BUTO'T BALAT

Director: Riz Soletario

Reporter: Kara David

Casts:

Angela ─ one of the people who experienced chronic malnutrition
Hansol family ─ one of the families in poverty line who’s trials are thrusting their life
Jeremie ─the most prone to sickness in Hansol family, 14 years old but weighs fit for a 2-year boy
Joe ─ younger brother of Jeremie. He is 6 years old but his weight is equivalent to a 7-month old baby
Aljon ─ a 2-year old younger brother of Jeremie. He’s weight is for a 3-month old baby
Judy Ann ─ one of the people who cannot walk because of malnutrition
Lourdes Villas ─ mother of Judy Ann

SYNOPSIS:

The Philippines’ problem in malnutrition can now be aligned with that of Africa. Here in Philippines, we can manifest a greater number of Filipinos who’s experiencing a faulty and inadequate nutrition.
Just like Angela, she was undernourished but still she managed to have survived but it was just for a while. She only rose 3 times a day and she’s already 3 months with that depressed condition. Her 2 siblings had already died with the same condition. The last feeding program that was conducted in their place was in the year 2000. Unfortunately, it is not sufficient to sustain the daily needs of the families in depressed areas.
Aside from her sickness, she had also undergone ridicule judgment from her neighbors for they called her hunchback. She was suffering from pneumonia, an inflammatory disease of the lungs. She had a chronic malnutrition which is characterized by long duration or frequent recurrence. She was praying for Mother Mary and Saint Nazarene for her wellness. She’s still hoping that everything would turn exactly the way they want life to be. But a tragic event happened, in April 10, 2005 Angela died.
Hansol family was also experiencing a burdensome life. Their life would be simply described like a crab thrusting it with difficulties. Jeremie was the oldest in the family and was the most prone to sickness. He and his other siblings were malnourished. Actually, it’s not surprising for they only had 1 kg of rice and 1 kg of tiny fresh water crabs, which was to be shared by 9 heads as their lunch. They had concluded that Jeremie might had a tapeworm in the abdomen that affected the lungs. He was also suffering from pneumonia. As the doctor had told them, his sickness was not just a simple asthma. He couldn’t almost breathe because of malnutrition that could be noticed in his fingers. It’s difficult for their parents to see their children in the oppressed condition. Oftentimes, they were only eating what was left.
Another victim of malnutrition was Judy Ann. She could no longer walk for the reason of her sickness. Her mother, Lourdes Villas, said that they were already lucky enough if they had think that 20 pesos issardines as their viand. Lourdes was just crying when they were sleeping. Sometimes, she’s asking the Most High what tomorrow would bring to them. Some of us were working to have some food to eat and supply their needs. But they were working to pay other people. For every stamp made by a father, 8 offsprings and a pregnant wife were awaiting. The money he had earned won’t be sufficient for 10 stomachs.
It’s really downcasting that in the country where liposuction is a trend, millions of people are craving the need for food. Let’s all be aware that millions of people are living their life with only 20 pesos, yet some including myself, think that 20 pesos is of little use.

COMMENTARIES:

Will we remain to be dependent on the feeding program of the government and other institutions? Why do we tend to ridicule our neighbors who are suffering a critical condition? Are we going to wait for the action of the government instrumentalities?
Just like the malnutrition of many Filipinos, the disease of our country can be cure. But the difficult question is not how but WHEN. Most government officials are full of promises but lack of action. They are only making the Filipinos believe that they are worthy to be elected, but after that what happen is that they just abandoned the Filipinos. Can’t they hear the cry of the Filipinos? What if they are on the situation of the poor families?
We are facing a variety of social problems. But when are we going to heal it? Our country is wounded. Poor families are pressed on every side of troubles. Many of them want to educate their children. But how will they be able to accomplish it if their learning is only limited of what their wealth can offer.
Truly, youth is the seed of the next generation. So we must not allow that these seeds will just be thrown away. We must plant them in a good soil so they will bear good fruits, fruits that will be benefited by everyone in this nation of ours. A certain man just said, “Youth is the only thing that can replace money...” So why not invest your wealth with these poor malnourished children. Just try and make a difference, and I’m pretty sure that it will yield interest. I hope that every rich man will whole-heartedly help people who are in poverty line. Now, I am wondering why some rich persons can easily help their middle class friends who are in need but didn’t even bother to give alms to the poor. “Think….because the solution to these problems always starts within us…”