Revisiting our vulnerable poor

 He must have been a very handsome, sturdy man in his younger years. With much excitement for adventure, he toured so many shores as a seafarer. He must have felt he was master of his fate as he sailed through many younger years of his life.

Now, he lives up in a tiny plot in San Remigio. Scrawny and with a defeated look in his face, he shared with us how difficult life continues for him, his ailing wife, and his children.

Occasionally, his two sons offer to watch homes for certain families in Consolacion, in exchange for free board and lodging. This set-up, however, is not stable as families cannot afford to have the two brothers on an extended stay, on these terms.

His two sons are very handsome, “and very intelligent,” according to Sr. Tess Laguna of the Alternative Learning Center for out-of-school youth at Colegio de la Immaculada Concepcion ( CIC) in Mandaue.

On the morning that we met, the former seafarer father informed Sr. Tess Laguna that he has decided to ask his 16-year old son to stop going to the Saturday classes offered at the CIC’s Alternative Learning Center because they could no longer afford the fare for him from Consolacion (P18 round trip). As the older 18-year-old son was on his 4th year of high school, their family has decided to ask the younger son to quit school and to find work to help their needy family. When asked, the younger son sadly volunteered, however, that he badly wanted to continue his studies.

“Sayang, he is very intelligent,” countered Sr. Tess. “Also, the qualifying exam for TESDA is scheduled this December. If he passes that, then he can proceed to study,” she tried to convince the former seafarer father. “This center will take care of his Saturday fare until the exams, please reconsider,” Sr. Tess advised.

We do not know how the father and his son finally decided but that particular touching encounter made me reflect about the continuing saga of countless retired seafarers who, sadly, did not have enough savings to sustain themselves and their families for life outside their ships. 

Beyond these struggling retired seafarers, we also wondered how many more of our people are truly needing assistance to survive daily.

Not long after, we revisited the fire victims of Brgy. Luz. More than 200 houses and more than 569 families in three out of 15 sitios were affected by last May’s fire. Construction is still ongoing for most of the families. Learning from the past, hollow blocks and cement, instead of light materials, are now evidently used in the ongoing house construction in the affected areas. Sadly, however, there remain a significant number of families with only plastic for their roof and walls. When the rains come, they need to huddle to one part of their razed homes to remain dry. When the rains come at night, sleep remains elusive.

Among these families are the elderly, as scrawny and as ailing as the retired seafarer we met at CIC earlier. There are also the infants and the young children who need special protection. What about the people with disabilities (PWDs)? I did not see any during our short field visit but we are certain, like the rest of the vulnerable groups, they are among those still awaiting survival and other forms of assistance within these affected areas.

House reconstruction appears as their immediate apparent need. However, there are students among the fire victims who may have to discontinue their schooling because the priority for their family now is to channel their meager funds for house reconstruction or construction payments or housing loan amortization. There are also children reported to be awakened still by the haunting memories of the raze – they and other adults need counseling so they can move on beyond their trauma.

So much needing - do please help if and however you can. Government has to hasten to solve the very high unemployment rate of 7 percent that affects about 2.8 million Filipinos and the higher underemployment rate of 22 percent!

If only there are enough noble legislators who can part with their pork barrel that can be used instead to employ our poor with sufficient salaries, if only PNoy will prioritize sustainable food production and adequate employment – that will truly be a historic period of genuine liberation for millions of our vulnerable Filipinos, not only in Cebu but all throughout our country.

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