Poverty

I came from a big family. I have two elder brothers and two younger sisters. If you think five is big, think again. I have tons of cousins. My one aunt had thirteen children while my other aunt has nine kids and the lists goes on. It wouldn't be that bad if my uncles had a good job, but they don't. Worst it, the father of those thirteen kids doesn't have any job and rely heavily with my aunt who is tilling the farm. I really don't think that is fair.

Another way to help them survive is through sending my cousins to the city. As soon as they hit the age of twelve, my aunt would usually find a home where my cousins could work as a nanny/housemaid to feed the rest of the family.

I really don't mind family members helping each other. I have helped my sisters get through college, so I have nothing against it. The one big issue I have with that is parents spitting out babies not even thinking if they have a future to give to their children. Sure, I hated my mom when she was pregnant with our youngest. Well, actually we all hated my mom because we thought that we are too old to be having another baby sister, but when we saw our youngest sister for the first time, all our madness went away. Then again, my father was very responsible. My father worked and provided for all of us.

Families in the Philippines doesn't get any help from the government unlike here in the United States. It doesn't matter how many kids do you have, you have to support it because the government is very poor as well. My cousins didn't have to work like that to provide for the family that they did not create. They worked while my aunt gets all their salary, so she has something to bring to the family. It is not right and never will be. Why create if you could not support?