Do you remember the poor this Christmas?
In the comforts of your mansions and condos, do you know that there are many families sleeping in the sidewalks, exposed to the hazards of nature and pests? Do you realize that for every rich family in exclusive villages, there are a hundred and more, thousands of families living in informal settlements of urban poor? Do you even consider that for every well-to-do child being driven to and from shopping sprees, by uniformed drivers of air-conditioned and bullet-proof limousines, there are thousands of half-naked street urchins begging for foods ? In the security and serenity of your homes, did it ever occur to you that millions of Filipinos will be spending Christmas in evacuation centers and refugee camps?
While eating your very expensive dinner with your loved ones in luxurious restaurants and hotels, do you remember the young boys and girls outside who will most probably sleep without eating supper tonight? Do you ever consider the fact that while you and your officemates are enjoying Christmas parties and exchanging gifts, the security guards outside have not yet received their thirteenth month pay? You delayed the processing of the security agency's billing, thus the guards may have to wait for New Year to get their bonus? Do you realize that the waiters serving you are prohibited from partaking of the leftovers after your celebration?
While you splurge in giant malls, buying things that you do not really need, did it ever occur to you that the sales staff servicing you have not even been paid their salaries? They have not even gotten the money they need to buy foods for noche buena. They are being rushed by you and the other buyers but they themselves do not even have the basic needs for their own loved ones. The sales clerks who are assisting you in your rush Christmas shopping have not even bought any gift for their spouses and children. And the baggage boys, the parking assistants, and the guards again. Do you even look at their faces and discern the sadness and longing in their eyes?
While you send gifts to the rich and the famous, to the powerful people who do not need anything at all, do you ever include in your lists the girl who wrapped your gifts, the boy who carried your bags to your cars? In your efforts to impress your big bosses and managers, did it ever occur to you that the janitor, the dish washer, the messenger do not even have the money for their Christmas dinner ? And you, in government, do you even consider the poor casuals, and contractuals, and the so-called Job Order workers whom you unabashedly claim to be without employer-employee relationship, to justify your blatant denial of their fundamental rights and basic benefits?
Have you seen the beggars who are chilling with rains and winds, have you touched the hands of street urchins outstretched to you begging for foods? Will you excuse yourself on the pretext that alms-giving is against the law. Is it against the law to give foods to the hungry, or clothes to the naked, or shelters to the homeless? What kind of laws do we have that we allow politicians to steal billions from the government but we prohibit the giving of foods to the poor? What kind of government do we have that we strictly enforce the laws on labor contracting but we allow government agencies to exploit the poor through Job Orders arrangements?
Oh, judgment, to quote Shakespeare, thou art fled to brutish beast. And men have lost their reason. I must pause for a real Christmas, and, if it pleases you there, for any reply, after.
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