I Went To The Poorest Slum In The Philippines

Comments · 3.5K

• DR

  @drewbinsky · 2 years ago · pinned

  There are a lot of positive stories to share about the Philippines, which I’ve been doing since 2017 and will continue to do so because I love this country.  But this one in specific is a story that I felt needed to be shared - thank you for watching and I look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments! 🙏🏼🇵🇭

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• HI

  @hilarym74 · 2 years ago

  The way that one man said "sorry for our place" broke my heart more :(

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• TI

  @TinaHuangPhD · 1 year ago

  As a kid, my family went to the Phlllappines and we stayed in the mayors mansion.   It was lavish and gorgeous, and the mayor collected cars, and right outside were slums.  I couldn't believe he could collect cars when he could see right out his window how his neighbors lived!   I will never forget that!

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• SO

  @soniaapplewaite7899 · 1 year ago

  I grew up poor, five of us living in a one room apartment, my mom could not feed us properly but she make sure we went to school everyday. She always said no matter how poor, old and small our dwelling place is, we must always keep it clean and tidy

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• TO

  @tokiepoke · 2 years ago

  the kid who said “sorry for our place” helping you move rocks so you don’t get your shoes wet🥺🥺🥺 what lovely people. so many smart and wonderful people living there i can only hope for a bright future for them all

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• BV

  @bvdm.oficial · 1 year ago

  I'm Brazilian, I've never been to the Philippines. However,Watching videos like this, I became interested in people. So, I adopted a poor Filipino family and every 12th of the month, I send a fixed amount to help with food, school and clothing.

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• MA

  @matthewbeack357 · 1 year ago

  I see arguments about whether or not the Filipinos in the videos are being genuine when they smile or if they’re just being polite. I’m a missionary here in the Philippines as a professional counselor, and I can say that Filipinos are resilient, but that they also hide their true feelings behind a smile much of the time. Much of my work as a counselor of children and teenagers is helping them to feel safe enough to share and express their true feelings. Their resilience needs to be acknowledged for sure—but resiliency does not equal happiness, and many of them are suffering from trauma and abuse and in living such terrible conditions. I do like this video, but understand that these people are just surviving. I have clients who used to live in Tondo/Happyland, and the stories they told me of what they witnessed would shock you. So let’s acknowledge the genuine Filipino welcoming spirit as well as their resiliency, but let’s also acknowledge that they are hiding a lot of trauma and hurt behind those smiles, and that they are probably not what people call “some of the happiest people.”

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• KI

  @kindakyeee · 2 years ago

  Every time I start to feel bad about my life and struggles I come here and find the same people but 10x happier and vibrant. It’s crazy - the Philippines people are so so strong 🤌🏻🫶🏻

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• LS

  @Lssssh · 2 years ago

  As a Filipino myself who lives in the province, I was never aware this is how extreme some of the situations in Tondo are. We were just told to not go there because it is dangerous. Being poor in the province mostly means one does not have a high-paying job but most families have farmlands, houses and a lot of "space and privacy". Sadly, many people from provinces venture out to go out to Manila to seek for jobs and sometimes end up being in slums when they cannot get one that pays enough for decent rent. I hope the government does something about giving more job opportunities to the provinces and lessen the wage gap between smaller cities/provinces and Metro Manila so that people won't need to crowd there.

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• HI

  @hillarypoet2018 · 7 months ago (edited)

  TONDO the place where I learned what survival means? We are family of 9 living in 1 room back in the 80's. We literally have no privacy taking a bath everyday. We have to take a bath outside the street. And there were 4 rooms in a house we are living, with only 1 restroom to share with the rest of the tenants. It was a tough life, but we made it through. I'm thankful that my kids didn't experience the life I've lived and endured in poverty. I respect each and every single individuals and families that are in that living conditions. It's the reality of life and the poverty we Filipinos are in.  I can't be proud, where I am in this life. I can only be grateful and humble that I made it here in the USA, but it doesn't altered what I learned early what survival means in this world. Thank you for covering this facet of social gap and social status of Philippines 🇵🇭.  When I get home one day, I will surely go back to Parola, Tondo and have lunch or dinner with my neighbors. I hope some of them are still around. My fellow kababayans in Tondo keep on thriving, no matter how hard life is...keep them smile on your faces beaming. It makes life worth fighting, living, and hoping that someday...one day some of you will be able to get out of poverty! 🇵🇭❤️❤️❤️🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭❤️❤️❤️🇵🇭

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• HE

  @HeikoRoehr · 1 year ago

  I was born in the Philippines, raised and adopted by german parents and everyday I feel so grateful and thankful for getting the chance to live and work  in Germany. I searched for my family, but couldn't find them. It breaks my heart to see my people live this way. My heart will always be with them.

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• MA

  @Mathovation · 2 years ago

  I'm poor and from a poor country but I can't imagine living in a place like this. Love Filipino friends. 💪

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