Poor but happy
Before their return to Japan last February 24, the 32 students from Toyo University who participated in this year's Toyo University- UP Cebu Spring Workshop presented their field research findings. Together with Prof. Gaku Manago of the Regional Development Studies, the students spent several days interviewing residents of Bgy. Luz.
They dialogued with children and adults and asked about their life in this community. They focused on topics like education, employment, garbage and disaster management, health and hygiene.
Their field exposure clarified for them what Prof. Felisa Etemadi shared with them in an earlier lecture about what poverty means- " a state of lack or deficiency to meet the basic necessities for survival" or " the inability to meet the basic needs to attain a decent quality of life."
Using income and non-income indicators for poverty, the Japanese students saw for themselves how different and difficult life seemed to be for the children and adults of Bgy. Luz. The more observable deficiencies were there - from improperly managed garbage, lack of clean supply of water, unclean toilets to malnourished, inadequately clothed children, unemployment, insufficient income, housing and land problems, and more.
To these problems that they observed, the Toyo students made very clear, concrete suggestions like drawing up a simple yet interesting graphic manual about garbage management, making signboards and hazard maps, doing campaigns back in Toyo University for donations and volunteers for toilet construction, drinking water supply availability and building a special place for emergency supplies, proposing workshops and training for disaster management and for job opportunities, encouraging contests and prizes for clean toilets and water supply, among others.
While clearly observing the "poor" and their "impoverished" conditions in Bgy. Luz, the Toyo students also shared their surprise to learn that Filipino children consider education to be very important, not only for themselves but most especially so they can help their families. Despite having materially less in life, the Toyo students were also surprised to hear the children and adults in Bgy. Luz express that they are happy about their life. The Toyo students also reported seeing and observing genuine happy eyes and smiles from those they met in Bgy. Luz!
Everywhere else they went, they saw and were greeted by smiling and happy children and adults in their relocation site in Danglag, Consolacion and by those in Purok Igot and other communities throughout San Francisco, Camotes Island.
For sure, they will continue to reflect about the true meaning of poverty and about who are truly poor. Are the poor those who are materially deprived or are the poor those who are deprived of happiness? Are the poor those who are happy or are the poor those who are unhappy?
Of course, we need to improve the material lives and situation of many of our people throughout Cebu and all other communities in our country. Providing adequate, sustainable, healthy food, water, shelter and ensuring employment and adequate income are goals that should urgently be addressed.
Many countries have embarked on their own path of development but in the process of providing for these material needs, the need for happiness of people, of individuals seems to have been compromised or neglected. The high rates of suicide, depression and other mental, emotional ailments including the lack of care providers for the elderly in many developed countries deserve to be more deeply analyzed by those in countries still struggling to adequately meet the material needs of their people. The path to prosperity taken by developed countries not only neglected people- nature and the environment have also been abused and neglected.
The Toyo University students were not the only ones left to reflect on the true essentials of life. Despite our material poverty, have Filipinos found the real treasures of life- family, love, human relationships, happiness?
How can we construct a better protective society where we can enhance, not lose these essential treasures? How can we remain happy and go beyond material poverty?