what is a squatter area?????? It's like hell.

Philippines
October 19, 2010 6:42am CST
What is a squatter area? it's a place where people settle on unoccupied land without legal claim. And it's like hell for me. Don't get me wrong. I never hated the people who live there but i just hate the place. I don't live in a squatter area but i had a boyfriend before who rented a house in a squatter area. I always visit my ex boyfriend and sometimes I sleep in there. I have no idea what squatter area really like except on what i see on TV. Yet, the things that I see on TV is right. The people that I see on TV is showing same personality. When I heard this line from a movie or TV show, "you were born in a squatter area! That's why you're acting like that.. I don't know the reality of it. People are always quarreling. Shouting each other. Fighting each other. There's always a trouble. People are back biting you. The place is very dirty and it smells bad. It's very noisy and crowded. Oh my God. It's like hell. The parish is not being taken care well and nobody is praying there. I don't know. It's really like hell for me. No offense. But that's what I had experienced. When my ex broke up with me, I never go back in there though i want to since I have gain friends there but i am so busy.
2 people like this
11 responses
@jennbart (1330)
• Philippines
19 Oct 10
I totally AGREE!! we used to have a squatter's area outside the subd I live and still living up to now and whenever we have a halloween event the kids there goes to our subdivision and asks for candies already even when the contest has not yet started up so, by the time the contests ends and the kids starts to go around the streets for trick or treating, the houses does not have any candies left to give the kids of the residences. The kids from the squatter's already got all the candies as they go in groups and their moms and aunts comes along with them! The nerve!!! so now, the admin of our subdivision made a new rule.They will close the gates at the back and houses are not allowed to give out candies yet if the contests are not yet done to be fair to those in costumes.
@rdm001 (69)
• Philippines
20 Oct 10
You said you are living in a SUBDIVISION, so candies should cost you nothing, since I am assuming you are some kind of rich kid, so why bother ranting about them getting the candies first before the actual residents huh? my oh my, nice attitude there rich kid.
@jennbart (1330)
• Philippines
20 Oct 10
I am NOT ranting about giving them, I am RANTING about them going IN first.. That is before EVERYONE else does. THAT IS UNFAIR! giving them is nothing, but they should also FOLLOW other people for the kids to be given EQUAL sharing. Before you comment nasty things, KINDLY READ. I believe that those who are in costumes and the kids of the residences wants to have their candies too, and IAM NOT saying that they SHOULD NOT be given candies at all! THAT IS TWO DIFFERENT THINGS!
• Philippines
20 Oct 10
To be honest, I'm actually having the same issue. I also live in a *not-so-really* exclusive subdivision and I find it really inappropriate to see those people in our own. Not that I'm being rude or anything. Again, I am not against them in any way. First of all, I'm not ranting about candies either. I can give em' a truckload of m&m's and snippets if they want (though most of them are already melted or crushed since most of em' were under my parents' bed for quite some time) -- but still, I won't because that's like giving a fish instead of teaching them how to fish. (you may be wondering "teaching how to fish??? You don't even want to get near em'!!!").. well, my only question for that is "we can't really tolerate those kinds of actions... not that we don't want to teach em how to go treat and trickin' .. first of all: They should have never went there. 2nd: We are paying a fee for those trick or treating. The worst part is that usually, the subdivision's guards find out about these malicious acts anyway. And for the part of not giving away candies to the poor since we're "rich" well, i can't say anything for that other than people do have their own choices and perspectives + doesn't mean someone's rich -- he can give anything for free. He did work hard for it. Also, if something went wrong like SOMETHING went missing or a kid had gone missing during the activity, well, we can't blame other home owners but the outsiders even or EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT the ones who did the crime. Never the less, it should never be tolerated and we are just doing this to be fair to everyone and for everyone's benefit.
1 person likes this
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
19 Oct 10
You are right that people in that particular area are acting rude and scary sometimes due to fightings and drinking sessions on the streets or every corner,without upper tops (for men esp showing tattoos too) But i don't want to call them squatters,they're citizen of the country and always have the right to build their houses (ok,it maybe owned by private sector or any particular owner and leave it open)then for me let the people use it. Thu sometimes it would be hard to let them go and leave the place and they even fight for it.(which i guess is not right anymore when the owner needs the place) I just hope that,the government will give those people memorandum,or someone to handles such community for a betterment. Living in such place is not good and comfortable. I never been in such place,i just saw in tv and sometimes passed those area. It's sad to see people living in a place like that,so sad esp for the kids that needs a good environment to live in and a good community to build their personality to be a better person someday.
