Don’t Blame the Government Entirely for Poverty
Posted on December 3rd, 2007
I was listening to DZRH yesterday. Thanks by the way to Jeff for creating the PinoyBusiness.ORG Toolbar where you can listen to Pinoy AM and FM stations where ever you are in the internet. Anyway, the program was a debate about the actions done my Sen. Trillanes about the Manila Peninsula siege in Makati last Nov 29. It was a nice debate until I suddenly heard some speaker complaining that his husband can’t get a job because of the current situation and financial volatility of our the current administration.
In the Marcos Administration, people complain they can’t get a job because of Marcos. In Cory’s Administration, people complain they can’t get a job because of President Aquino. I’m sure that it’s the same with Ramos’ and Estrada’s regime.
So, why blame the government? Even if Bush, Clinton or whoever great leader rules this country, people will never get a job and will never be financially free if he keeps on blaming someone else. A rich person gets wealthy because of himself and no other. I am not rich yet but I came out from poverty because I have faith in my self.
Ang magpapayaman sayo hindi ibang tao kundi ang sarili mo.
And here’s the problem, as a typical Filipino looks for a job, he then is not hired after not having to get one in several applications, he then quits, goes home and blame someone else except for himself.
Here is a nice Video from Tony Robbins, an American life coach and author of the audio programs “Personal Power II” and “Get the Edge!”, that will surely get you motivated to keep you going.
Here are steps that you should take:
- Dream – This gives you the “why”, because it all starts with an ambition. When were young, we have great ambitions. Some wants to be a doctor, some wants to have his own swimming pool, etc. But as we grow older, our dreams gets to be limited because of the reality that it is really hard to get away from poverty. And this is an example of self-imposed limitation.
- Decide to be rich - It’s not an option, I’ve met many people from rags to riches, people who where previously vendors and scavengers but was able to come out from poverty because they decide to be rich. Also don’t decide to be in the middleclass. Don’t limit your dreams.
- Take Action – Thinking is useless without any action done. I don’t have to explain this.
- Analyze results – Prioritize opportunities to improve on. Newton’s third law, for every action… You already know this. Determine the things that produce good results as well as those who yield horrific outcomes.This was once said to me by my mentor:
- Make Adjustments – Continue the good and drop all the bad and design and optimize a process using creative solutions to fix and prevent problems.
Wag ka lang analyze ng analyze, para di ka maparalyze!
To a certain extent, government has a responsibility for creating prosperity. Let me cite a few examples I’ve gone through and learned from in my years with the National Anti-Poverty Commission.
(1) Educational mismatch. Our educational system does not teach the “survival skills” young people need to survive in the present world. I sat once as a member of the committee on ICT during the drafting of the current MTPDP, and the major debate at the time was the direction that the educational system should be encouraged to take: stronger English language and technical skills, or a stronger humanities and general education program. I was with the DAP guys on the side that argued that a strong humanities and GE program is needed, because we do not need to become a nation of technicians, we need to become a nation of creators and creativity does not come from learning how to press a sequence of buttons, but how we can generate “content” for the Internet world.
(2) inability of government agencies to acquire the “pro-poor” lens. in 2003, I was part of an inter-agency training on Poverty analysis and program development conducted by the UNDP, and it was here that I learned how the way our government designs programs have really little by way of a poverty perspective. Investing on a road for instance, is not a decided on the basis of benefits to downstream and upstream beneficiaries, but more in terms of the political and “pocket” benefits. Furthermore, upper and mid level government managers who are supposed to be the ones designing and implementing government programs are rarely conscious of the issue of equity for the poor. it was only last year, for instance, that the DOT has initiated a Pro-poor tourism program (GREET). What about the hundreds other government agencies?
in the end, it is crucial for the “equity lens” or what is commonly known as the pro-poor approaches in designing programs be inculcated among government officials and leaders. While the top people may have the heart, it is the midlevels who must translate these directives into workable programs, and here, very few of our governments’ technical officers have the “eye” for it.
Of course the goverment has a responsibility for the nation’s poverty and prosperity but what PinoyBusiness is saying , you are not poor because of the government. You may be poor because of the goverment, if you just a kid, but as an adult, you yourself is to blame.
10,999,999 Missing!
Where are they? This is the common question being thrown at Sen. Trillanes after his failed coup attempt lately.
This is his second attempt to overthrow PGMA of which only lasted 7 hours. What happened? Where are his supporters? Where are those 10,999,999 who voted him for a seat at the senate? Are they tired of his rhetoric’s and ideals? What was then the reason why this almost 11 million voted him a seat? Were the Filipino’s being deceived by his promises or they’re promises? Or the Filipino’s were just being desperate for a radical change that is why they adhere to these idealists.
