The
truth is that iodine deficiency, a mineral that is frequently present in seafood or salt, is
what actually causes goiter. This disease is still pervasive and pervasive in this village of
Aetas even though it has previously been eradicated in other nations. Meanwhile, it is
noted that the children in the Mangyan village in Sitio Apnagan depicted in
"Ambulansyang de Paa" are subjected to starvation, infections, and bacteria that cause
various illnesses like tuberculosis. Since children are the most vulnerable members of
the community, they are more vulnerable to illnesses if they do not have access to
services like deworming, teaching on good hygiene, and regular medical checkups.
Their inability to rapidly access hospitals in an emergency is another factor that
increases their mortality risk due to their distance from the metropolis. I believe that
their greater standard of exposure to risk has been caused, in large part, by their
geographic isolation and a lack of education. Due to their lack of understanding, these
people depend on theories about the origins of their illnesses, are unable to appreciate
how serious they are, and have irrational fears about the steps that need to be done to
treat them (e.g. injection). I frequently think of isolation as restraint or security, but
after watching these documentaries, I understand that it does not always ensure safety.
Exposure to natural, physical, and biological risks is what results instead. I frequently
think of isolation as restraint or security, but after watching these documentaries, I
understand that it does not always ensure safety. Exposure to natural, physical, and
biological risks is what results instead.
The second irony is that people who are unwavering or firm are also those who
are most at risk. Filipinos have long been praised for their tenacity and resilience. They
have a firm determination. Nonetheless, it is because of their resilience that people who
live in mountain villages are more susceptible to dangers. We witness Ms Kara David in
the documentary taking folks in need of medical attention to the municipal clinics or
hospitals. They are unbreakable in their opposition to it, despite the urgent necessity
for them to receive intense therapy for their medical conditions. Their health concerns
even frightened the doctors, who pleaded with them to have the surgeries. The lumads
continued to refuse because they were initially terrified of the strange medical
treatments. Second, they hardly have enough money to cover their everyday costs, let
alone pay for medical care. The cost of medical care is unavoidable. What ought to be a
basic amenity for the people is turning into a luxury. Even free health care is available
in some nations! The most vulnerable people are those who are on the periphery of
society. With little knowledge and few resources, these indigenous people are unable to
anticipate, cope with, resist, or recover from the impact of hazards. Vulnerability is
defined as "the diminished abilities of a person or group to anticipate, cope with, resist,
and recover from the effects of a natural or man-made hazard".
We might conclude that these excluded, forgotten, and abandoned people do not lead
the lives they deserve after getting a glance into their world. And just when we believe
that things are at their worst, the present administration just announced a very
significant slash to the budget for health and education. The importance of education
and health in reducing risk and dangers has been illustrated in films, however the
saddest part is the proposed P3.757 trillion budget for these sectors for 2019. The
Philippines is a third-world nation, potentially bridging the gap between rural and
developed populations. This is clear and was skillfully depicted in the documentary
"Ambulansiyang de Paa" David. The majority of people who reside in minority
communities lack access to healthcare and government help. After watching the film, I
was both alarmed and astounded by how they shown resilience, as it is worrisome that
their mentality is shifting towards complacency. This wasn't intended to occur, and if
they don't give up, they'll just let themselves to be completely alone with their unheard
voices, accepting the reality that no one will ever come to their aid and having to rely
solely on hope. Now that the documentary has done its goal of giving these isolated
populations a voice, it only demonstrates that they are unlikely to act in response to
complications, as was the case throughout the narrative.