Skin and Bones
I’m losing my head.
We watched Kara David’s documentary Buto’t Balat (Skin and bones), and it’s about how there’s only so little difference between the Philippines and Africa in terms of the percentage of people suffering from malnutrition. There’s this girl, yknow, I forgot her name (it was Angela, I think), but then she was bed ridden and she was extremely thin that I feel like her whole body is my neck. After watching it, my energy went down the drain, and I just wanted to lay down like her because it’s as if I could feel her pain. If you think Lindsay Lohan with the drugs was already super thin, think again. This is biscuit thin. Toothpick. Hair strand. THIN!!!
And then about three days after the release of that documentary, the girl died. Oh my goodness.
What a coincidence that after that class, it was Economics class and we were talking about Poverty. From the definition, my energy was lost again. It said “Poverty is not being able to go to school, living your life one day at a time, having no money for clothes, fearing the future, having no more food to eat,… What the heck. I wanted to cry, really. It’s just so much. Her image of thinness is lingering on my brain. I think she’s from Bicol, and according to my Economics professor, Bicol is one of the places where the rate of poverty is higher than the other parts of the Philippines (which is really poor anyway).
I’m from UP, and you know the vandalisms here aren’t the typical ones you see anywhere. If it’s not about sex, students write about their political/social beliefs and statements practically everywhere. One that I have read says “Starving in a land of plenty”. True, we’re blessed with so many natural resources. But now our forests are balding, and now look, Filipinos have nothing to eat. What to do, what to do?
I’ve never reacted this way to any poor person that I didn’t know personally. Well, according to my social pyschology professor, it’s because the idea had been personalized for me. I’ve been presented with a specific example so the impact was HUUUUUUGE. I am soooo worried. I can’t believe they don’t eat sometimes! Argh bring me back my energy, I can’t type well. 
I hope you’d see the documentary, too. I’ve been looking all over for it, and now I’m being addicted to i-Witness.
Okay, breathe. On the happier side of life: Korean Training Program starts on Saturday. 
Woohoo!
Am I boring you too much? Okay, sorry for the people who were freaked out of the doll I posted. Hehe. I was glad you were freaked out. Your being grossed out makes me happy. buhaha.
I’ve been a lazy blogger. My 365 didn’t work, and I dunno if I’ll re-do it. Heheh. Link exchanges are open, too, of course. I’d love to link you. Just contact me through the contact form. So, so, so just keep in touch yo! Anybody got Tumblr, Twitter, whatever?
'Sup? My name's Chiui. I am currently living in a huge ass sandcastle known for its 0% crime rate. Also a lover of the scent of crayons. I like making lists. Will never be caught sporting a mohawk. Pasta drives me crazy. I am sometimes unnecessarily mean.
Comments
Keiyt
I can’t stand to see children who suffer just because they are poor and I don’t get why the gov’t can’t help them as much as they should. :|
[Reply]
Lym
“Our country is rich in terms of natural resources, yet, we are so poor.”
Isn’t it ironic? It’s sad that the girl died, and everyday,people like her (inside and outside of this country), die.
Then election is coming, those aspiring leaders are holding their banner/s high which aim/s to combat poverty. It’s so sad, I hope that their platform will not just reach everybody by words, but also by deed — whether they get elected or not.
[Reply]
stevevhan
poor little girl. We can’t do anything for her but pray for her soul. I witness is also my fave documentray shows, GMA news is so good in
documentaries, but i dont sleep late at night these days(i am changing my attitude now,—to a responsible student, haha)
I believe. we are all part of this country’s problems. I was from STI convention yesterday and one of the topic is influence and the speaker says, we, the youth has the power to change the world, they give Ninoy, Cory, charice, arnel pineda and efren as examples—it moved me, this post as well.!
[Reply]
Angie
I really can’t stand to see children suffer just because they are poor. Why don’t there parents do something so that they can at least eat a decent food even once a day.
[Reply]
Zoya
Its hard to believe that there is such a difference between the living conditions of people. I find the global povert really depressing and it makes me feel really guilty that I get to live in such comparative luxury.
[Reply]
Tricia
“Starving in a land of plenty”. True, we’re blessed with so many natural resources. But now our forests are balding, and now look, Filipinos have nothing to eat.
[Reply]
Tricia
“Starving in a land of plenty”. True, we’re blessed with so many natural resources. But now our forests are balding, and now look, Filipinos have nothing to eat. - Very true. Because some people are greedy, the good ones sacrifice suffer. It’s really unfair. :| Everyone should get and enjoy what they deserve especially if they have been working hard all their lives.
Seeing poor people starve and die because of poverty weaken me. Documentaries like such make me weep and realize how blessed I am.
Anyway, doll? What doll? Havent seen it. I want you to be happier so I’ll add myself to your freaked-out-list.:D
[Reply]
Clarence
AWWw.
