Squatters

Informal Settlers
The Face of Poverty
5-Architecture
Mendiola, Uriel
Roberto, Aris
Servino, Mon
The Narrative:
We first met at Uriels place in pasig at around 8am, had breakfast
first and after that, we proceeded with our work, the EXPERIENCE.

We walked and decided to buy goods as an offering for the
family(s) that we are going to encounter during our journey. Our first stop
was the Pasig Cemetery where we asked a security guard if we could
conduct interviews, he answered us by telling us to go to the main office of
the cemetery where we met Ms. Lori. We asked her if there were still
families living in the area, unfortunately she told us that all informal settlers
have been relocated since last year. After which, our faces began to frown
because of the news not knowing that they have been relocated.

Again, we decided to have a walk and continue our journey looking
for informal settlers. To our luck, we encountered another security guard
and asked if he knew a place where informal settlers live.
Riding a tricycle, we went to Eusebio Bliss as the security guard
told us.
Upon arriving at the area, we stopped for a moment because as we
can see, the area is not that poor in nature and most of the people who live
there work for the government. We told manong driver to just ride us to the
other site where hes saying that, that place is the squatters area.

While travelling, we saw a house built just beside a creek and told
manong driver to stop.

As we were entering the area, we knocked first at someones door to
ask permission if we could conduct an interview with them. To our luck, he
pointed us to the other house where we went and met Nanay GINOVEVA
NATIVIDAD FRAYNA, 61years of age.

Before we have conducted the interview, people from that area kept
on asking us what are we doing there, we answered them by telling that we
are here to understand why this kind of problem is happening to them.
As we were conducting the interview, Nanay told us that shell
answer everything we ask truthfully because she is fond of interviews.

Nanay has been living there since 1983, she told us that they lived
first at Manila and transferred to Pasig. They are 15 in the family, she has 3
children, all of them have their own families. They are living in one roof but
different rooms. We asked nanay if all of her children finished school and
she said only one. Next is we asked how do they make for a living, she said
that her husband sidelines for a living earning P2000.00 and Nanay works as
a labandera earning P1000-3000.00 depending to whom she works for. To
our surprise Nanay only works occasionally if her husband doesnt earn
anything. She also told us that they only earn sometime in a month and both
she and her husband are the breadwinners of the family. We asked Nanay
how do they survive on their daily basis, she answered by saying, magaling
ako magbudget ng pera at pagkain, ganito turuan kita...
After a long chat about her familys background, we changed the
topic about their house. We asked Nanay if she could tour us in their humble
home. Nanay showed us where their kitchen is, their bathroom, the laundry
area and especially their sleeping quarters where all of them sleep.
Afterwards, we asked Nanay where do they get their electricity and water.
Nanay told us that they get their electricity from their neighbor which they
pay for an amount. About their water, she told us that they buy 2 different
types of water consumption, one is for drinking and one is for bathing and
washing. Asking Nanay how much their water consumption is, she told us
that water consumption costs P250.00 per container for washing and
bathing, and P30.00 per liter for drinking water.

After the tour, we asked Nanay how their health is, she told us that
they are okay, sanay-sanayan lang, sanay na kami dito.
- Their Bathroom divided
into two. (Toilet on the
left, Bathing on the right)
- Their Sleeping quarters.
A size of 2x3 meters in
dimension.
- Water containers for
bathing and washing.
- Their Kitchen
located right beside
the creek.
It was now getting late, our group doesnt know how we are going
to end the conversations. As we have said, we bought goods which we want
to give them as a sign of respect and help for them. As we are about to give
Nanay the goods, there is a sudden moment of silence, Nanays face began to
smile and keeps on telling Thank you to us. Before we left, we thanked
Nanay for a wonderful interview and conversations which we wont forget.
The Social Problem:
INEQUALITY:
Nanay wants to be relocated but the
government denies because of her age.
ECONOMY:
They are unemployed and doesnt have
a stable income for their daily basis. All
they do is to manage their money to
satisfy their needs and hunger
HEALTH:
The place where they live is hazardous
to their health. Fumes/odor from the
creek can be smelled from the inside of
their house.


Feelings and Reactions:
During the exposure, I feel so sad because as nanay tell their
story about their lives and how do they manage it, I could see that they
are having a hard time surviving, living on a small house with no
waterline beside a bad odored creek and no permanent job for them to
sustain their family. But, they still smile and saying that it is only a
challenge of life and there will come a time that God will reward them of
their sufferings... -Uriel Mendiola
During our journey, I was disheartened when we first entered
their place, they lived by the side of the creek, there house so fickle, the
odor is really strong, it even reached the inside. No permanent water
supply, they only connect their electricity to their neighbour, whats more
saddening was they are being disturbed by the officials to get out of that
place, the problem is, the officials hasnt meet the housing demand of
nanay. Yet they continue to live even in the harsh conditions, they smile
and even very seldom when earning, yet they are able to survive. They
even leaved us with a saying that Poverty is only for those who are
lazy. -Mon Servino
Feelings and Reactions:
At first, I was a bit tense because of the thought that we are
going to places we have never been to. During the exposure, theres one
thing that keeps running through my mind, the thought of being put into
a position like them and I wanted to find out how am I going to cope and
be able to surpass such experience.
As soon as I have seen the place where Nanay Ginoveva lives, I
experienced a heart-warming feeling. I admit, I see people live beside
creeks and rivers from a distance, but this time, I am actually in front of
them . Weve talked, shared insights, shared stories about anything and
especially their lives. I got sad of the thought that they live beside a
creek, I felt Nanays agony as she utters how the government denied her
request by giving her a housing project due to old age. In addition to this,
it pains me to see Nanays family packed in a small place. They have no
proper sanitation and water supply for their daily lives. I can say, that I
can bare the odor of the place, it doesnt bother me, for I have to
understand them.
Lastly, if theres anything I can do to help them, I will.
-Aris Roberto
Proposed Challenges:
For the Government, be consistent on the programs you are
handling and implementing. They are also like us, Humans, who must be
treated equally and fair.

For us individuals, we must be aware of what is happening. Yes,
we call it poverty, but I think the problem is with us, we dont care about
them, about their lives and wellbeing. We can do is to care for them by
lending a hand or helping them without expecting something in return. In
addition, we can teach them skills which will enhance their wellbeing
and as well, lessen their state of being deprived.