• Philippines
19 Oct 10
In the first place, they should have never occupied those vacant spaces with or WITHOUT knowing that someone owns that lot. They should have thought that "hey, this is owned by the government. Me and my family can get in a very BIIIIG trouble if I violate the law" But sometimes, people just get a little bit too persistent. And because of that, there's always a domino effect. Once a person joins in, other people will think it's fine == more people will join in! And then they'll act so rebellious when people try to get it back. It would be okay (sort of) if they would atleast take care of what they've gotten *for free*. Not everyone is given free land every once in a while.
2 people like this
@rdm001 (69)
• Philippines
20 Oct 10
You wouldnt be posting this sh1t if you are one of them. The people living in there, I can call them real people, they dont hide their true nature, they dont mind about what other people think, and here is the idi0t topic starter ranting about the squatter area. I guess that's what you gain (CRITICIZING) from living in your so-called PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT.
• Philippines
20 Oct 10
No offense. I just couldn't believe that this is really happening. I feel so pity with the children there and the people live there. They are full of despair and hopeless. They have so much anger with the government and so do I. I hate to see people suffering from that place. That place is like a hell and it should vanished! The government should give them a decent shelter and a clean environment.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
20 Oct 10
hi tess this sounds dreadf ul and though the land is unoccupied it must be owned by someone as squatting means staying in a place where you have no rights to be. No wonder they are so noisy and quarrelsome as in a way they are Illegals as they are not living there as owners.It must be like hell to live where you are not even supposed to be and no money to buy the food and things that they need to survive.Usually where there is illegal occupation you will find poverty, fighting,Its not so common in the Us but in areas where businesses have failed you will squatters moved into empty buildings and they live God knows how without lights water or gas in some instances. It makes me so glad for what little that I have and for a safe place to stay that is legal and fairly pleasant.
• Philippines
19 Oct 10
Not even one fourth of what the reality of hell is. But it would be nice to hear if you don't call them squatters, just like VP Binay said, call them Illegal settlers. Who's fault would that be? Many people wanted to go to Metropolitan city to make a living and for them it is green pasture so they thought that going to the city is the best option. Later than we know there will be illegal settlers in different areas of Metro Manila. Most of these people were not able to study and don't have proper education so don't wonder why there will be street fights, gamble and gossipers around. Don't wonder too if the place is totally dirty because that is why they came to settle there because it was a piece of land that they can live for and that is what they can afford. Be thankful enough that God has given you an opportunity to share your blessings to them and not just to criticize the status of their living which you pictured as hell. Who are we to compare ourselves the way they live life? It's like your saying "thanked God I am not like them" attitude when you speak of not living in a so called place. Call me sarcastic, but I have nothing against you. But we should consider other people by not branding them. All of us are created equal and in the eyes of God we are all the same, whether you are rich or poor.
@rdm001 (69)
• Philippines
20 Oct 10
Holy sh1t, i love you. wow, i never thought someone would think like me, damn these people ranting about illegal settlers. i wouldnt mind them ranting about it if they were part of some activism who's doing something for these illegal settlers, but they arent, they are just normal citizens like us.
• Philippines
20 Oct 10
Well, Strawberrychocodahi is correct. But I wouldn't call this situation normal when people sloth all day long while everyone else is off to work. I'm not against anyone either, though they should atleast be some gratitude shown by the people since this is someone else's property. Probably showing some community service or ATLEAST by simply showing that they DO care about what they've got from God and from other people by just cleaning and maintenance their environment.
