Mariannet Amper: The next might be you

You know, the story of that 11-year old girl who committed suicide because she can’t stand poverty anymore is the most potent reason NOT to believe this regime’s economic lies. Whatever statistic that sycophants Ignacio “There are 2 discs” Bunye, Ricardo Saludo, and Eduardo Ermita tell us, the death of that girl will always come to my mind. Whenever people like Donald Dee, Miguel Varela, and Sergio Ortiz-Luis start parroting the party line, the death of that girl will always come to my mind. I will never be convinced by their lies. As long as I see some green-shirted people collecting people’s trash and earning below government-mandated minimum wage, and contrast that with government officials getting hundreds of thousands of pesos, and the story of that girl’s suicide, I will never be convinced.

Strong peso? The fact is that we are surviving due to remittances by overseas Filipino workers, and a strong peso is not what we need. The fact is that the sunshine industry in the country today is the business process outsourcing/call center industry, which depends on the local industry currency being weak against the US Dollar. So with a strong peso, an OFW sees his remittance shrinking as compared to a year ago. With a strong peso, BPOs/call centers see their revenues fall.

Remember the name – Mariannet Amper. Remember the circumstances that lead to her death. Remember the lies being peddled by government officials.

Remember the story of the previous episode of that TV show that you love watching. Remember the food that you ate at that fancy store. Remember the ridiculously priced gadget that you bought last month. Remember the trip to another country you took months ago. Remember all that beer that you downed. Remember those. Because when your apathy reigns unbridled, all of those will be gone. All that remains are memories.

And then you will remember that 11-year old girl who committed suicide, all because his father couldn’t give her Php 100 pesos for a school project. A girl who died because she cannot afford to go to school regularly.

–

I commend the following people who continue to tell the world that a child died, and the rest went on their merry lives:

Schumey: Putting A Face On Poverty
The Jester-in-Exile: The Rant of The Jester-in-Exile, Part I: YOU FUCKING APATHETIC FOOLS and The Rant of The Jester-in-Exile, Part II: Pinoy Big Briber
Paeng: Callous
Master Betong: Kahirapan
Dominique Cimafranca: “Girl, 11, loses hope, hangs self”
Mika: Poverty drives a 12-year-old girl to take her own life
Selvo: The rope that hanged Mariannet
Gerry Cacanindin: Mariannet: Death by suicide at 12
brandz18: To Mariannet Amper
Jenny: Mariannet Amper: Death Driven by Poverty….
Demosthenes: Too Menny People
Mundong Noypi: Legacy of Mariannet
quixotic&chaotic: Hebigat
mgrp: “Girl,11, loses hope, hangs herself”
iron46: Apektado ako sa pagpapakamatay ni Mariannet
Patsada Karajaw: DAVAO GIRL COMMITTED SUICIDE BECAUSE OF POVERTY
Manuel Buencamino: The most callous reaction to the suicide of an 11 year old girl
Placeholder: Trickle-Down Economics
Bikoy: There are millions of Mariannets
Sonnie: Tears In Heaven
Francis: Hush now, little girl

And what about YOU?

November 9th, 2007

18 Comments

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  • http://theamateurmisanthrope.blogspot.com/ amateur misanthrope

    life mirroring fiction. i’m reminded of thomas hardy’s jude the obscure

  • http://awbholdings.com Arbet

    MLQ3 cited several eerie passages from that novel.

  • http://www.stuartsantiago.com stuart-santiago

    what about me? i’ve been posting comments on djb’s philippine commentary blog where his latest, coincidental with mariannet’s suicide, is about “why self-rated poverty and hunger statistics are scientifically meaningless.” of course i could not let it pass, specially not after reading mariannet’s journal of her self-rated poverty, which broke my heart.

  • http://aboutmyrecovery.com noemi

    There are more suicide deaths lately among adolescents. Poverty is one reason that pushed Mariannet to the edge. She probably had depression which pushed her over her ability to cope with her situation. Poverty is a real problem and each of us do our share to alleviate it. However, let’s be careful about the attention to avoid “Cluster suicides” and prevent deaths among the young.

