To the anti-squatters: Let them eat cake!
When the French queen Marie Antoinette was told that due to the increase in taxation the poor had been left starving, unable to buy even a loaf of bread, she had notoriously said, “Let them eat cake.” While the legitimacy of that anecdote is in question, it is standing testament of how oblivious the corrupt French court, led by Marie Antoinette’s husband King Louis XVI, was towards the plight of her citizens.
That bitch.
The rest is, quite literally, history. The abuses of the court birthed the French revolution, helmed by the slogan “Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite.” After the storming of the Bastille, the revolutionary forces captured the king and queen, tried them for crimes against the people, and sentenced them to death. Up to now, France is free of the monarchy.
The past two paragraphs are not everyday knowledge talked about in the Philippines. If you are starving and you do not have enough money to feed your twelve children, you wouldn’t care about French history. However, the story of the French revolution is taught in our high schools and in our colleges. Not directly, sure, but what college graduate can raise his hand and say that he has never read or at least heard of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities or Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables?
Proof that revolutionaries are hot.
It is therefore quite peculiar why it is the middle class, those who have had the luxury of education, those who have read Dickens or have watched the recent Les Mis film, those who have cheered on the heroes and idolized the ideals of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, that condems the actions of the impoverished sectors of our society.
Recent news has highlighted the issue of squatters, a derogatory term used to refer to those who erect cardboard houses on other people’s lands. For them to be evicted, the owners of the land have to provide them with an alternative place to live, and, in the case of the government, new housing constructed by volunteer groups such as Gawad Kalinga.
What color you choose says a lot about your personality
This move towards government-sponsored socialism has been met with severe backlash from Philippine society. The outrage expressed by most people was how come these, to use their terms, ne’r-do-wells, hooligans, good-for-nothings, are given free housing from the taxpayer’s money, while they, the middle-class, struggle financially. They claim that the government is babying these poor people. They chant that the squatters are abusive and arrogant.
It is very ironic. These middle class citizens, those who work cushy entry-level government or corporate jobs, have forgotten. By worshipping the capitalist beast of the West, fresh graduates put on suits and ties and start working for US-based companies, those that line Pasig and Ortigas and, well, all cities really in Metro Manila. They think they make good money, when in fact Western corporations are so grateful for low wages in Asian countries — or, why did you think they were outsourcing in the first place?
They’ve prostituted themselves to the West and they’ve had their first paycheck. They think they’re rich. They think they’re better than everyone else. They’ve forgotten that they were once probinsyanos; they rode carabaos, they swam in creeks, they played patinetero. And now, safe from the blistering tropical heat, they watch from their windows as manong mantataho braves the agony of the sun or as manong drayber takes another circle.
This is not to disparage the work done by the middle class. I’m sure it’s important (to someone). But you cannot play the lazy card. Manang labandera works too. Manong constru works too. Manong guard and manong janitor from your company work. And they work as much, if not even more so, than you do. Try, just try, to lift the taho cans for a day. Try to construct buildings as you are carried sixty feet up with nothing more than a rope. Try to pour coffee, clean tables, mop up vomit for a day. Then take a look at how much you made. It’s at the very most half of what you would normally take home. Now budget that for eight people.
If you play the education card and show your diploma from your prestigious UAAP school, that is also equally meaningless. You graduated. Congratulations. You are not special; you are lucky. To graduate elementary is fortunate. To graduate high school is an honor. To graduate college is a priviledge. Education should be a right for everyone; sadly, it is not. Because when your family of twelve can barely afford to eat, fuck Shakespeare, let’s buy tuyo.
Did someone say fuck Shakespeare?
If you play the taxes card, first of all, congratulations for paying taxes. But we all do. Or haven’t you heard of VAT?
Taxes go towards the government and (ideally) back towards the people in the form of government services. In a perfect world, this includes socialized services such as medicine, education, and livelihood. That is the reason why we have public hospitals and schools. But a good part of the responsibility of a government is to safeguard the lives of every citizen. EVERY citizen. That is why European and American countries have welfare and employment insurance, to recognize that everyone may not be financially capable at all times, and to provide assistance. Why then is the government given a hard time when it is doing its job? That is the role of the state (well, at least ideally).
Your taxes put to good use.
And, finally, if you really want to play the abusive card, be very careful of who you accuse with abuse. Yes, I agree, there is something abusive.
