Krysta Yousoufian

The Philippines suffer deeply from poverty. Many people, from humble parish members to national presidents, have attempted to improve the bleak situation; unfortunately, the state of affairs in the country reflects little or none of their work. While poverty is a grave enough problem on its own, it is also closely related to the issue of gender equality. A UN press release reports that, according to the Chairperson of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW), “women [suffer] the most from the effects of poverty […]” (Press Release). Improving the economic situation in the Philippines is not only necessary for general human rights but for women’s rights as well.

An unacceptable number of Filipinos endure poverty. Approximately 26.5 million citizens were impoverished in 2000[1] (Asian Development Bank vii). From October through December 2005, 16.7% of families endured at least one instance of hunger, a discouraging increase from the August report of 15.5%. Similarly, the United Nations Development Program notes that the number of citizens without clean drinking water has increased between their last two annual reports (Estacio).

As in most cultures, life in the Philippines is particularly difficult for women. According to ADB’s Country Gender Assessment, the poverty that is so abundant “amplifies gender imbalances by narrowing the choices and opportunities of women to participate fully in the economy” (5). This report also notes that there are generally many people in one household and asserts that, as a result, women cannot “participate [as] fully in the job market” (vii). The document seems to imply that in such households, women are too preoccupied with domestic activities to hold a paying job. In addition, the average income is lower for women, according to data from 2000-2001. A reason for this discrepancy is that some of the lower-paying (regardless of gender) fields of employment are also the fields that are filled with more women than men. Apart from during the years 1999 and 2000, females have had a higher unemployment rate as well. One apparent consequence of this is that, unable to find jobs within the country, they look overseas; 49% of 2001 overseas Filipino workers, or OFW’s, were females[2] (Asian Development Bank). Unfortunately, female OFW’s are at risk for “exploitation, abuse, and maltreatment” (Press Release). Many are physically or sexually abused or are denied the wages or conditions they were promised (Asian Development Bank).

Even women who do not accept jobs overseas are not guaranteed full recognition of their human dignity. Some might take jobs in the “informal sector” instead of the “formal sector”; unfortunately, the large informal sector is characterized by worse conditions, worse wages, and “significant gender based differences in employment status […].” Meanwhile, still other women work in “service sectors and […] the garment and electronics industries […].” These are two of the fields that employ high percentages of women, but because many of these employees work from home, they are denied “social benefits” such as insurance (Asian Development Bank viii).

Finally, more women resort to exploiting their sexuality for their income. Often, they move to large cities such as Manila to get jobs, perhaps deceived by the people who promised them employment and unaware of their fate (Delvigne-Jean). Other forms of abuse toward women are also important issues; the Country Gender Assessment lists “sexual harassment in schools and at work, trafficking, forced prostitution, domestic violence, and marital rape” as some of the forms that females face. In recognition of the close connection that women’s rights and poverty share, the publication also reports that “[v]iolence against women has recently been identified as […] contributing to […] their vulnerability to income and human poverty” (viii).

The government has taken various efforts to improve women’s situations. In 1975, it founded the NCRFW, and in 1987, it officially recognized that both genders are equal. The NCRFW has designed several plans to help women: the Philippines Development Plan for Women, created in 1987; the Philippine Plan for Gender-Responsive Development, 1995-2025; and the Framework Plan for Women, dated from 2001-2004 (National Commission, Asian Development Bank viii). A UNICEF article also notes that to prevent females from being “drawn into the sex trade” and to help those who already are involved in it, the government has “a women’s desk” (Delvigne-Jean). Oppressed women can at least take comfort in knowing that, to a large extent, the government is not the enemy of women’s rights.

People have worked to help the impoverished of both genders as well. The Asian Development Bank is an organization whose focus is on “improving the welfare of the people in Asia and the Pacific” (About ADB). The recent presidents of the Philippines have also taken action: in 1994, President Fidel Ramos created the Social Reform Agenda, President Joseph Estrada later designed the Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services, and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the current president, implemented Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan, which translates to “Unite to Fight Poverty” (Estacio). In addition to these governmental plans, non-governmental organizations are a crucial component of the movement to overcome poverty. The Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO) helps the thousands of Filipino NGO’s and PO’s (people’s organizations) become more effective by joining forces (Caucus).

Archdioceses, dioceses, parishes, and the Sisters of Providence are also taking action. Bishop Socrates Villegas of the Diocese of Balanga is an ideal example. He has introduced a wide range of relief for the needy, including “scholarships, feeding programs, illiteracy programs, [and] livelihood programs […].” In addition, the Archdiocese of Manila also asks people to donate 25 cents per day to the poor, and at Christmastime, the members of a Metro Manila parish brought in food ample to support 400 families. The Sisters of Providence, a religious group belonging to UNANIMA International, have often focused on women in particular in addressing poverty. Sister Celerina Estacio, S.P., mentions that in one of the Sisters’ locations, a part of Quezon City, they “work with the mothers and children […].” She adds that they have also “introduced some initiatives to help these poor people [in a part of Balanga], most of them women.” Religious people and groups are realizing the need to help the poor in the name of their religion (Estacio).

