Of “Pagpag” and Pinoy poverty

I am human. My life constantly depends on nature. From the air that I breathe; from the food that I eat; from the water that flows from the underground to my thirsty mouth, I am all-human.  It feels saddening, though, that despite the equality of every human depending from these natural resources, life isn’t really equal.  Amidst the ever growing technological breakthroughs as well as the advancement Science, poverty lingers like a rust-stain in the fibers of a white, cotton shirt. 

Food is one of our sources of life.  It is in that where we can see the myriads of differences between the poles of human status. The quality of life typically depends not on the kind of food we eat being offered in our tables but the quality of food we eat. I believe you’ve heard the kind of food known as “Pagpag”.

Philippines is supposed to be a rich country. Its natural resources and the beauty that goes with it are astonishing. We’ve been blessed with unparalleled provision of nature from the mountains to the valleys and to the land and seas. But why when we look at our country particularly the places of urban poor and far-flung rural areas, we can’t help but to take solace to the remaining strength our psyche can summon.  How these places endured by human when what you see are rubbish all around with stench so strong you would hold you breath to the point throwing up.  Roads littered with human excrement and animals with their waste scattered around. The place is where children spend the day and even nights, all without proper shelter, clothing and food. That is how we learned of “Pagpag”: the recycled remains of food already consumed but still worth some portion that are salvageable.

For many it is garbage. Food that was left by someone from restaurants and popular fast food are being collected and dumped. Chances of dirt, bacteria and diseases that could penetrate its containers are of huge possibility. But for some, Pagpag is like a piece of heaven rained down on Earth during one’s birthday party. The chances of finally having something to fill-in the stomachs, which for days stayed empty, have finally arrived. 

Pagpag can be a stigma that would further deteriorate Filipinos integrity in the eyes of the world. But we cannot deny that it is a symbol of our people’s survival, and of inventiveness and of improvisation.