Before you get on my case about the title, please know that I do know that it helps a lot of people during the Christmas holidays. Ultimately, however, it's a cruel joke that demonstrates a false piety on the part of wealthy employers. Hear me out.
Wages
The wages in the country are a mere pittance. Minimum wages are different is various parts of the country. For example, Manila pays a "higher" wage than the provinces. Here in my place it is 240 pesos a day. Add in jeep or trike fare and you're lucky to make 200, not to mention eating lunch and paying taxes.
It's a darn shame. And it's a disgrace. For example, construction workers labor all day in the blazing sun, and if they are fortunate, they make 500 pesos a day. In the USA, the some worker makes a minimum of 5000 a day. Some make that in an hour.
A false argument
Oh, but the US is a richer country! That is certainly true but a false argument. You think for a hot second that Manuel Villar, Enrique Razon Jr, Lucio Tan, and the rest are any less wealthy. Look at the list below.
Manuel Villar: $7.2 billion
Enrique Razon Jr: $5.0 billion
Lucio Tan: $3.3 billion
Hans Sy: $3.0 billion
Herbert Sy: $3.0 billion
Andrew Tan: $2.9 billion
Henry Sy Jr: $2.7 billion
Harley Sy: $2.7 billion
Teresita Sy-Coson: $2.7 billion
Tony Tan Caktiong & family: $2.4 billion
Elizabeth Sy: $2.4 billion
Ramon Ang: $2.4 billion
Edgar Sia II: $1.2 billion
Roberto Ongpin: $1.1 billion
Ricardo Po Sr & family: $1.1 billion
And what do they pay their workers? Squat. They spend more on food in a couple of weeks than many Filipinos do in a year. And then there are their luxury purchases. God only knows that amount.
The irony
Herein lies the irony, what is spent by those who get the 13th month pittance only lines thee pockets of the rich even more. Don't you get it? The cruel joke is on us!
And do our politicians care one iota? Not a bit. They are all rich. Oh, but when election time rolls around, watch how they act. They are phonies, power hungry, and what we can't do, they do freely with no consequences.
But at Christmastime they love their photo ops where they hand out a can of sardines and a kilo or two of rice.
The solution and the problem
Simply put, it is paying fair wages to all workers. But you won't see any fat cat politicians voting for that, because it hurts their bottom line and their rich friends who drink $200 bottles of wine for dinner.
And it's our own fault. We who vote allow the same political dynasties into office year after year after year. Thankfully, I no longer vote because I refuse to be a part of the problem of electing these wealthy leeches.
And some of you reading this will gladly accept a bag of rice or 100 pesos to cast a vote for the politicians.
So enjoy your paltry 13th month pay and live it up for a day or two. But remember this, when you are scrapping by from month to month to feed your family, keep in mind you have nobody to blame but yourselves.
I am thankful I work for myself.
And in my country there is nothing better. Maybe it's worse before the election. The salary is very low. The lowest salary for a month is below 300 dollars. But so are those who are rich. I work for myself, I don't agree to a kilo of rice 😊