Stop treating the needy Badjaos like wild animals

By Alex P. Vidal

“He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.”—The Hollies in a song with the same title

IT’S unbelievable that this is happening in a civilization that has produced Jose Rizal, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King Jr.; and in a generation that has produced the astonishing laws and international treaties against bigotry, prejudice, and discrimination.

After being tossed to the court of Iloilo City, the Badjaos have been thrown back to the court of Bacolod City like a volleyball in a match directed by top city officials squabbling for the ball position, or how not to possess it.

The only difference is no one wanted to keep the ball, which is being discarded like a foot-and-mouth disease-stricken pig.

“We will not allow them to come here because they do not have work [here]. As much as possible, they should understand that if they come here, we will send them back. Their strategy is to look out on the roads, seek alms, and if we don’t give, they throw things. We cannot allow that,” said Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas as quoted in a Daily Guardian report.

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Interestingly, the day it was reported that Treñas wanted the wanderers from Mindanao banished from the City of Love, he posted in his Facebook account the following (in all caps): ILOILO CITY EMBRACES “IRON HEART” WITH OPEN ARMS.”

Treñas’ Facebook post screamed: “We’re thrilled to announce that Iloilo City has been chosen as the next destination for the highly anticipated series, Iron Heart! Get ready to be captivated by the storyline and performances of the cast and crew as they bring this action-packed drama to life in our vibrant City of Love. Let’s embrace this exciting new chapter in our city’s entertainment journey!”

With “open arms” for the rich and famous entertainment characters but with zero iota of compassion, mercy, kindness, understanding, tolerance for the poor, unkempt, jobless and begging nomads from a small ethnic Mindanao community?

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The Badjaos aren’t wild animals who must be rounded up, chased out and forced to leave “only because” they are considered as “eye sores” and beggars who don’t have jobs and sanitary discipline to assimilate in communities they have “invaded.”

If they were “accidentally” or “intentionally” dumped in one city or province and the LGUs want to send them back to Mindanao, they must be treated humanely and given the proper assistance, among other basic social and health services, while their voyage back home is being processed.

The social welfare offices have abundance of resources and funds to assist the needy regardless of ethnicity, religion, sex, age, social and economic status. Under the universal law of human rights, we are all—and should be—treated equally.

All Filipinos ain’t heavy; they’re our brothers and sisters. (“He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” by The Hollies)

… The road is long

With many a winding turn

That leads us to who knows where, who knows where

But I’m strong

Strong enough to carry him

He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother

… So on we go

His welfare is of my concern

No burden is he to bear

We’ll get there

… For I know

He would not encumber me

He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother

… If I’m laden at all

I’m laden with sadness

That everyone’s heart

Isn’t filled with the gladness

Of love for one another

… It’s a long, long road

From which there is no return

While we’re on the way to there

Why not share?

… And the load

Doesn’t weigh me down at all

He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother

… He’s my brother

He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother

He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)