Dealing with Poverty

Nobody is alike. It is also true that this overused words translates to how each different person deals with poverty. Even though poverty is generally the same to everyone, people show different takes on it. 


Aida Selmo, 53 years of age, had been a vendor of assorted fruits and vegetables since 1981. She faces poverty with a hopes in her heart. 


A native of Pangasinan, she spent her first years as vendor in the wet market of her native town. Then wanting to try her luck, she went here to Metro Manila. She found a residence in Pasig City and eventually, had a family. Realizing that moving and working in Manila was not as easy as she believed, Aling Aida ended up selling her goods in the streets. She became a sidewalk vendor taking chances on available spots attainable for the day around Pasig's public market. Her husband who is already 61 years old had his share working as a construction worker. Though the couple suffers difficulties, it helps that both have jobs. Together, they eased two of their 10 children to finish studies. One became a Seaman, the other Engineer. Aling Aida hopes that she will be able to continue supporting her other children. 


She feels content that she earns P300 a day from selling her goods. She does everything so that her children will not have the same fate she have. 


A lady passed by and saw the unripe mangoes on Aling Aida's basket. She decided to buy, as Aling Aida told her how much her purchase is, the lady thought twice. She put the money back in her purse and handed the already wrapped mangoes back to Aling Aida. Aling Aida nevertheless looked for the day ahead. With a smile she hoped that the bad buena mano wouldn't affect her sale. 


Fernando Jimenez is a 66-year old man. Both time and poverty have consumed him over the long years. He have been a magbobote for 35 years and now he doesn't hope. 


Mang Fernando left Bicol for having the mistaken belief that going to Metro Manila would free him from the harshness of life. He had a family in Pasig City. Because of poverty, he told that he lose three of his six children. Death of a child is painful, to think of three deaths, it's hard to imagine. 


Mang Fernando starts his day at seven in the morning and starts his work by scavenging bottles, papers, metals in places unfit for the health. then he goes around the vicinity pushing his carts, all the while shouting "Dyaryo! Bote!" Most of the time, he stops work by midnight. Even after this long hours of walking, he goes home with an income ranging from P50 to P100 a day. He tells me, "'Pag 50 (pesos), tuyo ulam namin. 'Pag100 (pesos), isda." This way of living is made too familiar to Mang Fernando. When asked if he hadn't tried looking for other jobs, he blandly reasoned that there are no jobs for high school graduates like him. 


Don't expect Mang Fernando to encourage you that if you pursue, you'll have a better life. He doesn't believe in this anymore. He has even made himself an example, "Ang tagal kong nang nagsisikap, umangat ba ako?"