City of God

I saw a movie about a ghetto that was once a project of the government of Brazil. All the poor people were placed in this ghetto. The main idea in doing so is to separate the rich from the poor, the literate from the illiterate and the barbarians from the civilized.

The city was called the City of God; it was also the title of the movie. The story revolves around the life of a young man named Rocket as he fulfils his dreams of becoming a photographer. But little by little the story was realized in the lives of other peoples that constituted the bulk of the City of God. They are the ones who handle the city and Rockets’ story came to be a part of their stories. But that’s another story. I wouldn’t want to spoil your chance to watch a very enlightening movie.

But what is most recognizable in the movie is the power of poverty.

How poverty plays in the eyes of a child whose streets are paved with guns, drugs & rape. Where poverty produces rich controlled media and government indifference.

The City of God is a place where food is scarce and books are considered a privilege than a choice. The word choice doesn’t exists, for all they know the power of choice can only be practiced by a privilege few. The consciousness of learned helplessness is always a given in the City of God.

There exists no population control. Churches exist only to gather more and more children from the streets yet connive with drug dealers and smugglers. We can see them rub elbows with the rich and the poor behind the façade of the holy sacraments. It is where prayer is used to extinguish another drug dealer and competitor. It is strange how the city is so blessed with its religiousness but teems with murderers and drug dependents. Still they must keep to their pulpits and hand in hand speak the voice of God while around them their congregation is being unanimously annihilated.

It is entertainment for people who think otherwise. The media being the watchdog of the city the “intellectuals” turned its attention to a readable and very interesting page-turner that might sell more than their standard quota. While blaming the police and blaming the government the media became a table for blaming people, institutions, and the church. But seriously though if it weren’t done then they would have no job. Media is entertainment to those who are in their lavish apartments and comfort zones. And it is effective in making people used to the violence, drugs, death and poverty. Like an oven they place more fire to the flame until it consumes the entirety of their subject, after which they will look for greener pastures and the entertainment has paid its due.

The police are the shadow of the media. They are everywhere where they can be seen and heard by the people. They are proud of wearing uniforms but only in times when it requires somebody to be held in custody. Other than that they are the ones who create the disturbance, replenish the funds of drug dealers, and sponsor the ammos of the gang leaders. It’s as if every negative event in the city is a chance to be promoted.

What is alarming in the movie is how much the people of the City of God stick to their chores and take it as a part of life while their children and their children’s children will eventually end up to be the next victim or dealer or worst a leader of these syndicates. They are as tame as lambs, if only to be able to provide food for their tables.

For those who have more sense than the rest, found the act of emigrate as the only means of survival, for their sons and daughters not to suffer as they did, and to have better opportunities and lives for their families.

It is strange how I find everything in accord to what is happening to our country. We are like a big City of God plus the existing discrimination from other parts of the archipelago.

“Bisaya ka? Tagalog ka? Ilocano ka? Muslim ka?” the worst is yet to come eventually for the lot of us.

After the movie I thought to myself if there’s still a chance for the City of God to be saved. In truth I never want the story to end so tragically. If it could be helped I would’ve wanted it to end in the “happily ever after” listings of feel good movies.

But sometimes thought processes seem to exaggerate things according to what we fear.

Because I fear that I might end up leaving our own “City of God” someday.

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Written last  March 17, 2005

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