Sunday, February 3, 2008

The P36 Challenge

I was watching the Sine Totoo show last night and I could not help but write about it. A report came out recently that a government study states that an ordinary Filipino can survive on 36 pesos a day. Documentary writer Jay Taruc was probably just as amazed as I was about how they arrived at that amount that he decided to make a documentary about it. He challenged himself first. He tried to go about his daily business but limit his daily expense to 36 pesos on that day. Naturally, he failed dismally. So he decided to challenge others to spend only P36 on a single day while he and his crew followed the challengers around. A teacher, a jeepney driver, and a congressman agreed to the challenge. As expected, they all failed. He tried to get the President, Gloria Arroyo herself to take the challenge since the report came from her government but after so many times of trying, Madame President just dismissed his attempts to invite her. Well, helloo! Who in his right mind would say that an average Filipino can survive on P36 a day. Whatever government agency made that report should be abolished. It is most obviously manned by either the most stupid individuals in the Philippines or those who would say anything and sell out on their morals, principles and integrity to the devil at MalacaƱang for money. It is so irritating, nay, it is maddening to know that the Philippine government, top to bottom, is made up of the biggest liars the world has ever known. My grandmother used to say that anyone who lies is also, most probably a thief. How truly wise an observation that is! The Philippines is in such a mess because the government is composed of cheaters, liars, and thieves. And what is even more lamentable is that the people, because of the (bad) example set by its leaders, have followed suit. We have become a nation of liars , cheaters and thieves. Woe to the Philippines! Mothers, please, it is time for you to make your presence felt. The moral regeneration of our country is in your hands. Teach your children well. Teach them what is right. And when they go astray, lead them back to the right path. Even when they are already 60, they still need to be reminded that what is wrong is wrong. In that, there are no grey areas.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've seen that docu too, no pinoy can survive for 36 pesos, kaya ang daming nagugutom eh. But if you've seen the documentary about the very poor pinoys, I forgot the title, duon kasya ang 36 pesos. All they can buy from their earnings for the day is a kilo of rice and 5 pesos worth of chichiria similar to fish crackers. The chichiria serves as their viand. Oh di ba ang lupit!

Liz said...

Yay! Nakalimutan ko kaya nga pala ako nandito kase me tag ako sa yo http://mlizcochico.blogspot.com/2008/02/friendship-meme.html,
nacarried away sa article na ito at nanggigil na naman at naalala ko ang 36 pesos budget. hmp.

♥ CC ♥ said...

thanks for dropping by. I would love to xlinks with you too. i will add u here http://chalyza07.blogspot.com/ and i hope u will do the same

Anonymous said...

Have you seen the latest in sine totoo? The budget for each prisoner is P10/meal. So yung P36/day siguro na sinasabi nila eh para sa pagkaing preso. Pilit nila pinapaniwala ang mga manonood na maganda na ang economy natin.

Thanks nga pala for the visit.

mschumey07 said...

In-update na ng NEDA yan. It's now P76 per person. The average household expenditure now is P760 per family of four. I don't know where the NEDA gets its figures, the claimed GDP growth is suspect too.