    “television, newspaper or radio coverage of suicide (or exposure to a recent suicide or suicide attempt in the community) can serve as a trigger for vulnerable adolescents to act on suicidal thoughts and plans. This is what is termed as “cluster suicides.””

  • http://postcardheadlines.wordpress.com/2007/11/10/km212/ Blogs react to 11-year-old child’s suicide « Postcard Headlines

    [...] The same sentiments are expressed by AWBHoldings.com: You know, the story of that 11-year old girl who committed suicide because she can’t stand poverty anymore is the most potent reason NOT to believe this regime’s economic lies… As long as I see some green-shirted people collecting people’s trash and earning below government-mandated minimum wage, and contrast that with government officials getting hundreds of thousands of pesos, and the story of that girl’s suicide, I will never be convinced. [...]

  • http://awbholdings.com Arbet

    Hi, Angela, yeah, it really breaks someone’s heart.

    Hi, Mam Noemi, that came to my mind. There is such a thing called sympathetic suicide, if I am not mistaken. However, suicide, like death, is a taboo among Filipinos, and your fear is valid.

  • http://masterbetong.net master

    Unless we truly address the problem of our society, this sad chapter of our history will continue.

  • http://awbholdings.com Arbet

    Master, I agree.

  • http://sesantos.com.ph/ Sonnie

    Unless society will get its act together, poverty will not be addressed. In my opinion,

    The RC Church must cooperate in population management. Preventing the sperm from meeting the egg, whether natural or not, is not abortion. But messing it up after the union is already a crime.
    The rich in society to act like a big brother to the poor ones

    Employers to give and do more, when capable
    The rich barangay for a poor barangay
    In our own little way, we can share our time. resources, talents to educate, assist and help the less privilege get out of their situation.

    Citizens action, poltical will to rid our society of corruption and cheats.
    More budget for education, health and other public services.

  • arthur

    The rope was the 100-peso school project!?

  • http://www.tongueinanew.blogspot.com Tongue’s Wrath

    I’d like to know how the effing Cyber-Ed project will prevent another Mariannet. Amazing how criminal minds work.

  • http://awbholdings.com Arbet

    Hi, Sir Sonnie, I agree.

  • http://awbholdings.com Arbet

    Yes, Arthur, unfortunately. Free elementary education only exists in the Enchanted Kingdom of Her Majesty, Gloria Arroyo.

  • http://awbholdings.com Arbet

    It’s all about the money, they don’t care if people die of hunger or poverty.

  • http://tesstermulo.com/2007/11/12/her-choice-killed-her/ Her Choice Killed Her | Prudence and Madness

    [...] we need to be reminded that we aren’t all comfortable and well-nourished. Some also said that this story of Mariannet should make us remember the lies that our government officials feed us. But then, even if our government lie to us, steal from us, cheat on us, it is also important that [...]

  • http://www.pinoyblogosphere.com/2007/11/12/her-choice-killed-her/ Her Choice Killed Her – PinoyBlogoSphere.com – Pinoy Bloggers Society (PBS)

    [...] we need to be reminded that we aren’t all comfortable and well-nourished. Some also said that this story of Mariannet should make us remember the lies that our government officials feed us. But then, even if our government lie to us, steal from us, cheat on us, it is also important that [...]

  • http://www.lestercavestany.com Lester Cavestany

    Strong words! Very well said.

    I found this website that gives us an idea of the salary of government officials:

    http://www.siquijor.com/Commentaries/Salary%20Schedule%20Philippine%20Govt%20Employees.htm

    With the salary that they’re meant to be getting, how can they afford their mansions, private armies, and SUV’s. I know that some of them businesses on the side and that’s okay. Still, I hope they would be more transparent in their finances.

  • http://pagetwo.wordpress.com/2007/12/25/quotes-from-the-filipino-blogosphere-2007/ Quotes from the Filipino Blogosphere 2007 « Small World * Big Possibilities

    [...] Arbet: Remember the name – Mariannet Amper. Remember the circumstances that lead to her death. Remember the lies being peddled by government officials. [...]

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