For example, a nation that has forsaken its children. A people that forget. In grade school, we are taught “nationalistic” values such as bayanihan, wherein when one person needs help moving, everyone in the barrio lifts the bahay kubo. A culture that treats the poor as dirt, that dismisses their anguish as laziness, that mocks their hunger, that glorifies their pain. Where is compassion? Where is empathy? Where is that Filipino nationhood that we all seek to build? Or are they just empty statements for Facebook statuses?
They are squatters and they are poor, let them get jobs!
They are hungry and they are poor, let them eat cake!
The middle class that had the opportunity to read Dickens and Hugo, that have condemed Versailles, are now the Marie Antoinettes of society. They do not understand. This is not abuse. Because what part of they are the victims of daily abuse is so hard to understand? When you see the house where all your children have grew up torn down by demolitionists — no, this is not abuse. This is not arrogance. This is rebellion. This is revolution.
Would you side with your countrymen and raise a flag for liberte, egalite, et fraternite? Or would you prefer the sweet fall of the guillotine against your neck?
Related articles
- Bianca’s Classy Trash Talk Against Squatters… (jcc34.wordpress.com)
- Squatting syndicates victimizing real squatters (opinion.inquirer.net)
- Manila Squatters in anti-yuppy riots (thefreeonline.wordpress.com)
Hello there! This is an awesome article; very insightful and filled with legitimate arguments.
Probinsyanos are lured to Manila’s promises of wealth and good job opportunities just like many of the middle class is lured to the promises of richer countries. Furthermore, many of the derogatory terms the middle class used against squatters mirror the way Chinese government described the Philippines in the South China Sea dispute.
However, I think it is unfair to compare present day squatters to 18th century France.
It’s not as if nobody is trying help them. For generations, the Filipino gov’t and citizens have tried to fix the ‘squatter’ issue (however lacking). Only it hasn’t borne fruit because we are not addressing the main problem, this “kawawa-naman-ako-kaya-dapat-akong-tulungan” mentality has got to go. I’m definitely not defending the capitalists and richer middle class, please don’t get me wrong. As a society, we must be willing to help each other: I agree with you on that. But sometimes helping should be in the form of discipline. You’re not really helping a classmate if you’re letting them copy your test answer all the time, right? All I’m saying is: maybe the best help we can offer is to let them step out of poverty… with their own strength. It may sound condescending, but I sincerely believe that all these people need is respect and a good slap in the back. (let’s also throw in a bit of micro-financing to the right and education grants to the left…)
50 years of OECD financial aid to Africa has done them little good. French revolution was successful in two things: fattening madame guillotine, and replacing their king with an emperor/conqueror. “Squatterism” will continue to be the norm in Philippine society if we keep sending the message that it’s OK to do it because we are here to help. Certainly we must be here to help; but not help them continue their ways by randomly handing out food and ‘pabahay’, constantly telling them ‘kawawa naman kayo’. To truly pave a way to development, we can’t ask anyone to be our heroes; we must learn to take the beatings and stand up on our own.
Hello there! This is an awesome article; very insightful and filled with legtimate arguments.
Probinsyanos are lured to Manila’s promises of wealth and good job opportunities just like many of the middle class is lured to the promises of richer countries.
Furthermore, many of the derogatory terms the middle class used against squatters mirror the way Chinese government described the Philippines in the South China Sea dispute.
However, I think it is unfair to compare present day squatters to 18th century France.
It’s not as if nobody is trying help them. For generations, the Filipino gov’t and citizens have tried to fix the ‘squatter’ issue (however lacking). Only it hasn’t borne fruit because we are not addressing the main problem, this “kawawa-naman-ako-kaya-dapat-akong-tulungan” mentality has got to go. I’m definitely not defending the capitalists and richer middle class, please don’t get me wrong. As a society, we must be willing to help each other: I agree with you on that.
But sometimes helping should be in the form of discipline. You’re not really helping a classmate if you’re letting them copy your test answer all the time, right?
All I’m saying is: maybe the best help we can offer is to let them step out of poverty… with their own strength. It may sound condescending, but I sincerely believe that all these people need is respect and a good slap in the back. (let’s also throw in a bit of microfinancing to the right and education grants to the left… :D)
50 years of OECD financial aid to Africa has done them little good. French revolution was successful in two things: fattening madame guillotine, and replacing their king with an emperor/conqueror. “Squatterism” will continue to be the norm Philippine society if we keep sending the message that it’s OK to do it because we are here to help. Certainly we must be here to help; but not help them continue their ways by randomly handing in food and ‘pabahay’, constantly telling them ‘kawawa naman kayo’. To truly pave a way to development, we can’t ask anyone to be our heroes; we must learn to take the beatings and stand up on our own.
