Do you think that present Philippine society value human life much less than its neighboring coutries?

Question

People at all levels of society are slain regularly for insignificant political or monetary gain all the time. There is little concern for the welfare of the poor, even hapless children, who are dying from starvation and disease literally on the streets. What gives? I would prefer honest answers and no retorts based on denial and false pride please. I know better.

Please, no answers about how it is the same elsewhere, my question pertains to Philippine society and please limit the scope of your answer within that topic.

Geoff, feel free to answer the question with references to other countries--just avoid the tendency to use those references to rationalize the sad state of the Philippines by using the well-worn excuse that other countries are just as bad. That's what I meant.

Answer 1

All these killings will have no other to blame but the government. But wait a minute......
Human life starts from the moment of conception. is a sacred thing and government must protect those who are defenseless.
I take pride that the present government chooses human life above others. This was shown when this government withdraw its humanitarian forces in Iraq in exchange for the life of a lonesome overseas Filipino worker abducted by the militants.
This government scrapped the death penalty embidded in our Constitution and hailed by the CBCP even it means a gross violation of the Philippine Constitution being a "piece-meal" amendment to the charter.
This government postponed the holding of the ASEAN summit to January/07 to keep human lives away from the impending harm on the onslaught of a super- typhoon. This country just recently was ravaged by a super-typhoon and to risk the lives of people both local and foreign coming to Cebu is unimaginable.
This country is not a welfate state, but despite its limited budget ( bulk went to pork barrel) it imbark on public work reconstruction, feeding program, and relief assistance to the victims. Yearly.
What else is left to able bodied unemployed Filipinos. They do dastardly acts for survival.
Now is it the lack of government assistance, neglect of the church on their moral teachings, or this material world that push them to the wall.

Answer 2

Good question and the first one that I read concerning real issues in your country.

Restricting my answers within the region, answer is a big YES!

YES when there is little or no welfare for the poor especially in the provinces, many of the poor in the slums within Manila are from the provinces.
Comparing Vietnam in this instance, there are no homeless or street children begging in Ho Chi Minh City, the government forcibly removed all squatters and homeless into state owned agricultural projects in the provinces, human rights abuse, I don't think so coz they now have a solid roof over their head, meals on the table and children get an education all in exchange for some decent work in the farms.

YES when the whole country is held hostage by the ignorance of the constitution which is heavily invoked by your politicians to their advantage.
Reintroducing the death penalty will be a good option but those truly responsible for the wanton killings are also influential.

YES when it can cost as little as 10000php to contract a killing.

YES when Filipinos do not unite but are full of that infamous tendency for envy and jealousy amongst friends, neighbors and even siblings.

YES when everything foreign is good and when they hold little regard for things back home including lives.

YES even on Yahoo Answers.I do not recall reading anything about the recent typhooons and death toll, after Durian I am almost amazed to read questions on lifestyle from the Filipinos here. More than 1000 lives lost in Bicol lost was cheap and somebody else problem.

YES again when you see the clear social distinction and bullying of OFWs working overseas, those of higher earning capacities discriminating against the lower paid domestic workers.

How can lifes be regarding more seriously in the Philippines? The Church is all out against abortion, I am against that too but should'nt the Church sanction contraception then?

Poor ignorance and false pride, this are the ready ingredients on the platter for your ruling class to exploit each time. When all things go bad, they just arrange another mega gameshow episode on WOWWOWWEE again.

Lots of BulaBula is all that I can conclude.

Just want to add.....

If you see all the flimsy squatters around manila and provincial town nestling precariously on 2X1 inch supports on hill slopes and anywhere soft,

thats the result of poor welfare and planning and answer to your question coz LIFE IS GONNA BE CHEAP when another natural disaster hit those areas. Where's the prevention?

Answer 3

Honestly? you need to know the culture. Filipinos do not take it lightly when insulted or humiliated. For politicians, conflict starts when media people report or in some cases make up stories about a certain politician to tarnish his reputation. This would end up harboring a grudge that sometimes extend to the entire family or clan. This is quite evident among Filipino Muslims. Politics is politics. There is a lot at stake. Whoever gets elected gains control of the government, the people and be able to protect his personal business or interests from his rivals. Most of all no one ever admits defeat. Filipinos tend to be competitive. If you drive a car, try speeding beside it and before you know it, you are in a drag race. Again no one wants to be a loser and be humiliated. Now combine these attitudes and you find a deadly cocktail. "Utang na loob" or debt of honor is a factor why politicians give concessions to other people without regards to the law.

