Faith B.

Uraga
BSSW 2-1

Give a Shift: A Man’s Predicament

For such time as this. Something has to change.

What would it be living a life in the absence of poverty?
Have you ever wondered living in a society that promotes equality and prosperity?
Did you ever asked that yourself? If the answer is ‘Yes’ then you are just like me. Wishfully
thinking, hopefully asking. Our eyes have been opened and our ears have heard the call of
duty, to be the start of a shift in the lives of many.

In our country today, social issues are rampant everywhere. Poverty. Inequality.
Scarcity. I noticed how it influence the media, the people, and the government system. The
corruption all around is prevalent, economic demands increases but income decreases,
injustices and conflict arise, poor governance prevails. Leaving the people of the state that
results to poverty and desperation. Many don’t see it, but not because it is not seen means it
stopped happening.
"It's not easy to be poor". Indeed, being poor is not easy and it will never ever be. That's the
people in position should start looking for. No one should be deprived of food, water, sleep,
shelter, and clothes because these are the basic human needs. But sadly, the rich can still
sleep soundly whenever they want after stuffing themselves with all the food they craved,
and having money to enjoy luxury, while the people under them being part of marginalized
group toil away in the heat for income. Specifically, our hard working fisher folks, farmers,
drivers, electricians, construction workers, and the other blue-collar jobs that people work
for that involves greater degree of physical labor. Do they have a choice? Do we give them a
choice? How can we live with so much extravagance with a little thankfulness of things we
have, when there's a lot of these individuals, small communities and families experiencing
deprivation and oppression. It's sad and heartbreaking to grasp the ugly truth of reality,
there goes a man's predicament: lacking, oppressed, and deprived.

How come a nation would impose change and development when people are left out in the
gutter? No person must be neglected and harmed but what are we doing? I thought change
is coming yet it remain unseen. When will the government start stepping up their game? For
this is the truth. We have no transparency at all, the projects and programs for the poor
were manipulated by the rich. But why all of this happened in the first place? It’s the result
of the ripple effect on people struggling while the higher ups doing nothing. Many are still
lack of education, deprived of employment opportunities, and are oppressed with so much
suffering in the cycle of not knowing.
In retrospect, we somehow see a minimal change but not developed and maintained.
Resources are available but not truly given. Participation needed but not attained.
Corruption still remained. The economy only rise but the people are left behind.

Woe to you, people who chose to close your eyes.

Woe to you, people who chose to stay silent.
Woe to you, people whose words are written in waters.
Just a small effort that leads to majestic outcomes is what we need but how come we won't
give a shift?
 I want to quote what WEB Du Bois said, "We should measure the prosperity of a
nation not by the number of millionaires but by the absence of poverty, the prevalence of
health, the efficiency of public schools, and the number of people who can and do read
worthwhile books". And I cannot agree more, because a true reflection of a prosperous
nation is focusing on people's rights to live a good quality of life. As a student and a future
social worker what can we do? Let us be the voice to input something in social correlation
between people and government institution. Make a move and be the catalyst of change in
order to address these issues and provide them long term solution. To improve the lives of
every Filipino having great progress that leads to success.

Shift the focus from power to people.

Shift the focus from deficiency to sufficiency.
Shift the focus from predicament to one’s betterment.
Decide. Contrive. Let us break the cycle of poverty and be freed in the chains of deprivation,
oppression and scarcity.

Arise, People of the nation!

If not now then when? If no one else does who will?

May this speech leave a conviction in your heart. Thank You! God bless to all of you.