This photo appearing in a BBC article (via brownpau) on the Philippines’ poverty divide shows “a shocking contrast of rich and poor.” I encountered many contrasting images such as this in the Philippines. The following photo taken in Olongapo juxtaposes the area’s past and present.
Bataan is where my wife’s mother’s side of the family lives. Their ancestral home is situated right by the highway. Several surrounding home structures house a good portion of the clan. The arrangement is semi-communal. The living situation is not as “luxurious” as what we’re used to in our home base in Manila. I must say however that everything anyone ever needs to live comfortably can be found here. In fact, water is plentiful - it is pumped from a deep well. This is where we were re-introduced to bathing by tabo and flushing by baldi.
In Bataan what they lack in luxuries they sure make up in other respects. My wife’s many cousins work together well. They help each other prepare and cook the daily meals. One does the clothes wash, another sweeps and mops and another washes dishes. They keep their humble abode nice and tidy daily. Puts our place in the States to shame really.
