The Value of Life in the Philippines
Just what is the value of a human life in the Philippines? For a country which is considered to be very religious and dominantly Catholic, it is very ironic to say, in my opinion that, there is human life holds very little value here. I haven’t really come to grips with the idea… and I think that I would have a problem accepting it. In a country whose wealth is concentrated in a very elite few, it isn’t a wonder that services, no matter how dirty the job is, can be purchased for only a few thousand pesos.
Take for example the tragedy that happened recently. I stampede erupted because tens and thousands of poor Filipinos wanted to participate in a game show which promised them lots of cash…and offered even more hope that they will be uplifted from the current life that they are living now. The stampede claimed 71 lives and caused more than 500 people to be injured. While some people lay dying on the ground, the rest are ignored them and continued to proceed to the staging area where the games will be held. While I’m not entirely absolving the television station of its negligence, the participants are not entirely blameless either. The Philippines is suffering from deficiency in moral values and I think that this is an even bigger problem than poverty. That the country’s top leaders are the most lacking in these values, is even sadder.
Most foreigners consider the Philippines more dangerous than poorer countries such as Macedonia. Why? Because, the people here don’t care. The whole country is ruled by greed, pride and corruption. It is ridiculous that a lot of people borrow money to show off their designer clothes, shoes, bags, gadgets… just to be buried in debt and be unable to pay their obligations later.
I am not bitter that the world is being run by money. I accept that fact. However, I am extremely disappointed that those who know better pretend that they don’t. With the way things are going here, it would not come as a surprise that the depreciation of a human life's value is taking a diagonal downward path.
Take for example the tragedy that happened recently. I stampede erupted because tens and thousands of poor Filipinos wanted to participate in a game show which promised them lots of cash…and offered even more hope that they will be uplifted from the current life that they are living now. The stampede claimed 71 lives and caused more than 500 people to be injured. While some people lay dying on the ground, the rest are ignored them and continued to proceed to the staging area where the games will be held. While I’m not entirely absolving the television station of its negligence, the participants are not entirely blameless either. The Philippines is suffering from deficiency in moral values and I think that this is an even bigger problem than poverty. That the country’s top leaders are the most lacking in these values, is even sadder.
Most foreigners consider the Philippines more dangerous than poorer countries such as Macedonia. Why? Because, the people here don’t care. The whole country is ruled by greed, pride and corruption. It is ridiculous that a lot of people borrow money to show off their designer clothes, shoes, bags, gadgets… just to be buried in debt and be unable to pay their obligations later.
I am not bitter that the world is being run by money. I accept that fact. However, I am extremely disappointed that those who know better pretend that they don’t. With the way things are going here, it would not come as a surprise that the depreciation of a human life's value is taking a diagonal downward path.
posted by charlotte marie at 1:55 PM
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