The Pyramidal Structure of the Philippine Society and the Marginalized
Sectors
Fig. 1, “The Pyramidal Model” offers an overview of the classes of people that comprise
the Philippine society. The over consumers, aside from taking much of the share of the county’s
wealth, live in very luxurious manner. The sustainers or the middle class sustain the economic life
of the society through their work or contribution to society. Economically, they can simply sustain
their needs. The marginalized are the ones who can hardly sustain their needs. The overwhelming
majority of the Filipinos are marginalized. They are the ones represented by the base, the widest
part of the pyramid. They are the economically deprived and the powerless. In contrast, the few
powerful elite are the ones symbolized by the tip of the pyramid. They control almost all aspects
of life – the economic, political and social life to be more specific. Their interest, on the whole,
conflict with that of the weak and the poor.
The greatest purchasing power belongs to the least top figures in the society, leaving the
deprived majority powerless. Money is the object that generates multiple power. Power is
associated with wealth and money. Whoever has the money, gets the power. For some people,
money is the motivation to study and work. With good education and a good job, one moves
upward in the social hierarchy. The person then becomes self-sufficient – a phenomenon being
aggravated by an individualistic culture that can be characterized by four Fs, namely, face, figure,
fortune and fame. In this culture, one’s face.
At times, acquiring money and wealth is done through immoral activities such as illegal
trade, graft and corruption, and the like. In this case, those at the base of the pyramid are prohibited
to go upward by being silenced through the use of goons, guns, and gold. Whoever complains is
silenced. Put differently, power is attained through terrorizing, ransoming and blackmailing.
Whoever has the closest link to the one in power, say the mayor, gains influence in the locality –
an influence that is shared even by one’s family, relatives, and friends.
The gap between the powerful and powerless, the rich and the poor is getting wider.
Poverty remains a leading social problem. Urban lifestyle may provide us with a view of
modernity and fast-paced living. However, this does not tell all. The overwhelming population
of the marginalized suffer the pangs of poverty. Life is difficult for an ordinary Juan to keep up
with a quality daily sustenance of his family. The picture of the current society provides the sketch
of inhuman conditions which show the severity of the rich-poor divide. In this situation of extreme
poverty on the one hand and extreme richness on the other, marginalization of people becomes a
more pressing issue. The succeeding paragraphs pay attention to the marginalized sectors of
society.
The Indigenous People
By virtue of R.A no. 8371, better known as “Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act” (IPRA) of
1997, those who have specific rights on the basis of their historical ties to certain groups of people
with a unique culture, are legally called Indigenous People (IP). This law shows the state’s
promotion of their dignity and rights as part of the citizenry. It seeks to empower these people
and aims to eradicate poverty and other hostile forces working against them. What else can be said
about the “Indigenous Peoples”? Jose R. Martinez Cobo, in his report to the United Nations on
the Study of the Problem of Discrimination against Indigenous Populations, 1 has this definition:
Quoted in Megan Davis, “Indigenous Struggles in Standard-Setting: the United Nations Declaration on the Rights
of Indigenous Peoples”, Melbourne Journal of International Law, 9(2), 2008: 439-471,
https://search.proquest.com/docview/217506162?accountid=50192 (accessed May 7, 2017).
1
More pressing issues that threaten the existence of this marginalized sector are land
grabbing, unfair trade practices, loss of indigenous language, exploitation in the tourism industry,
and dubious fund-raising of the non-government organizations (NGOs) for their so-called housing,
job opportunities or agricultural support. As they belong to the lowest-income group, illiteracy
and unemployment prevail largely among them. There are around 14–17 million of IPs which
comprise 10-15 percent of the total population.2 Because their settlements are in the highlands in
far-flung places, basic services due them are oftentimes neglected.
