From Payatas to Sona: Jomer Still Chases His ‘Paper Boat’ Dreams

Jomer Pabalan was one of three Payatas boys whose wishes President Macapagal-Arroyo had promised to grant in her first SONA in July 2001. Two years later, however, Jomer and his family continue to hope for justice, secure livelihood and housing.

By John Paul E. Andaquig
IBON Features
Posted by Bulatlat.com

Garbage pickers at the Payatas dump

If 12-year-old Jomer Pabalan would have his way, he would still live in Kasiglahan Village, a housing project located in Rodriguez, Rizal where almost 500 former Payatas families were relocated following the July 10, 2000 landslide in one of Metro Manila’s largest dumps.

But his parents continue to worry where to get the payment for their Kasiglahan housing unit. The Pabalan family’s housing unit costs P165,000 to be paid in 25 years. Although Jomer’s father was able to put up a gas stove repair shop in front of their house with the capital coming from the P10,000 livelihood assistance from the government, the family’s income was simply not enough.

Two years ago, Jomer, together with fellow Payatas boys Jayson Banogon and Erwin Dolera, got his first trip inside the halls of Congress and saw President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo face-to-face for the first time.

Witnessed by the country’s legislators and the TV audience, Arroyo then introduced them as three simple kids with simple dreams. These dreams were written on paper boats that the three boys set sail on Pasig River toward Malacañang. Thus the inspired theme of Arroyo’s 2001 State of the Nation Address (SONA), “Bangkang Papel” (paper boat).

Jomer still remembers those wishes because they have not come true. He still wishes for justice for the 217 victims claimed by the Payatas dumpslide. He also continues to pray that his family would not have to pay for their housing unit in Kasiglahan.

For this the government can only do so much, says Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman in a news report. Nevertheless, their dream boats have not sunk; she sayd, they have "sailed smoothly and far."

The same news report stated that the three Payatas boys are now diligent students, with Jayson studying at the UP Integrated School after graduating salutatorian in grade school, and Erwin becoming "Boy Scout of the Year" at St. Vincent Rolling Hillls School, a private school in Payatas. 

No pigs in the backyard

Jomer, on the other hand, was also reportedly studying at St.Vincent, "being among the more responsible and obedient students". Indeed, the boy values his education very much. He says in an interview that he is very fond of studying, always asking questions and participating in class discussions. Unlike many kids, his favorite subjects include math and science.

But Jomer is not enrolled at St. Vincent. Rather, he is a sixth grader at Kasiglahan Elementary School where two of his younger siblings are also studying. There, Jomer only pays for school projects and other miscellaneous fees, plus his daily allowance and fare since he usually rides the pedicab every morning.

His mother, Merly, explains that the DSWD scholarship given to him cannot cover the tuition and other fees at St.Vincent. She adds that since the 2001 SONA, Jomer receives yearly P16,000 in educational assistance until he finishes high school. She says that the amount is just enough to cover Jomer’s expenses in school projects as well as other school needs such as uniforms, bag, and notebooks.

“Kung sa private siya mag-aaral, kapos talaga kasi nga gusto rin niyang matulungan yung mga kapatid niya. Kaya hinahati rin niya ang baon niya at ibinibigay sa kanila” (The amount is not enough if he studies in a private school as he also wants to help his younger siblings. He even shares his daily allowance with his siblings), Merly says.

She also denies that her family is raising pigs as livelihood, contrary to news reports. Until now, her husband’s gas stove repair shop is the family’s main source of income.

Just an ordinary kid

Jomer goes to class from 6 to 10 a.m. In the afternoon after doing his homework, he usually helps around the house, fetching water from a nearby well or cooking rice. He does not usually watch TV, but admits liking anime cartoons and even a "chinovela" show.

Like other kids, he was once hooked at the popular game Beyblade, but his sport would always be basketball, which he usually plays every weekend. “Minsan kapag wala kaming ginagawa, pumupunta kami sa may puno ng aratilis, kasi mahangin doon” (Sometimes when there is nothing to do, my friends and I usually hang around under the aratilis tree because its cool there), he says.

If given a chance to meet President Macapagal-Arroyo again, Jomer says he would wish the same things, that justice be finally given to their neighbors who died in the dumpslide and that his family finally have a secure livelihood and housing.

Though he is thankful for his scholarship and the livelihood assistance, Jomer knows his parents are still struggling to make ends meet. He dreams of being a doctor someday but not the type who will leave the country and work abroad.

Asked whom he would like to serve as a doctor, he simply replies, “Yung mga nangangailangan at mga walang pera” (Those in dire need and with no money to spare).

The need for a genuine housing program

Like other former Payatas residents, Merly says that her family could not pay for the housing unit, despite a payment rate which starts at P500 a month for the first year until it reaches P1,500 by the fourth year for a 25-year period. Since they do not have a stable livelihood, meeting the family’s basic needs is already a difficult task. “Isipin mo naman, maghahanap ka ng trabaho dito sa Maynila, pamasahe mo pa lang wala nang matitira. Eh sa ngayon, kung may bayad pang monthly, ang laki ng halaga. Paano pa yung kuryente at tubig?” (When we look for jobs here in Metro Manila, we spend so much for transport fare. But right now we also have to pay monthly fees for our house. It is just too much. How can we even pay now for our electricity and water?), Merly says.

Every year, government allocates around 23% of housing funds for its socialized housing program that covers units worth P180,000 below each and supposedly targets low-income families. Various programs are also listed by the government for urban poor families, including programs for resettlement, and sites and services development.

But the government is faced with the problem of how and where to find funds. The usual solution for the government has always been to rely on the private sector, which is naturally interested in gaining profits. 

Thus, urban poor families who are relocated to National Housing Authority (NHA)-marked resettlement sites usually find themselves struggling even more to survive. Monthly housing fees, even for socialized housing, are still way up from what low-income families can afford.

Most resettlement sites lack basic services and livelihood sources. For instance in Towerville, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, around 20% of the 982 families relocated by the NHA lives in makeshift tents. The families have to pay for these tents that cost P20,000 each. One child has reportedly died in the area out of intense heat and lack of basic services.

Quest for justice continues

Like Jomer and his family, Benny Sandoy has also been living in Kasiglahan for almost three years since the Payatas tragedy. But he still remembers the pain of losing all his loved ones to the landslide, including his three kids, Abegail, Benny Jr. and 6-month-old Alvin, his wife Alma and his mother Benita.

Thus, he continues to seek justice for his family as well as those of other Payatas victims. Together with Merly, he is active as a board member of the July 10 Payatas Victims Association, one of three organized groups of former Payatas residents in Kasiglahan.

Benny said in an interview that they have been calling President Macapagal-Arroyo’s attention to the status of their class suit against Quezon City officials, as well as their living conditions in Kasiglahan, including those in other resettlement sites. He said that many Payatas residents who were relocated in Kasiglahan usually returned to the dump since they could not find any adequate livelihood within or near the relocation site.

Benny himself has found work back in Payatas, earning P6,000 a month as security guard in the dump. But even his job could not compensate for all his daily needs.

Their group has also been asking Housing Secretary Michael Defensor for a five-year housing moratorium after which they can avail their units for free, Benny adds.

Merly hopes that the Arroyo administration fulfills its promises to the hundreds of Payatas victims. "Pabahay at hustisya pa rin ang hinihingi namin" (Our problem is still housing and our quest for justice), she says. Posted by Bulatlat.com

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