Squatters Cant Be Choosers
By Graceekwenx
@Graceekwenx (3160)
Philippines
September 28, 2010 7:57am CST
Am i right here? Just last week i heard there was again a demolition in QC area. The squatters dont want to leave the area even though the administration has provided them a relocation site in Taytay. I mean, beggars or squatters cant be choosers. Why are these people being so hard to deal with?
2 people like this
14 responses
@kquiming (2997)
• Philippines
28 Sep 10
maybe it's because they are uneducated people and they have a diffferent kind of mentality different from us that we don't understand.... it's hard to see life from their perspective or point of view simply because we've never been where they have... there must be something that shaped them to be what they are now.
@jennbart (1330)
• Philippines
29 Sep 10
Yes, such uneducated people. But then again, not all poor people are still in the slums up until now. Some poor people then, worked and are now better in terms of life. So, they must work so that they wont be in the slums forever. If other people can work for a better life, then, they should also aim for that. If they are poor then, and still poor now.. then that is their problem. Take for example our nanny.That nanny stayed with us for a long long time as a helper. They used to be in the slums. I went there already. Smelly,small house..a shanty. Now, they are already living in a mini subdivision is Laguna.All for hardwork! She did not complain the government.They worked hard to be where they are in now.So, people should really work and not ask, ask and ask, complain complain and complain. They must do something! :)
@jeb083079 (839)
• Philippines
29 Sep 10
do not generalize all people living in the slums as uneducated people because some of them are living there because they don't have enough money to look for better place to stay or better education... not all are uneducated, some are studying in public schools and some are working in the government and are force to stay there because of low income... some people who lives in the slums have graduated in elementary and secondary schools but was not fortunate to finish their tertiary education...
@jennbart (1330)
• Philippines
29 Sep 10
Sorry, the last words are a mistake. :)
Squatters cannot afford to be choosy. They do not have jobs, they better just be thankful for the things they get.I do not feel any pity for them sometimes as they always rely on others.. and the government.They just complain, complain and complain.There are also times wherein, I do not feel like helping them.When you help them, they say something bad about the things that you are doing for them. What INGRATE!!
@jeb083079 (839)
• Philippines
29 Sep 10
maybe they have their reasons to choose and some of the reason is that the place is far from their workplace... i actually passed through this Agham road everyday to travel to my workplace and some of them had actually left already, complied with what the government wants but majority are still living there as of this moment...
also, it's not in Taytay that they are being relocated, it's in Montalban, Rizal...
@meenneixz (668)
• Philippines
29 Sep 10
Simply those people got no choice on their lives. If there is relocation site and they dont want to be moved, maybe its because they are used to reside in the area, or they are having job or any other way of earnings near in the area. As what I have seen in news reports it is common that those people would say that they will not leave since they are living in the lot for a quite long time already, which I think not a valid reason.
@preppydezza (309)
• Philippines
29 Sep 10
Yeah, they really are hard to deal with. Maybe these people are used to dole out system so that's why they kinda get frustrated sometimes. they should be supportive of what is going on with the country but they are the ones who are hardheaded!
@The_Mechanical_Turk (208)
• United States
29 Sep 10
I totally agree with you but we can't help it to blame poverty here. It's just people can't accept change.
@chiyosan (30183)
• Philippines
29 Sep 10
I would agree with you. that is so unfair for the land owners. And for the government, and of course for all of us who are paying taxes! i mean, if they have not started to squat on these lands, there won't even be budget for relocation and these money used can be alloted for other more important things, like health care.. or the education system!
This is one of those that would really bother a person. I even heard that for most of them, they were already given a place to live but sold it and opted to just be informal settlers!
They can't be like that everytime... nothing (except for the air) is free anymore! i really hate people who are freeloaders as such and would expect others to sort of understand their situation. duh... why don't they work and find themselves their own place!
@se7enthbird (8307)
• Philippines
29 Sep 10
sometimes thinking to squat in some government land is good har har har for they will give you your own home when they relocate you. it is true that seeing them complaining after the government put them in a more safe and more nice build houses would make them choosy. i dont think that there is bad about that, but of course they are complaining about jobs. i am sure they will find something reproductive to do. i have friends who lives at cavite and work here at metro manila and they can not complain for that is where they live. they have to be greatful that the government are giving them good houses.
@lhenpaule (495)
• Philippines
29 Sep 10
It's probably because you can't stretch their mentality. The miserable life situation in that place is somewhat a haven for them, and it would be so difficult for them to pull them out from what they get used to.
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
28 Sep 10
Hello Grace,
If the relocation site has infrastructures already, then there's no reason for them to stick around there. because sooner or later, they will be pushed of that area for the construction of commercial zones. this will provide people with jobs, something that the people of North Triangle doesn't understand.
They want to die fighting for the land they don't own? Fine then! they don't pay taxes anyways. these people have low or no education at all, so their not mature in thinking what's best for that construction. merely thinking of themselves instead....
@sweechi (157)
• Philippines
28 Sep 10
i knew what you feel.
Well there are really people who are like that. Since they're used to living in that area, Where they think everything is convenient, they would want to stay there for good. Even if the property does not belong to them, they still push themselves to stay longer. But actually, the funny thing, to live in the relocation site is better than they used to live and yet they want to remain there. It is like they are attached to it.
The problem in the Philippines is that most people, specifically the squatters are selfcentered, they prefer on what they want. They do what they want, does not care about others nor are they looking at the bright side. At times, not even cooperative with the government.
Anyways, just hope that the demolition will turn out okay.
@ddaguno (3107)
• Philippines
28 Sep 10
They knew from the start that the land was not theirs, but these people always feel that other do them great injustice.
I dont know what kind of mentality they have but to be honest the govt favors them than the middle class.
We pay taxes which are automatically taken from our salary. They don't.
They get health benefits and educational benefits for free. We don't.
And still they feel like the government owes them big time.
@romzz05 (572)
• Philippines
29 Sep 10
I think they are protected by Lina Law in which in case the government drive them out they should be relocated within the city they are currently residing they cant be relocated just anywhere. I guess its the idea that they don't want them deprive of their main source of income.
@bautistaanna04 (306)
• Philippines
29 Sep 10
yeah, right. basically, they don't own the land so they don't have the right for it. they know they are illegal settlers so they should know that they who be obliged to leave that place sooner or later and be prepared for it. "we have lived here for years" is not a valid reason, i believe. if they want to stay in a place for the rest of their lives, why didn't they buy a land? why did they choose to be squatters? they shouldn't be mad at the ones asking them to leave. there's a relocation area, anyway. it's like having a place to live for free (am i right about his? not so familiar about the law).