Despite all these efforts, poverty continues to be rampant, and Sr. Celerina Estacio suggests a number of changes. The government is one significant problem; surveys indicate that governmental corruption is particularly bad in the Philippines, with such problems as “[p]oliticking” and graft hindering efforts. Also, the majority of the government budget is spent on payroll and the government’s debt, severely limiting the money available for the poor. Eliminating some of this debt, if handled carefully, could create important resources. One possibility is “converting half the debt into equities” that “creditor nations” would devote to important causes. There are also many other changes, whether among the government or NGOs, that could help reduce poverty. For example, “[e]mpowerment instead of a dole-out mentality” would help the impoverished become self-sufficient. Furthermore, studying populations more closely would highlight who most needs aid and how this aid could best help them, thus using funding more efficiently. These are just a few of the many improvements that could add up and make a difference for many Filipinos (Estacio).

The Philippines are an appropriate country for Holy Names students to be involved with. At 17.2% of the student body, Asians/Pacific Islanders are the largest minority at HNA, so students’ interest in a project would hopefully be higher than for some other countries (Spielman). A project involving the Philippines would also be a perfect project for API to help run. Furthermore, English is one of the official languages of the Philippines, so any interested student could participate (World Factbook).

A project could begin in the same way as the Kosovo proposal: corresponding with Filipino youth via blogs. Visiting http://www.globeofblogs.com/?x=location&country=88&page=1

reveals that Filipinos are certainly familiar with blogging. The high number of Asians/Pacific Islanders at HNA as well as the number of Filipinos (the number of Filipinos at HNA is not reported, but it seems to be a common ethnicity) might also create a connection that would spark students’ interest in both countries. Students could learn about each other’s cultures, unhindered by a language barrier. For example, the Filipino students could relate to the American students what their experience was concerning the role of women. If the blog was successful, a few HNA students could even visit the Philippines over the summer to meet their virtual penpals and perform community service. Holy Names would not only have increased its knowledge of other cultures but would also have made a small contribution to relieving the poverty in the Philippines.

About ADB. 2006. Asian Development Bank. 8 Oct. 2006 <http://www.adb.org/About>.

Caucus of Development NGO Networks Online. 2 Oct. 2006. CODE-NGO. 8 Oct. 2006 <http://www.codengo.org>.

Delvigne-Jean, Thierry. Freed From the Sex Trade, Girls Get a New Start. 26 Aug. 2005.
UNICEF. 8 Oct. 2006 <http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/philippines_28082.html>.

Estacio, Sister Celerina, S.P. UN Presentation on Eradication of Poverty. 13 Feb. 2006. UNANIMA International, United Nations. 8 Oct. 2006 <http://www.unanima-international.org/english/docs/Sister%20Celerina%20Estacio,%20S.P..htm>.

National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women. 2004. NCRFW. 8 Oct. 2006 <http://www.ncrfw.gov.ph>.

Philippines. 21 July 2006. Asian Development Bank. 8 Oct. 2006 <http://www.adb.org/ Philippines>.

Press Release WOM/994: SOCIAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING POVERTY, REMAIN
       OBSTACLES TO WOMEN'S ADVANCEMENT IN PHILIPPINES, WOMEN'S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
       COMMITTEE TOLD. 27 Jan. 1997. United Nations. 8 Oct. 2006 <http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/1997/
       19970127.wom944.html>.

The World Factbook: Philippines. 5 Oct. 2006. CIA. 8 Oct. 2006 <https://www.cia.gov cia/publications/factbook/geos/rp.html>.

Spielman, Christie. Holy Names Academy 2006-2007 School Profile. Holy Names Academy. 8 Oct. 2006 <http://www.holynames-
sea.org/AboutHNA/ pdf%20profile/2006-2007%20School%20Profile.pdf>.

[1] There is a discrepancy in reports about poverty. Numbers that this report provides appear to place the percent of people who are impoverished at slightly above 33% in 2000, but the CIA estimated 40% in 2001. Estacio’s publication said the United Nations Development Program’s more recent “index of human poverty” was 16.3%. It seems that unless some or all of these sources are inaccurate, there are multiple criteria for poverty or there have been surprisingly extreme changes in the poverty rate lately.

[2] This number, too, shows a discrepancy. The Asian Development Bank reports, “The 5% growth in the number of OFWs in 2001 was largely fueled by the surge of female employment overseas (11%); male employment overseas grew by 0.2% only” (38). However, if 49% of OFW’s are women, as the same document claimed, then the UN Press Release’s claim that “In 1994, 60 per cent of deployed overseas Filipino workers were women” does not seem to fit.