It has never occurred to me that the Philippines is so densely populated until recently when the Sabah travelers brought the Covid-19 virus to Peninsular Malaysia causing a sudden spike in cases in the whole country at the time when Malaysia was winning the coronavirus war. That was when I started doing some research on this country and discovered the real life stories of its slum dwellers and homeless people. Extreme poverty and overpopulation left them without a choice but to seek for better lives in Malaysia. To date, there are about 800,000 Filipinos living in Malaysia (according to 2013 Philippine government estimates but the accurate number is likely to be much higher given the fact that they have been sneaking into the country almost every day all these years) and the majority of them are illegal immigrants. Although there are many Filipinos in Malaysia, most of them live in Sabah. For years, they have been sneaking into Malaysia to find work but their illegal entry into the country during the coronavirus pandemic has become a serious threat to the country. The Philippines has the highest number of Covid-19 cases in Southeast Asia and the new strain, G614, found in this country, is 10 times more infectious than the original strain, D614, from Wuhan. The recent case of a Filipino man who sneaked into Sabah again on 5 September 2020 via Rat Lanes after being deported to the Philippines on 27 August 2020 is a nightmare for Malaysians because he was the one who started the 'Sea Cluster' in Sabah which, to date, has more than 100 infections. With so many trouble makers like him bringing the G614 strain from the Philippines, many new clusters have been detected in Sabah thus putting the lives of Malaysians at risk. Sneaking in and out of the country via Rat Lanes whenever they like, the Filipinos are potential virus carriers that could make Malaysia's coronavirus war much more difficult to fight. On 1 July 2020, there was only one new Covid-19 case in Malaysia but sad to say, we have 561 new cases today.
Why are the Filipinos so desperate to come to Malaysia? Why do they keep sneaking into the country illegally even though they know that they are not welcome here and will be deported? The Philippines is the second most populous country in Southeast Asia after Indonesia and the thirteenth most populous country in the world. It has the highest population growth rate in the region and its population is estimated at 109 million as of June 2020. With 4.5 million homeless people, 20 million people living in slums, and 54% poor families, joblessness and poverty are inevitable particularly during the coronavirus pandemic. Overpopulation makes their situation even worse as their crowded and cramped living conditions can easily enhance the transmission of infectious diseases. Overcrowding also makes it difficult for them to have proper washing, cleaning, cooking, and toilet facilities. Surviving on food made of garbage, known as pagpag, is a common practice for those in extreme poverty as it is the daily staple food of the poor but this unhygienic food can lead to malnutrition, stunted growth, and diseases. Given such dire circumstances, it is no wonder why Malaysia has become a lucrative destination for them. Since Malaysians like to employ illegal workers because they are inexpensive, hardworking, and obedient, getting a job here is not a problem for them and they can easily make a decent living. Life in Malaysia can be heavenly as there is no overcrowding here and they do not have to consume pagpag anymore. In actual fact, many of them are living better lives than the unemployed locals.
Overpopulation and poverty are both inseparable as it is an obvious fact that rapid population growth will result in homelessness, disease, food shortages, water scarcity, and joblessness. Recently, I have been watching videos about homelessness and poverty in the Philippines and it really shocked me to see so many poor slum dwellers and homeless families eating pagpag as their daily meal. Although millions have lost their jobs during the pandemic, procreation still plays a pivotal role in the lives of these people. What is even more shocking is that these families have many children and these innocent children have to grow up lacking in everything only to repeat the life cycle of their parents. Even poor, unmarried teenagers give birth to one child after another although they know that their future is so uncertain. I remember watching a video about a Filipino woman with her 8 children (7 girls and 1 boy) and the younger ones were crying because they were hungry. When interviewed, she said that she would love to have another boy in the family and would keep trying for another son. What's the purpose of having another son when she can't even afford to send the only boy in the family to school? Then there was this video about a Filipino woman and her 12 children living under the bridge - they were so poor that they have never eaten a proper meal in their lives. But why bring so many children to this world to suffer from the day they make their first cry until the day they breathe their last? What kind of future will they have given their destitute circumstances? In one of the videos, it really broke my heart to see a little girl crying while being interviewed because her parents could not afford to buy her the toys that she wanted. Needless to say, no one likes to live in the slums / on the streets and eat pagpag all their lives and the poor do have the choice to prevent this from happening to their next generation. But why do they still choose to bring so many children to this world to suffer the same fate as them? Children are not blessings from God if they have to live their lives in the slums or on the streets and survive on pagpag as their way of life. Poverty can cause a lot of damage to the children as it deprives them of their life chances.
