Philippines, Where Did Your Intellect Go?

At first I though it was me, but really, after more than a year in this country (Philippines, in case you didn't know), I am more than a little bit disappointed with the intellectual capabilities of the local Juan (or in American, the local John Doe). Seriously. I'm disappointed.

From simple decision-making skills, to seemingly basic choices, I wonder what is the sort of kindergarten and primary school system this country gives to its citizens. The typical neighborhood dude (in my area, for instance) simply cannot cannot make the simplest of intellectual leaps, probably because they never question anything. When I say anything, it's anything.

Case in point. I was talking to a neighborhood girl who sells me candy on most mornings. She sees me in my silly tight sleeveless training shirt, and asks where I am going. I say I'm heading to the gym. She says, "no wonder you're not that tall". Er..? I'm 20 years old, miss. I started doing weights seriously just about 2 months ago, and since when did gym = vertically challenged? Anyway, I replied that no, gym has nothing to do with height, especially at this age, and that height is basically genetics. She goes yeah, sure, up to whatever you believe. LOL. I can only shake my head.

Here's another laughable logic that I have noticed here. It is when parents or older members of a given family uses two words to explain to their children or younger ones why an action should not be done, like stealing or lying. "Masama yun." It literally means, "it's not good". Er..? Could you please try and give whoever you are trying to teach a little bit more of a logical explanation? Why can't I skip school? Masama yun. Why can't I watch this show? Masama yun. Why can't I miss church? Masama yun. Well thank you for not letting your children and others hear a bit more logic in your arguments. And as for those listening to these stupid answer, please, for the love of all that is holy, question why. No, I am not invoking civil unrest, but really, no good questions equals no good answers equals a backward and ridiculously apathetic society, which is beautiful motherland, Philippines.

Oh and another one, as this post turns into a rant thread. I just cannot understand the average Filipino's fixation on game shows. They're everywhere! I don't get it, seriously. I mean, here you are, sitting in your sparse little kitchen wondering how to get more money, and you switch on the telly and you see an average person just like you winning a few thousand pesos, and you go, oh my, how lucky they are. When you see someone win a million pesos, you go, oh my how very lucky they are! In Tagalog, of course, but you get my point. Er.. Here's the point. Watching people make money in a seemingly lucky way makes everyone who watches this religiously become poor. Why? Simple. These silly game shows breed a nation of dreamers and hopers, a society that wants nothing more than to 'strike it lucky' so 'they can spend it all in one day'. No exaggeration. Here's a REAL conversation I had with a relative.

"If you won the lottery, what would you do with all the money?"
"I would pay all my debts, and give the rest to my family members."

Sounds like a good answer? Wrong! Na-ah! First, that money you won in the scenario will go up in smoke in no time if you just used it to appease your family members. Come on Filipinos. Let's cut the crap already. Helping family who do not help themselves does no one any good. Ever. You know what helps? Using that amount as a capital for a business, or to invest it in companies that make a good deal of revenue. Heck, if I had that much, first thing I'll do is buy stocks from San Miguel. Beer never goes out of business in the Philippines. LOL. Then, passive income rolls in. I think the reason so many people here are so poor no matter how much they make (legally or illegally) is because they have this weird mindset that getting family members to waste money is productive for one's own business. *sigh* The things people do.

Watching a video in class of poor people, one thing struck me. All of these dirt-poor families have a lot of children. In fact, their common denominator seems to be poverty and a ghastly amount of children. Really strange. I would have thought that it takes the mental capacity of a dog to equate more mouths to feed equals to more money needed. Money that does not exist. In the video, a family of nine members live on 30 pesos a day. They are ridiculously malnourished. I stress on the 'ridiculous'. The 14-year old son weighs 12.3 kilograms. TWELVE. Holy crap. Out of the nine kids, 3 will definitely die in a year, and all the rest will die within three. The defense used by the idiots who justify this is that more kids mean more help for mom and pop. Er..? You stupid people. The kids are effing sick! They are literally shaking hands with the ferry-man of hell, that's how ill they are. They do nothing but moan and wiggle a bit sometimes, that's how dead they are. And when they are active, they get weak in a few minutes. What help can they give..? Come on people! A little common sense here please!

Ranting never felt so good. :)

Jay~