By Ernesto Del Castillo
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ernesto_Del_Castillo
The "War-on-Poverty" had always been a Campaign Issue in every Election - National & Local. All Philippine Presidents vowed to fight poverty in their respective Term-of-Office. Despite that, Public Debt was always higher than before when each left the Presidency. With Cost-of-Living increasing yearly, "Hunger Incidence" is perceived experienced by more and more Filipinos.
The Suicide of Mariannet Amper is a very sad story. Mariannet was a 12-yr old who had been skipping school classes because she had to occasionally help her Mother do laundry - to feed a Family-of-9. Her Father was oftentimes out-of-work as a Carpenter. Marianeth, as the 6th Child-of-7, left a Diary-of-Hardships - concluding, that a "Better Life" was hopeless. To add bitterness to Marianeth's sad story, Philippine Media reports that a Catholic Burial might be denied her - consistent with Catholic Teaching & Tradition which abhor Suicide. Ironically, the "Feeding Program" for Public School Children and the "Livelihood Programs" for the Filipino Poor failed to reach Marianeth's Family - somehow.
The never-ending National Debates (on GMA's Presidency & Impeachment; on controversial Electoral Results & suggested Reforms; on Corruption Charges against Public Officials suspected of Influence Peddling. On Bribery Incidents happening in Congress and in Malacanang. On Charter Change suspected to favor self-interest groups instead of the Common Good; etc.) divert the Nation's Attention and Resources farther away from attending to urgent needs of the Filipino Poor.
In this "War-on-Poverty", Overseas Filipinos are our heroes. Their non-stop Inbound Dollar Remittances benefiting their relatives in the Philippines is acknowledged as the single factor increasing the value of the Philippine Peso. Without their monetary help, the ran-away Cost-of-Oil (about U$100/barrel) could have made life in the Philippines even worst. God bless our Overseas Filipinos!
The Suicide of Mariannet Amper is a very sad story. Mariannet was a 12-yr old who had been skipping school classes because she had to occasionally help her Mother do laundry - to feed a Family-of-9. Her Father was oftentimes out-of-work as a Carpenter. Marianeth, as the 6th Child-of-7, left a Diary-of-Hardships - concluding, that a "Better Life" was hopeless. To add bitterness to Marianeth's sad story, Philippine Media reports that a Catholic Burial might be denied her - consistent with Catholic Teaching & Tradition which abhor Suicide. Ironically, the "Feeding Program" for Public School Children and the "Livelihood Programs" for the Filipino Poor failed to reach Marianeth's Family - somehow.
The never-ending National Debates (on GMA's Presidency & Impeachment; on controversial Electoral Results & suggested Reforms; on Corruption Charges against Public Officials suspected of Influence Peddling. On Bribery Incidents happening in Congress and in Malacanang. On Charter Change suspected to favor self-interest groups instead of the Common Good; etc.) divert the Nation's Attention and Resources farther away from attending to urgent needs of the Filipino Poor.
In this "War-on-Poverty", Overseas Filipinos are our heroes. Their non-stop Inbound Dollar Remittances benefiting their relatives in the Philippines is acknowledged as the single factor increasing the value of the Philippine Peso. Without their monetary help, the ran-away Cost-of-Oil (about U$100/barrel) could have made life in the Philippines even worst. God bless our Overseas Filipinos!
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