One cannot deny the fact that the only solution to overpopulation and poverty is population control. To this effect, the Catholic Church has often been blamed for making the country's overpopulation crisis worse because of its opposition to contraception like condoms and birth control pills, abortion, and family planning. According to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, "We are the fastest growing population and I squarely blame the Catholic Church. They think that spewing out human beings by the millions is a gift from God." The question is - are the super baby makers in the Philippines really that obedient to the Church? Needless to say, the commandment, "Be fertile, then, and multiply; abound on earth and subdue it" (Genesis 9:7) has been fulfilled extremely successfully because it is very popular with them. But what about the fifth commandment - Thou shalt not kill? According to the Wikipedia, the Philippines has the highest murder cases in Southeast Asia with 9784 recorded cases as of 2014. Has the Catholic Church ever said that they can kill? And what about the seventh commandment - Thou shalt not steal? Robbery, pick-pocketing and bag-snatching are not uncommon in the Philippines particularly in crowded places and there have been many instances when tourists were killed while being robbed. In January 2017, Philippine policemen robbed and extorted money from three South Korean golfers who went to the Philippines to play golf. In July 2017, a British man, Tarek Naggar, was gunned down outside a bar when he refused to hand over his wallet. Also in July 2017, a New Zealander, Simon Rawlinson, was shot dead at a market and his bag (containing his documents, money, and laptop) was taken by the perpetrators. Did the Pope say that they can rob? My advice is, do not travel alone to the Philippines, be careful with your handbag / wallet and never withdraw cash after dark because tourists are lucrative targets.
When God says, "Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the Earth", everyone is happy to carry out this commandment since the time of Adam and Eve. So when the Catholic Church forbids contraception, abortion, and family planning, there is no problem of obedience. Why? Because these rules are easy to follow - the baby makers don't mind because it is something they want to do anyway and enjoy doing since children are supposed to be blessings from God. But of course God also gives them a brain to think whether they should make lots of babies when they can't even afford to feed themselves. With the brain that God has bestowed upon them, they ought to know that extreme poverty can hurt children and should therefore prevent its damaging impact through various methods of birth control. The question is - why can't they use their brain efficiently to think how not to make babies when they can't afford to give them a decent life? However, when they need money, it seems that there is no need to obey God's commandments anymore and this is also the time they make the best use of their brains. With the brain that God has given them, they can think of many innovative techniques to steal or pick-pocket or even rob from others. They are also becoming more creative with credit card fraud. Why? Because God cannot stop them from making money if that is what they want to do. And of course, when they want to kill somebody, they don't need to obey God's commandments just because they want to do it and therefore must do it. Also, there is no reason why they can't have access to contraceptives when they can have easy access to methamphetamine hydrochloride and marijuana. Although the Catholic Church is against artificial contraception, most Catholics prefer to ignore its teachings about birth control. In the Philippines, contraceptives are legal and are easily available in pharmacies. However, drugs are illegal, more expensive and not as easily available as contraceptives but why is illegal drug use so prevalent in the Philippines? As what Jim Rohn says, "If you really want to do something, you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse." So, is it fair to blame the Catholic Church for the rapid population growth in the Philippines? Are the people really that obedient to the Church? Looks more like they are just doing what they want to do irrespective of what the teachings of the Church may be.
The more common crimes in the Philippines include kidnapping, human trafficking, prostitution, illegal drug trade, and domestic violence. And don't forget that their juvenile delinquents, including those as young as five years old, are already committing some of the most brazen crimes. Did the Catholic Church say that it is alright to commit such crimes? NO. But why are they still doing it? Because it is beyond the power of the Church to stop them from doing things that they want to do. And one more thing, they are particularly creative when it comes to sneaking into Malaysia illegally via Rat Lanes and have discovered many secret lanes for a safe journey to the country. Their brains also suddenly get so brilliant when they want to escape from the temporary detention centers in Malaysia while awaiting deportation. They are therefore not as ignorant as they seem to be and can really think creatively and innovatively when it comes to doing things they want to do. So, let's stop blaming the Catholic Church for the high population growth in the Philippines because the Church cannot control them.
