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| Shanties along the river - urban dwelling of the city's poor. (Photo from Inquirer.net) |
Poverty in the Philippines is prevalent among the indigenous cultural majorities and minorities. This is ironic, to say the least. The country is rich in natural resources. It has the world's most diverse species of birds, plants, animals, insects, trees, and marine life. And yet, the country's fishermen and farmers are poor.
Many among the indigenous population end up working as house help, kargadors, drivers, construction workers. Those who finish college find employment in call centers [which pay much], in private companies [which pay less] and the government as favor dispensed by political patrons. Many leave the country and work in well-paying jobs abroad as drivers, wielders, pipe-fitters, fastfood crew, garbage collector, carwash attendant, gasoline boy, etc.
There is a rising middle class courtesy of OFW dollar remittances. But they don't have a say yet on how the country is managed. They remain powerless despite keeping the Philippine economy afloat.