• Philippines
20 Oct 10
I used to teach in a school here and once I went with my students on an exposure trip to a place where garbage collected from households are dumped. They call this place "smokey mountain." People live in this vicinity and even at the foot of this dump. In there, I noticed the students covering their faces with hankies while interacting with the adults and children residents. I called them around and told them to remove the hankies or I would fail each and everyone of them in my class...sociology. Tess...hate and hell are very strong words to use for something which are not used to. I would suppose that given a choice, these people would not live there, just as we would not want to live there. That is what POVERTY is all about... the ABSENCE OF CHOICE. Perhaps, we will never fully understand what it is like to be poor, never being absolutely poor ourselves. That is why we have this program in school where we expose our students to poor living conditions by living with the poor, eating their food, sleeping on wooden slats, and doing household chores. Of course, they are chaperoned and looked after and checked by local community officials. And perhaps, just perhaps, they cannot do anything about their lives. They are uneducated, no college degree much less a high school diploma. Having no degree they cannot land a job, not like us who can have a choice of employment...theoretically. Having no jobs, they have no income and therefore cannot buy decent clothes and nutritious food. Not like who can fill coolers and refrigerators with food and colas. Having no sanitary amenities, they are forced to dump anywhere and everywhere exposing themselves to all sorts of diseases, social and medical. It is truly a dismal condition, yes. But hate and hell are strong negative words to describe them. Perhaps if we understand the whys and hows of being poor, we would have second thoughts of using hate and hell and use love and compassion instead. These are strong positive words.
@rdm001 (69)
• Philippines
21 Oct 10
Holy cr@p, another one, i love you too. These people are so negative against the people living in squatter area.
• Philippines
22 Oct 10
Hi rdm001. This is for you...
• Philippines
20 Oct 10
Yes, a typical squatter area is look like that on reality, and it really seems to be like hell, but the people living there are those very unlucky one's do not have the opportunity to own a place like you live in. I just hope that governments should allocate more funds for those kind of people, for them to live a healthy life.
• Philippines
20 Oct 10
They might be unlucky as we call them, though they should also strive hard in order in to live the better life they've always dreamed of. Other than that, I'll let everything else be in God's hand may He bless this people a better life if they deserve it. --Jaja
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
19 Oct 10
I have seen a squatter area in the Philippines called Tondo. I went to stay with my friend who is staying not far from the squatters area. She too has been complaining of the smell and the barbaric behavior of the squatters there.
• Philippines
19 Oct 10
slums in baclaran - squatters with a mosque
Hello tess, this is something that has already been part of the development of the NCR, most specially Manila. many people in the Provinces in the past believed that they're only choice of salvation and good life is in Manila, just to find jobs or start a business to succeed. unfortunately, not all of them succeeded. some actually became beggars and went insane. others had settle on properties they don't own, risking to be removed by the government. There's one familiar Squatter Area in Baclaran whereas a Custom made Mosque built there. that's where you see a lot of Muslim entrepreneurs selling a lot of stuff. probably most are fake.
@eurekafemme (5877)
• Philippines
20 Oct 10
it is not called a slum area for nothing.Some of the most wanted by laws are even hiding in that part of the land and some illegal dealings are often concocted in slum areas... It is expected. the people there are almost uneducated and unorganized. the mere fact that they are dwelling there illegally is a clear indication that they don't have control over their own lives....Because of lack of education, people tend to act like they are, uneducated, uncivilized... So, what do you expect from a community of people like that? However, not everybody who live in slums act like that. Some are responsible but the sad thing is that they hardly went out of their house and do not mingle with the community that they are considered snobs.... On the other hand, people living in slum areas help each other. They are there for each other and protect each other, too, even if a stranger who needs help will come to them, they are eager to offer help.:)
• Philippines
20 Oct 10
What you experienced is really true, i have worked in a Non-Government Organization and most of our beneficiaries are those living in these depressed areas. While working with them i discovered that not all of them are poor. Some of them are well off that you could see expensive home appliances inside their house. Some also works abroad and earn well. I also discovered that some of them own houses in slum areas in different parts of the city. Maybe these are what they call professional squatters. Sometimes i think they are lucky because they are given bigger and better houses in relocation areas. Government programs are usually geared on helping these people. What is wrong with them is that, they keep on fighting for something that is wrong. Other people works hard to invest and pay higher cost of houses just to be able to have a decent dwelling while working here in the city, but these squatters stays in government lands for free.
• Philippines
19 Oct 10
its sad to see the plight of these people living in squatter areas. some of them born and raised there and they're used to the condition but for me its like hell. i wish people never had to live in such appalling conditions but their incomes are low. They just cant afford to get a decent home and living.