I was getting convinced to be pro-squatters until “Now budget that for eight people” and “Because when your family of twelve”. It’s either napakaraming anak or 1 lang ang masipag na nagpapaka ugaga sa pag tatrabaho habang yung ibang kaaanak ay umaasa at kamot itlog lang sa bahay.
“Proof that revolutionaries are hot.” #youreridiculous :)))
What would you feel if your property was the one being squatted on huh? ANO? IBIBIGAY MO NA LANG? They one you worked hard for just to have then some freeloader built a house. When time comes that you’ll be needing the land, hindi nya ibibigay unless bayaran mo or bigyan ng bahay. WHAT WOULD YOU FEEL ABOUT IT? Hindi ito charity. What about the land owner’s right to ownership? Ganun-ganun na lang isasantabi yun kasi pro-poor tayo? ganun? Parang land grabbing na dating nun na, pagnanakaw. Sana alam ng mga squatter lumugar dahil alam naman nila hindi kanila yung lupa kaya one way or another kelangan nilang umalis like it or not.
they think they are still poor. this is class war. hating the lumpen proletariat. Envying the rich on TV. 98% of people feel poor but they hate those poorer than them because they know how lucky they were
maries cousin owned a brugel factory (egg bread). She said let them eat brugel to advertise it. Pointing out it was healthier for the poor (who could not buy it)
I will say this one, I am against TRESPASSERS and those squatters are TRESPASSING in someone’s property!!! Palayasin yang mga yan!!!
It is not the government’s job to directly provide the basic necessities. It’s job is to provide the environment so that everyone can provide the said necessities themselves.
Let me tell you: I’m anti-poor not in the sense that I hate poor people per se, but it’s because I want them out of their miserable out of their miserable state. And no, it’s not the government’s job to do that. I just want it that they get out of their miserable state ON THEIR OWN without relying on anyone. That way, they shall have a sense of empowerment.
“For them to be evicted, the owners of the land have to provide them with an alternative place to live, and, in the case of the government, new housing constructed by volunteer groups such as Gawad Kalinga.” – No matter what, they shall always return to the urban areas to squat. It can’t be helped; it’s in the urban areas where most of the opportunities are. How about either bringing them into the provinces and/or creating a more efficient mass transport system (like the bullet trains of Japan)?
“By worshipping the capitalist beast of the West, fresh graduates put on suits and ties and start working for US-based companies, those that line Pasig and Ortigas and, well, all cities really in Metro Manila……They’ve prostituted themselves to the West and they’ve had their first paycheck.” – If you’re that mad at the West, then why are you using a Western language? Why are you using a Western apparatus (namely, a computer)? Why are you discussing something which involves the West (I don’t have to look further on your blog site ‘cuz I’ve seen this first thing when I saw this blog entry of yours: https://deelaytful.com/2013/04/12/disney-princesses-from-least-slutty-to-sluttiest/ Now doesn’t that involve the West)? And why do you have to base something as either good or bad based on race?
“Taxes go towards the government and (ideally) back towards the people in the form of government services. In a perfect world, this includes socialized services such as medicine, education, and livelihood. That is the reason why we have public hospitals and schools.” – Leftist much?
“That is why European and American countries have welfare and employment insurance, to recognize that everyone may not be financially capable at all times, and to provide assistance.” – Have you recently checked the economies of these countries? Haven’t you realized that the reason most, if not all, of these countries’ miserable state (such as the PIIGS of the EU) is because of too much welfare (which apparently is what our government is actually doing)?
“A people that forget. In grade school, we are taught “nationalistic” values such as bayanihan, wherein when one person needs help moving, everyone in the barrio lifts the bahay kubo.” – Sorry to tell you, but nationalism is a now obsolete concept. Don’t drag us back to the pre-WW2 era, where nationalism was so rampant it affected countries badly.
Overall, I say this is just one of those hypocrite, leftist articles……
“They’ve prostituted themselves to the West and they’ve had their first paycheck” – I dont even like what you said about people working for foreign companies! What if there is no choice than to work on these companies or to go abroad!? Before you compare every working man as prostitutes, shows us that you only eat tuyo and saluyot for every meal you have and wear camisa de chino for your everyday wear. Most people just have no choice – eto ang pwedeng magbigay ng pagkain sa hapag kainan at isa pa natanggap naman ako sa trabahong ito.
