Category Archives: MDG-Poverty

Health, MDG-Poverty, Politics and Opinions, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

A Glass of Clean Water, Please?

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Pope Francis once made a call for everyone to recognize the importance of protecting “water” as it is the “most essential element for life”. He said “humanity’s future depends on our ability to care for it and share it”. He encouraged governments to ensure that water supplies are protected and accessible to all. Definitely, the above-captioned subject with a big question mark does not emanate from some of us who have access to and can afford to pay for an adequate supply of potable drinking water. Rather, the said plea comes from those who are facing water scarcity or even … Continue reading A Glass of Clean Water, Please? →

Anniversary, MDG-Poverty, Politics and Opinions, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Rebuilding Lives After “Yolanda”: The Third Year

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Three years ago (November 8, 2013), one of my sisters whose family is based in Tacloban City experienced the wrath of Super Typhoon Yolanda (a.k.a “Haiyan”) coupled with an unexpected vicious storm surge, leaving tens of thousands homeless, more than 6 thousand people killed and several properties destroyed. Everyone was in anxiety and panic mode at that time, hoping and praying that nobody was harmed. While my sister’s house in Tacloban wasn’t badly hit by the storm, their weekend staycation beach house located in a place in Samar (where Tacloban Airport can be viewed from afar) was completely washed into the … Continue reading Rebuilding Lives After “Yolanda”: The Third Year →

Economy, MDG-Poverty

The New Wave of U.S. Immigrants

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So, why do people pull up stakes in their respective homelands, move their families out and rebuild their lives in another country foreign  to them, and with  no guarantees of any sort? There are so many reasons behind this, but one thing is sure, everyone who goes out would like to bring home the “bacon”! The following brief discussion on the subject explains for itself. Let’s backtrack a little bit. The United Sates of America (U.S.A) has the most immigrants (both documented and undocumented) throughout the world, hence its label as the “nation of immigrants”. Based on U.S. history, America’s … Continue reading The New Wave of U.S. Immigrants →

Happiness, MDG-Poverty, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

A Grain of Rice for the Poor! – Tips and Thoughts

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Did you know that there are 925 million(almost a billion) undernourished throughout the globe, majority of whom are children in South Asia, particularly China and India? Yes folks, the said data was culled out from the UN’s World Food Program (WFP), a large humanitarian organization whose primary goal is to end world hunger. But of all places worldwide, why China and India? Of course, one may be surprised how come there are still millions of hungry people in the said countries despite their progress in terms of building major national and agricultural infrastructure. We are likewise cognizant of the fact … Continue reading A Grain of Rice for the Poor! – Tips and Thoughts →

Feature Articles, Happiness, MDG-Poverty

Counting Blessings: A Secret To Happiness!

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“Count your blessings” is an old adage we hear oftentimes from people which most of us can relate to regardless of location, ability, gender and socio-economic status. But how frequent do people  count their blessings?  Always? Once, twice,  thrice a day?   We really don’t have any idea and there is no way we can quantify it, there is no rule of thumb for this!   As long as we are happy and contented despite the lack of resources, that should be the very essence of life. The fact that we are willing to share what we have with the … Continue reading Counting Blessings: A Secret To Happiness! →

Education, MDG-Poverty, MDG-PPP, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Politics and Opinions

Education in Science and Technology: The Focal Point

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Education is for everyone. This is true if all of us have the interest for it and have the means to acquire the same. Undeniably, it is the right of each and everyone of us to go to school and learn. However, what is actually happening is that there are some who have been deprived of the said fundamental right mainly for economic reasons. UN-MDG monitor for Goal No. 2 revealed that while there have been strides in enrollment in primary education (about 6% increase from 2000 to 2008), it is still not enough to be able to hit the … Continue reading Education in Science and Technology: The Focal Point →

Education, MDG-Poverty, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Politics and Opinions

Investing in Education: A Global Partnership

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  Education is one need in life which is close to my heart! Is it simply because I don't have anything, but this?  Education plays a crucial role in shaping a person's career path and professional growth with the end view of becoming successful someday, i.e, getting better jobs and earning more. However, most of us know that even in the field of education, obviously there is a rising social class and inequality. Talented students whose parents can afford to send them to top-tiered schools would have better job opportunities and potentially could be accepted to occupy managerial posts in … Continue reading Investing in Education: A Global Partnership →

MDG-Poverty, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Microfinance – A Hype or An Effective Financial Tool For the Poor?

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  Is Microfinance an effective financial strategy to eradicate poverty particularly in developing economies? I would blog on this as briefly and pragmatic as possible, as some of you may know that this topic is quite broad and would require empirical data/analysis to support any findings and recommendations. In its simplest terms, microfinance involves extending loans to a group of borrowers or individuals, specifically the  marginalized sector of society involving poor people encountering difficulties to transact business with private and government banking institutions. In other words, these are the poor people throughout the world numbering over 1 billion living in rural areas … Continue reading Microfinance – A Hype or An Effective Financial Tool For the Poor? →

Happiness, MDG-Poverty, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

A Time To Cry For Help – Pakistan Flood Aftermath, et al

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I was just starting my working career in my early tweens  when I was given the privilege to embark on my first solo official trip abroad. It was a three-month stay for a short course jointly offered by the Pakistan Government and its State Bank. The venue was in the heart of Karachi, Pakistan’s financial and commercial capital. Despite the apprehensions about the situation and being a newbie in a foreign land, it was not difficult for me to adjust because of the warm welcome and genuine hospitality that the Bank’s management and staff have accorded us for the duration … Continue reading A Time To Cry For Help – Pakistan Flood Aftermath, et al →

MDG-Poverty, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Corruption – A Dreadful Disease With A Simple Cure – Tips and Thoughts

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I can understand why formulation of “anti-corruption” policies is never mentioned in the targets or indicators of the UN MDG’s, in correlation to poverty and economic growth. I presume the subject matter may not be within the realm of UN’s aims, duties and functions, as provided for in its charter. However, there is a vague reference to it wherein one of the targets included in MD Goal No. 8 is a commitment from the world leaders to “good governance”, by supporting, among others, transparency and accountability at all levels but said indicator is specifically geared towards allocation and spending of … Continue reading Corruption – A Dreadful Disease With A Simple Cure – Tips and Thoughts →