#StoryofTheNation: 'Listen to us'

Untold stories often are the most touching and sincere. Tell us your #StoryofTheNation today.

Raisa Serafica

Published 2:16 PM, July 30, 2014

Updated 4:23 PM, July 30, 2014

MANILA, Philippines – An old man demanding for genuine change. A volunteer determined to finish building houses for Yolanda survivors. A tribal chieftain fighting for his land. And a bus conductor who helped out an unfortunate stranger.

For Filipinos worldwide, these are just snippets of the thousands of stories that make up our country.

Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, MovePH, Rappler’s civic engagement arm, asked Filipinos to help capture the narrative of the country through photos and stories.

We launched the #StoryofTheNation campaign ahead of the fifth State of the Nation Address of President Benigno Aquino III with the hopes that these stories would inform and inspire people to take action. It wouldn't be bad if the President and his goverment could see these stories as well.

Armed with their cameras and smart phones, Filipinos across the country heeded the call and shared stories of people in the shadows, communities almost forgotten, and a nation in development.

We compiled the most shared and discussed stories we've received:

"Sabihin niya kung paano kami aahon sa kahirapan. Puro naman sa mga kaaway niya sa pulitika ang mga pinagsasabi niya tuwing SONA." (The President should tell us how we can get out of poverty instead of talking about politics.)

Dominador Pastor
62, Carpenter, Tondo, Manila
(Photo by Leanne Jazul)

This photo submitted by Rappler photo editor Leanne Jazul sparked a long debate about poverty and why a majority of Filipinos remain poor. According to recent reports, poverty incidence among Filipino families fell only slightly in 2012 from 2006 despite the country's economic growth.

Responding to Pastor's statement, some netizens argued that Filipinos should not depend solely on the government for their welfare. According to Jmel Romulo Abulche, hardwork and perseverance are the main ingredients to success. However, others argued that one cannot simply assume that a person is lazy if he is poor.

"Paano sila makakapagimpok kung ni isang piso wala sila? Alam niyo po ba na araw-araw nilang sinusubukang kumayod kahit anong klaseng trabaho kinukuha na nila para lang mabuhay?" Josef Ian Bondoc commented.

(How can they save if they don't even have single penny to spare? Do you have any idea the things they go through just to get by?)

"Hindi ko iniintindi yung pagod, kasi alam ko na kung ano yung naramdaman ko dati nung binigyan ako ng bagong bahay at bagong buhay, yun din yung mararamdaman ng mga titira sa mga bahay na ito." (I try not to think about by weariness because I can emphathize to those who have lost their homes and have been given new shelters to live in. Hopefully, those who will one day call this place their home would feel the same way)

Ernesto Raymundo
GAWA Construction Worker
(Photo contributed by Gawad Kalinga)

One of the stories that most inpsired netizens is the photo of construction worker Ernesto Raymundo shared by Gawad Kalinga. Raymundo builds homes for those affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

"He is a true Filipino who knows the value of helping fellow Filipinos. I salute this good hearted man," said Gero Adrias.

"I would like President Aquino to heed our call regarding our ancestral domain. Why was it converted into a pineapple plantation after some rich family from Manila grabbed our land with a fake land title and leased it to Del Monte Philippines?"

Datu Makauyag Simeon
69, tribal chieftain of the Higaonon tribe in Libona town, Bukidnon province
(Photo by Bobby Lagsa)

Some netizens interpreted the story of Datu Makauyag Simeon as a reflection of a bigger problem in the Philippine justice system.

"Yan ang example ng mga kasong naka binbin sa SC..na naghihintay na may lumapit sa mga magistrate para ito maareglo," Eleanor Hernandez commented.

(This is an example of a lot of pending cases at the Suprement Court which doesn't move unless someone bribes a judge. )

"Puro negatibo, masama naiisip nila tungkol sa mga pulitiko. Hindi ako maka-PNoy. Hindi rin ako kumakampi sa mga pulitiko. Pero naisip ba nila na nakapagpakulong ang administrasyon na ito ng malalaking isda?" (The view against the administration and politicians is mostly negative. I am not siding with the president nor the politicians. However, did anyone ever think that this administration was able to bait a 'big fish'?)

Renato Gonzales
Electrician
(Photo contributed by MOTS Philippines)

Instead of criticizing the administration, Renato Gonzales chose to look at the bright side.

On Facebook, Desiree Reyes David agreed with Gonzales and added that what the administration is doing to institutionalize reforms is not a walk-in-the-park. "The administration's efforts are being recognized internationally, so it means they must be doing something right for our country. So if they want PNoy to be impeached, who will replace him? I am so afraid to ask," David added.

While George Yap acknowledged the administration's efforts, he said he cannot disregard the things that it did wrong. "If we sum it all up, they did more wrong than good. Instead of a straight path, the administration tended to the corrupt!" Yap commented in Filipino.

"Saan ba nawala? Uso talaga ang dukotan ngayon lalo na't mahirap kumita ng pera. Ito oh, (hands P50) pang backup mo. Sigurado zero ka n'yan. Balik mo nalang pag nagkita tayo. Kapag di mo tinanggap 'to, sisingilin kita sa pamasahe. Magkikita pa tayo. Liit lang ng Maynila."

Augusto Liwanag
bus conductor
(Photo by Patrick Vega)

Among all the photos submitted, the story of Augusto Liwanag proved to be the most compelling, with over 130,000 likes and 12,000 shares on social media.

The photo tells the story of a bus conductor who gave a total stranger P50 because the man lost his wallet. Netizens filled the thread with praise for Liwanag and called him a good samaritan.

"With all the negative news about bad people, we should not forget that a vast majority of Filipino's are nice, honest and trustworthy people," Dan Van Haecke commented.

#StoryofTheNation

The #StoryofTheNation submissions prove that every Filipino has a story to tell – each one as important and as compelling as the other.

We encourage everyone to continue being the storytellers of this nation and keep the photos coming.

You can send the photos, captions, and relevant information to our email: move.ph@rappler.com, through Facebook or Twitter, and through the Rappler app.

- Rappler.com

#StoryofTheNation: 'Listen to us'

Raisa Serafica

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