On one hand, some suggested why not just go to prison and write a book for him not to include others? Well, we don’t need Rizal anymore in this portable generation where people are getting smarter everyday, where people are confident of themselves, and people don’t rely to our governments’ initiatives just to become somebody. We’re just damn too confident and contented that the government has done their part and now it’s our time to execute our part i.e. survive. And to them, they’ve realized that doing writing a book is not effective anymore effective, a waste of time and nobody can hear them. They wanted to be heard! We’ve been hearing you years ago but were not listening anymore. As to why, you’re dreaming!
Rodel, actually, you are bumping on the wrong wall. What the author is saying is that the government should not be blamed why Filipinos are poor. I think he is against the actions done by Trillanes.
I agree since many complain going to the streets instead of working or innovating or thinking how can he.she be rich….instead of complaining
actually, im also against his move lately.. you can read the whole article here http://www.againstactivism.com
sorry for the misconception.. i think were in the same boat..
Tama sinabi ni PinoyBusiness, hindi ibang tao ang magpapayaman sayo kundi ikaw mismo. Pero ang problema, GOBYERNO ang nagpapahirap sa bawat Filipino! Ako sinuwerte lang na nakapagtapos sa kolehiyo dahil sa libreng pagpapaaral at nakapagtrabaho sa abroad. Marami ang hindi nakapag-aral sa kolehiyo dahil hindi sila naihanda ng maayos dahil sa kakulangan ng mga silid-aralan, libro at iba pang gamit sa eskuwela. Sino ba ang dapat magbigay nito? Di ba ang gobyerno? Ang mga buwis ng mga Filipino, saan napupunta? Saan pa e di sa bulsa ng mga buwaya! Marami pa kong pwedeng banggitin pero siguro naman alam nyo na rin yon.
Amen brother.
Every country has a fuked up gov’t. Every country has corruption, and education problem etc.
And here’s the problem, as a typical Filipino looks for a job, he then is not hired after not having to get one in several applications, he then quits, goes home and blame someone else except for himself.
Sums up the problem in a nutshell.
Where I live majority of the population waits outside the western union office waiting for some relative overseas to send them a remitance payment. Meanwhile all they do is sleep all day and then complain how hard thier life is and why they are so poor. Meanwhile in every second store window has a sign asking for help wanted. If by some miricale they get a job at the store they will complain how little it pays. Well guess what the store owner can not pay you more, because of the poor quality work which is done.
Resorts are a prime example. Resorts run by foriegners even thought 2x the price are always full. A pinoy run resort right next door is empty. In the pinoy resort, you are unable to get basic service. Then at the end of your stay the owner will just decide to tack on random charges just to make a few extra $$$. So you end up with a pissed off guest, who will never come back to the resort, and he sure as heck will not recomend his friends. The resort in a while goes under, ofcourse who gets the blame, the government.
Most Filipinos when they work for a company do not seem to realize that if the company does not make $$$, they will not have a job. How many times have I called a company, only to be disconnected, been told, no I can not help you I am eating lunch etc. Soon the filipino company goes bankrupt because of poor service, i am not sure how that is the government’s fault, but I am sure they will get the blame.
To make matter worse. A filipino who gets a job, is a hard worker etc. Soon his useless relatives find out that he is making money. They then proceed to beg money off him all the time, pulling him down. To make matter’s worse they will even bother him at work so he can not do his job properly, or even worse yet will tell him to ask the employer for an advance etc, so he can give them $$$. Since he no longer can do his job properly, unfortunately I have no choice but to let him go. And sure as rain, his useless relatives will complain that it is the governments fault.
Not all filipinos are like the ones I have described. Some are hard workers, who make the most of every opportunity. These filipinos should be a beacon for the rest of the country. Many of these filipinos dispite having no education do exceptionally well for themselves. But then again no one talks about these filipinos, for they prove that it is not the governments fault they are poor.
It is time for the filipino people to get out of the “poverty mentality” and show the world what they can do. The government will not do that for them. Only they can do it themselves.
Excellent post.
you’ve nailed them on the head bro!
Hindi ako sang-ayon na sisihin ang ating gobyerno na dahilan ng paghihirap ng ating bayan. Ito ang aking pananaw nuon, sa dahilang ito ay makakadagdag lang ng mas maraming problema sa ating lahat kung tayo ay magsisisihan, magpupukulan ng sisi. Pero dapat ding malaman ng gobyerno na ang taong-bayan ay pinili at hinirang sila sa pwesto, kasama ang pagtitiwala sa kanilang panunungkulan ay gagawin nila ang makakabuti sa sambayanang Pilipino, hindi ang kanilang pansariling kapakinabangan. Pero ang tanong ay ganito: Ang ating pangkasalukuyang gobyerno ba sa ngayon ay tumutupad sa kanilang ipinangako, sinumpaan sa taong-bayan na mapapabuti nila ang ating kabuhayan?
