The Filipino has often been short-changed in more ways than one. That is why a visual examination of the Philippine social landscape reveals patches of enclaves of the rich in a sea of impoverished dwellings, where a profusion of the poor struggle daily with the barest of subsistence in a consumer-dominated society.

What makes the situation worse is another deprivation – that of the official use of outdated numbers as a representation of what it means to be poor in this country of more than 100 million people. In particular, to say that a family of five needs P9,140 a month on average to meet its basic needs – food and non-food – is a sad misrepresentation of our economic reality.

Premium + Digital Edition

Ad-free access


P 80 per month
(billed annually at P 960)
  • Unlimited ad-free access to website articles
  • Limited offer: Subscribe today and get digital edition access for free (accessible with up to 3 devices)

TRY FREE FOR 14 DAYS
See details
See details