Just to be historically accurate, the phrase was never clearly attributed to her and is considered a myth by many scholars. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_them_eat_cake
I doubt if the PH middle class the ones who work in cushy Ortigas and rat race Ayala, have read Hugo, Dumas or Dickens. The PH middle class rarely reads literature as I gather from “pundits” on social media (social media in PH BTW is almost an exclusively middle class phenomenon according to social media researchers). They are largely illiterate. And since we are into the subject of middle class illiteracy, let’s give justice to Marie Antoinette, she never said “Let them eat cake”! In fact she meant well and had much empathy for the poor. The tragedy is that her and the rest of the aristocracy’s concept of bread is brioche. “Brioche” or its equivalent is what the PH middle class queues up for after 9 PM in mall bread shops like French Baker! Rousseau may have put the words in her mouth in what could be history’s biggest misappropriation. Let them eat bread! Now isn’t that revolutionary? Brioche unfortunately was translated into “cake” by the English establishment in their distaste of the Revolution in France. Cake has a different meaning to Anglophones.
The PH middle class should be on the streets given that the economic gains of the Noynoy boom isn’t going to them. In fact it isn’t going to anyone except the uber riche. The logical outcome should be that the PH middle class should be in solidarity with the lower classes, but instead they defend the Noynoy boom since they believe that made it easy for them to own a piece of space in the sky (a.k.a. condo rights), which when the next bubble bursts, will be just that, sky!
What we need are investments that create jobs and it should be the middle class in PH that should lead in this.
Finally an article that sheds light on this issue! Kudos!
Okay, some facts…
1. The reason why Socialism works in other countries is because people are getting back what they paid for in taxes.
2. So it’s wrong for provincials to actually make a decent living?
3. No one said you should have 6 children
4. Revolution? What revolution?
5. Marie Antoinette never said “let them eat cake”.
For me there is no justification for anybody who put up residency to somebody’s property without permission or legality. i am working hard all my life to provide something for my family and if someone occupies the property i acquired with my hard earned money what do you think I will feel and do? And if it happens to you what what you do?…, provide a place for this someone who violated your right to your property? I doubt people in their right minds who are middle working class will do that. But since our government tolerates the attitudes of these illegal occupants, we the middle class sometimes become victims of their practices. In my town it’s no secret that once a housing unit’s been awarded to an illegal occupant, they will soon rented out this unit to other people earned some money out of it and go back to occupying other properties, that’s why they’re called professional squatters!
I beg to differ. Hindi porke’t nakaahon na sila ay nakalimutan na nilang mahirap sila dati. Kung nakaahon mang matatawag yun. The point is masyado nang nasasanay ang mga [professional] squatters sa mga dole-outs at paawa. Ayan tuloy, malalambot ang tuhod.
Ba’t ka nga naman mag-aanak ng marami kung alam mo naman na hindi mo kayang buhayin yung mga [magiging] anak niyo. O baka naman kasi yung long-term plan nila ay gamitin ang mga anak para umasenso. May mga kilala akong ganun ang mindset. -_-
Kailangan na rin nilang madisiplina. Ika nga, learn the hard way.
Medicancy will kill us ALL in the long run.
Just read your piece, and as divided as I feel about the issue because of some personal experiences, I thought it was very insightful and I found myself agreeing with many of your points. We do have a false sense of entitlement and self-righteousness as the middle class–which is also balanced by the valid point that there is an element of lawlessness in illegal settlements. My brother’s classmates in Philippine Science were terrified of commuting alone because they were often preyed upon by some members of the illegal settlement nearby, and ended up losing their valuables.
However, I feel that the latter problem IS RELEVANT TO THE LES MIS PARADIGM, contrary to the posts by other people here. If they did a close study of the nineteenth-century and penology (WHICH I DID FOR MY THESIS), they would see that it is social inequality that remains unchecked by the government which is actually the main reason why crime flourishes. This isn’t even all that leftist–Foucault supported this, and he’s no Marxist. If the environment makes the behavior beneficial, the behavior will persist. What is important here is social reform–and I think it begins, as you rightfully pointed out, by changing our mindset towards the less privileged (what a euphemistic, bourgeois way of couching the term POOR).
Write an article comparing this to the British welfare system problem! I think they have the same issues right now. Good job. 😀
In a perfect world, with all people following the rules, the welfare system is a good thing. In an imperfect world, where many cheat the system, putting a huge drain on the system, it is suicide, not for the cheat, but for the system, and those who fund it.
Nice article, but I am afraid I cannot agree with you in blaming the middle class for thinking the way, as you said, they do about mang magtataho and mang drayber. While well written, your criticism is directed toward the wrong sector. Hindi ba dapat yung mga policy makers ang kinicriticize mo?