The Church opposes all forms of unjust discrimination. Being instrumental to the
awakening of the hearts of people, the Church seeks to preserve and promote the IPs’ distinct
cultural and historical heritage. The IPs’ should not be discriminate since, like other human
beings, they, too, have human rights. If we do not take a stand in favor of them, chances are, it will
bring about “cultural stagnation or erosion.”3
The Women, Youth, and Children
Women, children, and youth are among the vulnerable sectors of the society. They have
become victims of violence, abuse, and oppression. The Church should fight for them so that
their functions and contributions in society can be recognized.
Women have played crucial roles in the society with their incalculable contributions in the
areas of education, history, arts and political leadership, to mention a few. Despite their inclusion
in various programs in skill building and capacity acquisition of women, this sector remains to be
among the disadvantaged. Some issues that involve women are domestic violence, flesh trade,
human trafficking, and discrimination. A concrete example of women exploitation that needs
immediate attention is the phenomenon called Adult/Asian Cam Models (ACMs). Commonly
interpreted as “digital prostitutes” or “trafficked pornographers, they posed naked using webcams
and are asked to perform sexual activities.4It is sad to know that these women do not consider
themselves prostitutes or engaged in sex work or being trafficked.5
2
Cf. Rishabh Kumar Dhir, Indigenous Peoples in the World of Work in Asia and the Pacific: a Status Report
(Geneva: International Labour Office (ILO), 2015), 113, http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/--gender/documents/publication/wcms_438853.pdf (Accessed May 7, 2017).
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, The Second Plenary Council of the Philippines Document
(PCPII), article 378.
3
4
Paul William Mathews, "Cam Models, Sex Work, and Job Immobility in the Philippines." Feminist Economics 23,
no. 3 (July 2017): 160-183. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed April 21, 2018).
5
Cf. Ibid.
The Youth and Children are identified as poor sectors of the country. They are said to be
the hope and future of the nation. The Youth refers to those whose age between 15-30 years old.6
They are composed of young professionals, basic education, and college students, out of school
youth, labor force, the migrant workers, the unemployed, teenage mothers/fathers, and household
help. Being inexperienced and only starting with life make them easy prey or victims of
exploitation. Here is a concrete example. Young men, because of poverty and marginalization,
have been forced to engage in commercial sex works. Seen in the ports of the Philippines, they
do not just sell food and refreshments but also engaged in illicit sex work. They work as “call
boys” for male clients and many of them use shabu.7
Children (0- 14 years), based on the 2016 estimate, comprise 33.71% of the total Philippine
population of 102,624,209.8 This number warrants the Church’s promotion and defense of their
human dignity. The children, too, are not exempted from exploitation. Almost 6 million of the
young with the age 5 to 17 were working according to 2011 Survey on Children.9 As young as
they are, the children are confronted with serious issues that should be addressed. They are
children who are abandoned, the verbally and sexually abused, stowaways, cybersex victims,
orphans, beggars, and street dwellers. In the context of social justice, the Church teaches
preferential option for the poor of whom the children and youth are a part.
The Farmers and Fisherfolk
We are in dire need of farmers and fisher folk for our survival. They are as important as
our teachers, doctors, engineers, architects, lawyers and others. They provide food on our tables.
But they remain the poorest sector and among the lowest paid workers. In the 2012 Official
Poverty Statistics for the Basic Sectors shows that the poverty incidence among fishermen is 39.2
percent; and 38.3 percent among the farmers.10 Statistics show consistently that the agriculture
sector is languishing behind the rest of the sectors in the country. It is ill-governance and political
corruption that make them wallow in abject poverty through the years. The use of modern
technology is evident in the urban centers but definitely not in the agricultural sector. In a growing
country like the Philippines, we need a strategic management and planning in the agriculture
sector. The government cannot do it alone. Partnership with the private sectors can do a lot to
support the farmers and fisher folk.
The Urban Poor
The Filipino youth is defined in such age based on the R.A 8044 known as “Youth in Nation-Building Act.” This
was enacted in 1995 together with the creation of the National Youth Commission.