We must blame those corrupt politicians. They’re the reason why there is no progress here in our country. I really hate them. 
We’re suffering while they’re living a good life; a millionaires life. I hope change will come soon.
[Reply]
Hanae
I’ve watched something like that dati eh. Super payat nung girl as in nakakaawa sya. Grabe. Hmmm. Siguro nga sya din yung napanood ko. Hmm.
Life is so unfair talaga. Bwiset na mga pulitiko yan. Hai.
[Reply]
Karen
This post made me recheck everything and remind me that i should be thankful with what i have and stop complaining about stuff. It’s sad
[Reply]
jeniffer
Your not the only one who gave up already the P365, you can’t have everyday story..
Wow Up ka pala, sa UPLB.. talaga mas madaming vandalism jan? nakapunta na kasi din ako jan sa UPLB nag tour kami dun sa botanical garden.. ang ganda nga eh super..
You know, di lang Pilipino ang malnoursih at marami pa sa ibang bansa ang ganyan. They are suffereing from Kwashiorkor and Marasmus.. So di na yun bago.. Kaya nga kung may pagkakataon mas gusto ko sumali dun sa organization na FEED THE POVERTY.. kailangan nila yun..
[Reply]
Pauline
I’m like you when I see something like people that can’t eat or look so…poor and helpless. Tears build up in my eyes and I nearly cry. I feel
weak. I wish I could help people like the girl you were talking about. I really do.
I feel blessed that I don’t live in poverty… I hope one day no one does.
[Reply]
Tiff K
Aww man Chiui *hugz* I saw this video that we watched during High school economics class and it was about poverty too and plus add that to National Geo and Discovery and TIME mag, gosh.. there are soo many hungry people and I just wanna bring them all to an all you can buffet if I can.
Gosh, I think that parents are sometimes the cause of this, I mean parents who don’t strive for anything or for their children. Sometimes I think there is a lack of education, teaching livelihood to these parents so that they can take care of their kids. I don’t really know.. so now let’s imagine the job of the chief of the food industry here, what a big problem they have on their hands. Gosh, I hope that it can be solved 
[Reply]
Francine
It annoys me when perfectly normal girls think they are fat and go through extreme measures to get themselves stick thin. I blame celebrities for this. Its amazing how human beings on the television can affect teenage girls.
Whats more annoying is when I see girls in my school eat nothing but CRACKERS for LUNCH. And the fact that they give me dirty looks for eating a burger. At least I eat something.
[Reply]
Lady
I have friends who are deep in malnutrition, that they have been in rehab for a long time because they can’t seem to eat enough.
[Reply]
sheidz
I hope the next President of RP addresses this BIG issue. The root of poverty I believe must first be killed–I am talking about graft and corruption. It has been difficult for the Philippines but I am confident that we are still capable of changing.
[Reply]
melle
Nothing beats Bangladesh in skin and bones.. But yeah, Africa is like Bangladesh when it comes to that too.. :-(If you’re being addicted to i-witness, me National Georgraphic and Discovery Channel.. what the hell right? I just love documentaries nowadays.. Goodluck on your korean training program
[Reply]
Georgina
Thank you!
Well, relationships need to be worked on, and this isn’t my first either. I hope you have a good Valentines Day anyway! Spend it with your girlfriends! <3
You must really enjoy seeing us grossed out. Well, it was a creepy baby.
Reading or hearing about poverty and people being malnourished makes me feel so sad. I really feel for these people. I’ve seen people so thin and in such bad condition - it’s really upsetting.
[Reply]
Yanka
Your post really opened my eyes…
I guess we Filipinos still have a lot to do regarding the welfare of our fellow Filipinos. I really liked that part when you said something about “Starving in a land of plenty”. It really had a great impact on me
[Reply]
dyane
ive seen that too when we i was in highschool. it hurts to watch those kind of things. i cant stand it, because it makes me feel guilty. bc i still complain, when everyone else dies bc they dont have enough food to eat. poverty really is killing us already.
aww.
[Reply]
Ieyel
I feel them, I pity them. This, just reminds me that I should be contended for what I have right now. I should be thankful. Those documentaries really help people to see the reality. I guess this is no dreaming, some people die in starvation and it’s really a serious matter. If only I could do something to help them.
[Reply]
vina
then again, i should consider myself lucky after all. i feel way ad for our fellow countrymen, suffering with this kind of life.
on the other hand, i certainly admire such documentaries like this one. it somehow, helps the people to open their eyes and witness the reality… that harsh reality.
[Reply]
bianca
oh..we had lessons about poverty last quarter too..yeah…it’s really heart-aching seeing those people suffering a lot..
[Reply]
joanna
hello.. this is my first time being here.. care to link ex??
[Reply]