Unfolding

                Every time I have philosophy and social science-oriented classes with my college students before, I always make it a point to discuss with them the basics of social systems. Poverty is a major topic along with the facts that make it happen such as capitalism, systemic exploitation, and class struggle. The first step in my class is to break the ice of privilege by making students feel the dread of the system. I start with exposing the supply chain of sugar-related products and tying it to a documentary on the plight of the Hacienda Luisita farmers. I make them imagine all products related to sugarcane and reflect how each individual household (their own) has sugar (sometimes put to waste) and coincide it with the facts of the farmers’ blood and sweat (all hard work). I made them think carefully that the farmers receive below 10php as compensation for their weekly hard work. Moreover, add the fact that...