6
7
Gideon Lasco,"Call Boys: Drug Use and Sex Work Among Marginalized Young Men in a Philippine Port
Community." Contemporary Drug Problems 45, no. 1 (March 2018): 33-46. Academic Search Complete,
EBSCOhost (accessed April 21, 2018).
8 Cf. Philippines Demographics Profile 2016, http://www.indexmundi.com/philippines/demographics_profile.html
(Accessed May 7, 2017).
9
cf. Working Children, https://psa.gov.ph/tags/working-children (Accessed May 7, 2017).
10
cf. Feature: Who are the Poorest Sectors?, http://www.napc.gov.ph/articles/feature-who-are-poorest-sectors
(Accessed May 8, 2017).
Often deprived of shelter, they live on someone else’s land, in shanties that are situated
in congested and dehumanizing conditions such as under the bridge, along the sidewalk or
riverbanks and canals. With the poor heavily concentrated in the urban areas, urban poverty
remains a social problem. Slum dwellers stem from the poverty in the rural areas. From povertystricken countryside, the poor move to the city to ameliorate their economic conditions but end up
becoming part of the urban poor.
The hazards faced by the urban poor are as follows: no security of tenure in the lot they
occupy, poor health and sanitary conditions, and security risk. With a high poverty incidence
among the urban poor, they are exposed to a wide range of social problems such as prostitution,
child labor, pornography, cybersex, crime, and drug addiction.
The Differently Abled
Various labels have been given to these persons who have special needs. It must be noted
that the appropriate manner in addressing them is by focusing on the term “person”, that is person
with a disability rather than stressing the disability, that is, the disabled person or, simply the
disabled. A more appropriate way is the term “the differently abled person” to emphasize the truth
that these people can do things in their unique ways. Every person is able and capable.
Today’s special concern for this sector has been heightened, bringing a promise and hope
that we will be able to understand and accept them. Special education is a concrete means of
catering to learners who have unique learning needs and styles which need to be considered. There
is legal support for them such as the Accessibility Law that gives them easy access to riding in
public utility vehicles. The Church continues to participate in social projects and programs in
order to empower them. In partnership with the government and non-government organizations,
the Church helps them in the areas of self-care, communication, recreation and work so as to make
them productive citizens of the country.
The Elderly
The Elderly or the Senior Citizens are those who have slowed down in pace or have retired
from their active life such as in their work, employment, or business. The law identifies them as
“any resident citizen of the Philippines at least sixty (60) years old.”11 With respect to their age,
the elderly stand with authority most especially in terms of the many years of experience. From
11
The law being referred to is R.A 9994 known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010,
http://www.gov.ph/2010/02/15/republic-act-no-9994/ (Accessed May 8, 2017).
them, we learn wisdom as they have faced different battles and transitions in life such as retirement,
bereavement, health deterioration, separation, and loneliness. They hold the memory of the
treasures of a history. They are bearers of good values that we can emulate. As they have advanced
in religiosity and spirituality, they stand as Christian witnesses teaching us about deeply rooted
faith.
Because old age brings great challenges with profound effects on physical and mental
health, the elderly needs our loving care. They bear the face of the poor who deserve special
attention. They have their value and worth as part of the good citizenry. Thus, we give them our
respectful treatment and acceptance in our homes. They maybe our parents, grandparents or
relatives.
Amidst the struggles not only of the elderly but also the other marginalized sectors, moral
teachings of the Church becomes all the more relevant and pressing. It is our obligation to work
for the upliftment of the condition of the marginalized for they are more susceptible to human
rights violation The moral teachings in the following areas: 1)the sanctity of human life,
2)marriage, human sexuality, and family life, 3) social life, and 4) the environment are the foci of
the remaining lessons. The social teachings of the Church, especially in the areas of society and
the environment, serve as principles for action, criteria for judgment and guidelines for reflection12
amidst the many moral issues affecting persons, society, and the environment.
12
Cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1994, article 2423.