COVID-19 In Philippines: The Starving Urban Poor. What Went Wrong? | Insight | Poverty In Asia

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The poor gets poorer and the rich gets richer, that's how our country works... Even our farmers is not paid fairly...

Even without the pandemic.. many of Filipinos have been starving, and unemployed

I became a Housemaid at the age of 13, so I can go to high school at night. My parents had 9 children. I’ve experienced nothing but poverty in my childhood. It was harder for us, the older children. I wondered, even at 4 years old, why children are considered as “blessings”, when we were all SUFFERING. There was no Pandemic in those days, but POVERTY was crippling us.

10 children and 13 grandchildren. Sometimes you can influence how you live your life. We are a poor family too, but our lives are much better than a family with 10 children and 13 grandkids.

I was born and raised in Cebu Philippines in one of those slums. I have lived in Florida for 15 yrs now and I am so grateful to be able to help my family during these tough times. I bought my mom a duplex out in the country in 2016 so She is no longer living in the slums. It still feels like yesterday when we had to pawn Our clothes so we can buy food. I will never forget where I came from and will always be grateful for the blessings that come my way 🙏

I'm from an African country and Corona or not we have the same issue with most Asian countries, corrupt government and highly religious people who believe in having tons of children. Where I'm from if you're old enough to marry but want to remain single you'll be disrespected and laughed at by mostly poor and uneducated people for being single.

That's why Family planning is very important. Don't settle yet if you don't have your own house and stable job. Save money as much as you can, spend it wisely.

I work 12 to 13 hours a day at minimum. Sometimes I feel like complaining but after watching this, somehow I feel grateful to have kept my job and be able to take care of my family.

Even without the pandemic.. many of Filipinos have been starving, and unemployed. They also said here that "Hindi kami natakot mamatay sa COVID, takot kami na mamatay sa gutom" "Walang nakakagmot sa gutom, patay ka." and I think that's the most painful statements i heard in this video. Many filipinos experienced hunger amid the lockdown. In fact, the hunger incidence rate is at its highest in 6 years according to the social weather station. I can say that Filipinos don't easily give up in the situation and they are still helping through good and bad times.

As someone who is privileged enough, these are the stories most of the government officials, middle and upper class Filipinos should see to realize what's really happening when we allow poor priority/decisions and poor politics plague our land. Let us have the initiative to help, both the government and the people together from making this our "new normal" 🙏

It is sad, I visited Manila in 2016 for a conference and have worked with Filipinos here in Australia. I admire a lot about Filipinos, they are generally very friendly, creative hard working, resourceful and good team players. We have it easy in developed countries, we would also struggle to survive in a developing country.

"Hindi kami takot namatay sa COVID, takot kaming namatay sa gutom..." Edit: english: We're not afraid to die on COVID, we're afraid to die on hunger..

When I was in Manila, I see a "minister" goes into the private lavish club while just outside I see a family peddling on the street cant even buy clothes for their children, parents can't even have the energy to say hello. That image will forever burn in my mind. That was before the pandemic. I hope they are okay, I hope all less financial Filipinos are okay. 🙏

Because some Filipinos has its saying, "the more, the merrier." The more children, the happier without even knowing how hard to raise a single child in the future.

I could not bring a child into those situations and watch them go hungry it would not be fair on them. I feel so sorry for those kids.

I am currently a 3rd year social work student. Like all other students out there who lost their fire on pursuing our dream careers and passion, this documentary motivates me to study and work hard to help those people in need by being a registered social worker. I WILL BE HELPING, ADVOCATING AND IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS THAT WILL AID THEM LONGTERM AND TO HELP THESE COMMUNITIES AND OTHER OPPRESSED INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS SOMEDAY, AND NOW THAT'S MY GOAL.

The Catholic Church is very rich, where are they when their faithful followers are starving and dying?

People are having too many children in the Philippines when they can barely afford to feed themselves. Catholic doctrine is partly at fault, but parents need to take personal responsibility as well. 12 babies in a row is not going to help at all. Gov't should make family more accessible to everyone.

This is so heart wrenching. Seeing people suffer like this makes any problem I have utterly incomparable. I have depression, but I feel absolutely blessed for the life I have. I hope who ever reads this can take away the same message. Stay safe & have a nice life stranger 🙂