These Trying Times
These are economically trying times. To make matters worse, when the economy is in a downturn, it becomes emotionally and physically draining times as well. In the Philippines, the news constantly features thousands of Filipinos who have lost their jobs because the companies they’ve worked for have finally succumbed to the downturn. Now, breadwinners are in a quandary- especially when they’ve grown old with that company and even more so when they haven’t received sufficient separation pays to last them until they can find a new job- as to what to do next.
There are government programs available for interested displaced workers- re-training programs for other jobs which are in-demand in the market today, livelihood trainings like meat processing and even lending start-up capital for those who want to venture into their own businesses. While these efforts are laudable (and may even become the jump-off point for some) not all jobless Filipinos can and do participate. Not only are psychological stresses associated with losing one’s job a force to be overcome, it simply is difficult for those who have identified themselves for years with their field of work to do a 180 degree turn and focus on something totally different. With gaping mouths to feed at home and with no pay to look forward to at the 15th and 30th of each month, normally “solvable” conflicts escalate into heated arguments that has the potential to tear a family apart.
In a third-world country like the Philippines, whose majority of the population is used to only the most essential of necessities, the government’s task is only to make sure that Filipinos weather the storm without sacrificing the roof over their heads, the clothes that they wear and their three square meals a day.
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