As we all know, there is a shortage of priests in the Catholic Church throughout the world and the Church is recruiting many young men to be priests. However, the sad truth is, even the Philippines with its overpopulation crisis is facing an acute shortage of priests. Why? Sad to say, their young men would rather live in the slums or on the streets and make babies instead of becoming priests. If the Filipinos are really so obedient to the Church, I am sure there would no shortage of priests in their country. What the Catholic Church needs now are real men who can become real priests and not baby makers as there are too many of them already. But why is it so difficult to find celibate priests who can live the life of Christ? Is making babies really that important? Sometimes, I do wonder how people can make so many babies in the slums and on the streets - I mean do they feel comfortable there? I don't know how they feel but I do feel sad each time I watch videos about their lives. Needless to say, if Catholic priests were allowed to marry, I am sure that all the baby makers who cannot afford to feed themselves and their families would queue up for this 'job' from Luzon to Davao City because they need money to feed their families. Thank God, these kinds of men will never become priests!
To those real men who can become real priests, why not join the priesthood and serve the Church. Life is certainly more meaningful as a priest than making babies in the slums or on the streets. I really pity the children - it is grossly unfair for them to grow up as slum dwellers or street children eating pagpag and watching their parents make babies every day and then repeat their parents' lifecycle when they grow up. Life is meaningless if one's life purpose is to make babies, eat pagpag, and live in destitution. My dear brothers in Christ, let's become real priests and change the world. Let's make this world a better place for everyone. The world needs you. When I saw the boys playing and living on the tombs (in the graveyard) in one of the videos about the Filipinos living with the dead, I was wondering how they could still look so cheerful. If I were one of them, I would have left home immediately to become a priest. I don't want to watch my parents make babies every day and live in an overcrowded space with so many family members. I don't want to eat pagpag every day. I don't want to grow up and make lots of babies and let them live in degrading conditions. I don't want the whole family to starve and suffer with me. I don't want to be a burden to the world. I would rather take up my cross and follow Jesus and live a real and meaningful life and help to ease the burden of the world. As for my dear sisters in Christ, is there any meaning in life if your purpose is to make babies after your first period right up to menopause in degrading conditions? What is the purpose of making babies in the slums and graveyards, on the streets, and under the bridge when you cannot afford to feed them? Why not emulate Mother Teresa and do something for the world? Remember what Jesus said? "I give you my word, there is no one who has given up home, brothers or sisters, mother or father, children or property, for me and for the gospel, who will not receive in this present age a hundred times as many homes, brothers and sisters, mothers, children and property - and in the age to come, everlasting life" (Mark 10:29).
It should be noted that the Popes have never encouraged Roman Catholics to breed like rabbits, serve pagpag to their children and make them grow up without a proper shelter. As what Pope Francis said after his visit to the Philippines, "Parenthood is about being responsible" and, of course, being responsible means that parents should not have more children than they can afford to feed. Parents have the responsibility to give their children healthy food and not food from garbage dumps. They should not make them live in places that are unfit for human habitation. They must make sure that their children have the best education and help them to become responsible citizens. Since children learn their life lessons from observing what their parents do and their experiences in their environment, parents should provide good examples to their children, let them grow up in a decent environment, and give adequate attention to them. What will the children learn if they have to live in an overcrowded space with their family members and watch their parents make babies every day? What kind of skills will they learn if they cannot afford to attend school and have to master the art of street / slum survival? Will they be healthy eating pagpag as their meal of the day? Since the problems of overpopulation and poverty are the consequences of irresponsible sex and neglectful parenting, it's time for the baby makers to think whether they should breed like rabbits when they don't have a proper place to live and can't even afford to feed themselves. Needless to say, reducing family sizes is the best thing that they can do for their families. Always remember this - Where there's a will there's a way. Instead of blaming the Catholic Church for overpopulation in the country, perhaps the relevant authorities should make the baby makers understand the meaning and importance of responsible parenthood.
You may also like to read From the Depths of Our Hearts: Priesthood, Celibacy, and the Crisis of the Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Sarah: The Christian Priesthood Is in Mortal Danger, and SHOULD CATHOLIC PRIESTS BE ALLOWED TO MARRY? To view the content page of this blog, please click here.
1. Duterte blames Philippine Church for rapid population rise. Union of Catholic Asian News.
