In the Eyes of Ekang
Kara David, a journalist, hosts this episode of I-Witness. I have to comment on her writing style especially how contrast makes the introduction of the documentary “Sa Mata ni Ekang” thought provoking. She started on the family as the basic unit of society. Moreover, she seemed to ask a rhetorical question. What would happen if the light, guide, and the foundation of a home would be a hold upper, pimp, shabu runner, and an out of school youth? The documentary seems to expose how commonplace is poverty in the Manila slums. As a result, the morality compass would lean on “just doing a job” to provide scarce basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing.
Aristotle states: “The mother of revolution and crime is poverty.” This assertion rings its veracity like a liberty bell. In regard to the documentary, poverty in the Philippines seems to trap its citizens to a life of survival instead of opportunities. The reason I liked the documentary is its truthful exposition. Not all news is good news, and it is the duty of the journalist to convey the truth, no matter how flagrant.
In the US, my powers observations try to differentiate poverty from the Philippines between the US. I know it may seem a futile attempt for comparison; however, I have to communicate noticeable difference. I do not remember the source of this story, but it tells about a beggar who was panhandling for food. The commuter tried to give a bowl of salad. The beggar vehemently refuses and says: “I am on a high protein diet.”
The moment I heard the story, I want to tell the panhandler: “Beggars can’t be choosers!!!!!!!” I could not imagine such refusal.
Back to the Ekang introduction, I want to share that poverty creates a reality. Realities often have different versions, especially, when comparing a third world country to a first class one. I am not ashamed that I came from a third world country. I appreciate what I have now, and share some of the perks of being here. What I don’t usually get is how the US generates a lot of waste that when converted to a monetary value, it can help a third world country.
Food waste alone is such a surprising statistics. Food policy Institute states: “Federal statistics suggest that nearly 26 million tons of food wastes are generated annually in the U.S.” Had people been conserving and only eating what is enough, such wastes could have been converted to a monetary value. It may help the destitute, especially the Ekangs of the Philippines.
Work Cited
Food Waste Management
I-Witness the GMA documentaries
