In the Philippines, you would see beggars almost everywhere. It's like cancer cells growing here and there. They would just knock on your car window, or tap you on your shoulder or hop into a jeep or bus.
You would encounter them outside the church, in the market, along the streets outside the malls, outside the school, parks, sidewalks, tunnels, bus stations, MRT, even highways.....Why are they proliferating?
Nowadays beggars are becoming more creative, although there are still those who simply open their palms and shove it to your face, there are several methods that I recently observed and I'm sure there are more:
1. The Aeta or Badyaw look- I saw some beggars who come to their corners in just any regular clothes but after a few minutes they have transformed themselves into either Aeta or Badyaw. They would wear clothes that these two ethnic groups would wear. This will make them appear that they have come a long way to beg.
2. Parking guide- you'd see kids hanging around parking lots. When I came to a parking lot there was a big space, obviously I do not need any help to park (even when it is packed- all drivers must know how to park on their own), but these kids hovered around the car and starts to wave without even actually looking where I was going. Then when I got down or leave, they ask money for helping me park...what? they were even more a hazard, blocking my way and vision.
3. Solicitors- they've become formal. They will distribute envelops in the bus or jeeps for people to fill them with money.
4. The devoted- They will wear big rosaries around their necks and wipe the feet of the jeep or bus passengers.
5. The messenger- they will read bible passages and give lectures in the bus and collects money afterwards.
6. The Carolers- They will use any noise making instrument and just annoys the people in the jeep or bus or car.
7. The disabled- I've seen one, who walks straights when he is not begging but suddenly its leg shrinks and curls when begging, and hops on one leg. Some real amputees, would use the amputed extremities to extend for begging...like there was one man with one hand cut off and instead of using the other arm, he would use the arm with missing limb or extremities.
8. The road fixers- These are those who stand in the middle of the road that has huge pot holes with a bucket or pail for "donation" and pretending to fill the holes with some dirt or soil...
This is obviously a scam and beggars are nothing but con artists. Like any scam a lot of people can still get fooled even though it is very obvious trickery.
But my question is on the virtue of giving...are we really showing kindness by giving alms? Or are we condoning or an accomplice to their poverty or even deception- if we keep on giving, they will keep on begging, there will be no desire and effort on their part anymore to break out of poverty/ of begging 'coz as long as they get from badgering they shall find no need to exert more effort. Just like a commodity that if there is a buyer, there shall be a seller. And the law of supply and demand applies- not only we let one beggar perpetually beg, we also encourage others to beg; they would see there's a good business in begging.
If we do not restrain ourself from the alms giving, what will happen to our society? Will the disparity between rich and poor become wider? Are we really giving for the sake of giving or are we doing it to keep the poor under our feet? Just like the master and the dog where the dog just awaits for the master to toss him some scraps.
Who is to blame for this predicament? Is it the politicians where they needed the poor to be easily beguiled and used for election purposes? Or is it Religion who infers the idea of alms giving as a way to salvation in order to collect more money for their churches?
Whatever it is, I hope that we all collectively stop this. Let us not condone poverty, Let us not support beggars. If you wish to help, help them in a way that will stop them from begging...
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