Mula ng mapatalsik ang rehimeng Marcos, hanggang sa ating kapanahunan ay nananatili parin ang paikot-ikot ang mga lumang pulitiko na ito. Mga kroni nuong araw na mga kakutsaba ng pinalayas na palubog na gobyerno, sa ngayon ay yumaman na ng husto, at sila-sila nalang ang nakikinabang sa ating inang bayan. Mga may amag nang pulitiko, hindi kuna babanggitin at kilala nyo naman sila, panahon pa ni Marcos ay nandidyan na at ngayon nandidyan parin, kaya naman ipapamana na nila ang nasimulan nilang pwesto sa kanilang mga anak, kamag-anak at malapit na kakutshabang mayayamang negosyante, mga matatandang kumpanya na sila nalang din nuong una, at sila parin ngayon. Dating magka-away, magkakampi, dating magkakampi, magkaaway, ganyan ang pulitiko “kung nasaan ang mga patay ika nga ay nanduduon lang ang mga buwitre”.
Nakakalungkot, ang pangyayari kay Ginoong Trillanes, makalawang beses nyang ipinakita ang kanyang katapangan, upang ipahiwatig ang hindi pagkasang-ayon, pagkadismaya sa ginagawa ng ating pamahalaan. Si Ginoong Trillanes ay hindi pa nababahiran ng mga katiwalian sa kanyang panunungkulan sa aking palagay, sana ay huwag syang pagamit sa mga matatalinong-tuso, makasariling matatandang pulitikong bihasa sa pangwawalang-hiya sa kanyang kababayan.
Ito ay palatandaan na naghihingalo na ang ating pamahalaan, na syang lumalapastangan sa ating sambayanang Pilipino, hindi na nya kayang tumayo sa kanyang sarili, sa dahilang kalat na ang kanser sa kanyang buong katawan, kung kayat, sino man ang mauupo, dahil may hawang kanser narin ang papalit wala din tayong pupuntahan, tulad ng dati, sa kangkungan parin tayo pupulutin, kung meron pang kangkung.
Ang kailangan natin ngayon ay “pagbabago, paglilinis”, nangangarap lang ako o nananaginip kung tutuusin, hindi pa huli ang lahat, kung ang mga nakaupo sa gobyerno ay magsasakripisyo, o aalis nalang sa pwesto kung wala ka naman talagang magagawa na, huwag na sanang magpumilit pa. Sana ay matuto narin tayong lahat na sa darating na pagpili ng mga taong mauupo sa ating gobyerno ay dapat bago, alisin ang mga luma (trapo). Magbaka-sakali nalang tayo sa bago, hindi kilalang pangalan, na walang mga kautang na loob….ng sa gayon ay hindi tayo mauuwi sa sisihan.
Kahit anong linis mo, kung ang lawang nilalanguyan mo ay marumi, marumi ka na rin. Kahit na anong sipag o galing mo, kung ang oportunidad mong makapagtrabaho ay naunsiyame dahil sa kapabayaan o kasakiman ng mga taong nagpapatakbo ng gobyerno, gutom din ang aabutin mo.
Tama! We dont have to blame the government but all the people running the government specially the POLITICIANS, qovernment officials from PRESIDENT down to KABATAANG BARANGAY. Sila ang dahilan kung bakit ganoon na lang ang paghihirap ng mga tao - masyado silang corrupt at makasarili. Sad to say na aadopt narin ng karamihan ng pilipino. We dont care kung masama o mabuti ang ginagawa nila - ang importante sa atin ngayon kung makikinabang tayo, take a look of the AFP & PNP. We must have a total renewal - we have to ask GOD’s GUIDANCE ” the 10 commandments” and get rid of greedy politicians & government officials. Its time to act now and move. God Bless our country.
It’s the governement’s duty to create innovative policies in the country to alleviate us from poverty. People pay these officials in the form of taxes to educate them in helping themselves. If the Filipinos will continously be impoverished, it is the governement’s failure to act on what they are expected to do.
Kaya nga merong word na “entirely” sa title ng article na ‘to because partly government is to blame, and partly ourselves. most people kasi dito talk lang ng talk, maybe we should “walk the walk”
Poverty can mainly be blamed to the people themselves. Statistics reveals that poor Filipinos have more family members and bigger families tends to be poor families. Development experts say that there are only two main reasons why poverty can be prevalent in a country particularly in developing countries like the Philippines: 1) Corruption and 2) Overpopulation. We can also blame the church, especially the catholic church, sa pakikialam sa population policy ng bansa. Dinedemonize pa nila ang programa ng gobyerno para lumabas na kasalanan ng gobyerno ang pagopapaangat ng kabuhayan ng mga Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng artipisyal at modernong pamamaraan sa family planning. Syempre naman, pag maraming mahihirap mas maraming pumupunta sa simbahan upang humingi ng tulong sa diyos dahil sa dami ng problema at mas marami ang magbibigay ng abuloy sa simbahan. Bato-bato sa langit ang matatamaan ay….