Most Filipinos struggle just to get by a day. Why should I attend to other peoples problem when I have my own? This is the typical answer you will find in the streets. If they do not give this answer they are basically too ashamed to admit it. Again not to be humiliated. Filipinos are also family oriented and therefore the problems of the family comes first before anyone else. The "Bahala na" or come what may come attitude is also a reason for this lack of concern for the poor.

However, despite these bad traits, there are still good Filipino traits. Unfortunately it is not being promoted and used properly. Take for instance, "Utang na loob" or debt of honor. If you do something for a certain Filipino, he would try to repay it back. Unfortunately most people use it in the wrong way, hence the corruption. "Pakikisama" or to join the majority is also a good trait but is used wrongly. Even if you know it is wrong but you have to join the majority or Pakikisama or else you will be ostracized by the group or even the family.

And for Leo, typhoons are a typical event here in the Philippines. It normally happens 20 times a year in the country. Deaths and mudslides are a recurring thing that is not anymore new to Filipinos. As I have said before we have too many problems already, do we need to hear another one? To cope up with the surrounding problems Filipinos find ways to entertain themselves even if you find it cheap and demeaning. Unfortunately it sometimes lead to alcohol and drug abuse.

Answer 4

I Agree, Society Does Suck! in truth It rather Sucks - yet All feasible Do is merely flow with the bypass, Or each person no longer Following receives hastily Brushed below The Carpet. there's a lot Sh*t happening In Society it truly is almost not undemanding no longer to Care! yet you recognize What - How about We merely imagine of all the Deep Faults In Society because the previous And Our personal man or woman destiny As desire. all of us recognize more beneficial Than Society, and could no longer enable It merely Sweep Us Into The nook! there's a lot To lifestyles, And human beings are not any further the in effortless words issues on the earth. imagine certainly contained in the experience that you're outside That darkish modern contained in the River, You Do recognize more beneficial and obviously There Are Others like you Too. merely keep on as if lifestyles's All A comic tale, we are All merely yet another Ant on the floor Or Shell on the coastline, and are not any more beneficial or a lot less significant Than each person Or some thing else on the planet - in this Infinitely vast Universe! So snort At those stupid Politicians Who imagine Their So significant of their Posh clothing And rich autos, Or The Dumb human beings round Who Can not in any respect look on the vast photo In lifestyles, reason Their those dropping Their Lives As an entire. So snort At Them!!!

Answer 5

Obviously, life is valued in the Philippines just like anywhere else. It is just, Philippine media magnifies all the bad elements. For example, if a foreigner is robbed in Manila, it goes to the mainstream media. In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I was robbed at knife point and my case didn't go any further than the police station that I reported to. Same thing with those cases.

Answer 6

You say "Philippines only" but also say "than its neighbouring countries". You're contradicting itself. How can you compare when you're not allowed to consider other countries?

So therefore the answer is Yes. And it is also No. And also Maybe. Because you cannot answer this question - it's impossible.

Answer 7

Poverty will cause any society to behave with total disregard for civility. Desperate scumbags will steal and kill to survive. Do filipinos value human life? Yes, they value their own and those of their kin. Would they value yours? Not necessarily.

Do rich people in that society value the taong grasa? Hardly.

I as a filipino (who lives in the US), do I value others? Not as much as I should---I love my dogs more than I love other people. Heck, I care more for my dogs than I care for some of my close relatives. hehehe...

Answer 8

the philippine government isn't that much different than the governments in most countries. most of africa, latin america, and asia have similar problems. i have filipino friends with lots of stories but mexicans and sauds and indians and just about everyone else have similar stories.

Answer 9

in general, life is still valued and respected here i think.

one example is abortion is illegal and im not really sure, but i think leathal injection is suspended.

Answer 10

yes!