Are we truly imprisoned to poverty if we stay in this country?

I had a long ride going to Monteray Farm Ecofarm and Resort at Pinamungajan, Cebu, the other day to assist some friends who facilitated a team-building activity. I went too just to get myself away from the city by free travel and also to have a chance to reflect how I am in my life now as I end the semester.

As we entered Toledo City, I took time to watch the mountains with their shadows as the sun rose for a sunny afternoon, the old trees that covered one side of the street and a beautiful view from a cliff on the other side while listening to a sound of a peaceful ride except to the driver at my side who kept on talking which I understood to keep himself awake while driving. To be honest, it was truly confusing when I think of life in the province; fresh air, less infrastructure, green surroundings, simple lifestyle, and a lot more but listen to Kuya Bongbong’s realization of financial and income as he told me to go abroad at my young age and never let my ideal family soon starve from simple yet beautiful things in life like a dream house, quality education for children, and good health as we travel and make good memories.

Sitting in the front seat while listening to the driver’s stories and lessons in life, and being able to watch the green natures around seemed like a good thought to puzzle or to make a choice as my age would shortly leave the calendar. Kuya Bongbong told me that wherever I go here in this country, a Philippine salary even for professionals like Php20,000-Php40, 000 is not enough to compensate for a family of three members most especially if only one of them is working and the other one is taking care of a child. By budgeting, the income can settle the needs of the family, surely there are sacrifices that deprive some of each member’s wants which could have been offered a quality smile. I also cracked him a joke that at this time being an athlete, an actor and a politician are maybe the only jobs in this country that can help anyone out of poverty, not counting some clerics because they are doing no job but service. He laughed and said I’m also right.

The situation reminded me of a thought I posted long ago that says I’m afraid most Filipinos will leave this nation and migrate to other countries. Soon, we’ll only be proud of this country once we heard of sports, tourism, and cultural art achievements and records but never of the financial status of employees or workers which cannot bring us to a standard life we mostly dream of to be comfortably happy, aside from our good relationship with the divine.

I heard an old woman pour her strong faith in God in front of her batchmates during their reunion in the same place where we also held our team building. She said that despite being poor, she believes that God would always be with her and her family. I lend my ears carefully as she continued that even though she’ll die being poor without achieving any of her dreams soon, at least she got one thing she’s holding on- her faith in God.

Are we truly imprisoned by poverty if we stay in this country? Or are we truly free when we look for a job and migrate to other countries? I don’t know if those teenagers during my time have this kind of confusion. We have a love for our country. We have a lot of things to fight for and be proud of in this country. However, the ego sometimes speaks for what is better. For me it’s not a temptation but a kind of reality that needs to be considered as we grow old and start to see what the books did not tell us in college.

Edmer John Caballes

Cebu City