PHOTO ESSAY: THE POOR

PHOTO ESSAY: THE POOR!

Guide Questions:

1.   What is the POOR?
      The poor are those individuals in our society who cannot satisfy their daily vital "needs" and even their "wants" as human beings. They can't support themselves of their basic needs, because they lack financial resources and empowerment. Most often they are termed as the marginalized sector or, in some ancient societies, the outcast. And most usual than not, they are neglected by the society because they cannot contribute to the country's progress and development.

2.   Who are those people being considered poor?
   These poor people are the marginalized sector of our society. These people are the victims of poverty plaguing the 3rd world countries. Mostly, just like in our country, they can be found dwelling in slum areas in every cities. Some of them actually, are people from rural areas who are hoping to find their luck in the developed regions of the country. Since most of them cannot support themselves financially, they resort to crimes and drug abuse as escape and answer to their overlapping problems.

3.   What are the problems of the poor?

   Since they lack financial resources, they lack motivation and empowerment. Actually, the problem is within them. There are many alternative resources but they usually took it for granted. All they have to do is to cultivate these resources and turn it into money. The point is that financial incapability is not a hindrance to personal development. Corollary with this is the problem of discrimination. Most often than not, they are treated as if they were not humans and as if they were not part of the society. Instead of helping them, other people try to put them lower them than where they are now.

4.   How is the poor being treated by:
a.   Government
Since we belong to the 3rd world countries, most government programs are focused for the empowerment of this sector. Government services should be geared towards the alleviation of these problems. Government services are offered to the poor since this is their obligation as stated by our constitution. Though these programs are centralized for the poor, these are not enough to the growing population of the country which majority of whom comes from these sectors.

b.   Society.
   In our society, the poor are often neglected and discriminated, Instead of helping them; other people treat them as if they have a contagious disease. Other people tend to look at them as outcast and the source of the problems of the society as crimes and many others.

c.   Community.
   A community is a group of people who shared common goals and traits. With this; poor individuals also have small communities because they share common conditions and problems. They tend to group themselves outside of the society that they should belong to. This happens because they see the constant discrimination our society puts on them.
      
d.   Private Companies.
   In private companies where civil status and education status in life is an edge, discrimination and neglect is prevailing for poor individuals who lack this edge. At the every start, private companies try to look at the background of the applicants. And most often, poor people receive lowest type of jobs available. A job of this kind connotes low salary such as janitors, elevator operators and etc.

5.   What can we do in order to help the poor?
   We can help the poor by empowering them. Empowering means teaching them how to cultivate alternative resources as a means of livelihood. We can also offer them extra time so we can educate them the basics of proper education. In short term, we should not give them fist instead we should teach them how to catch it. Because if you would just give it to them easily, they would just rely on you and would expect to give them the next catch.


SYNTHESIS:

   They poor in the bible are the destitute, oppressed and powerless. They have no one to turn to, no one to defend them and to fight for their rights. They are like lost sheep without a shepherd. They have no one except God on whom they put their trust. Jesus was addressing the first beatitude to them. They are really the materially poor. "In spirit" , was a phrase added on by Matthew later when he wanted to emphasize to the early Christians the need to renounce or give up their attachment to riches. Their hearts must not be imprisoned by greed for riches.