@hataw.pup

THE RATIONAL.

est. 2015

Humanity was staged as the most superior among the other animate in the fundamental world. Aristotle once asserted that humans are political animals which makes them above all the other living things like animals. This constitutes that humans are way far from animals in terms of privilege, thinking, and feeling. However, humans, sometimes, do not use these superiorities to protect the welfare of the living subject beneath them.

Hataw PUP is a university-wide and advocacy-based student organization at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Manila which aims to promote and uphold truth and service to the nation, community, and the growth of individuals. As one of the active advocacy organizations, we are promoting and utilizing the privilege and power we have to execute plans, programs, and events rendered from the principles and purpose of the organization. In line with these overwhelming aims and visions, Hataw PUP recently conducted an on-site volunteering activity. This includes checking and feeding the stray cats on the premises of PUP, particularly in the College of Communication and College of Engineering and Architecture buildings. The activity was successfully concluded having its aim being attained with satisfactory results.

In line with the successful event, a sad story of stray cats was unveiled. The stray cats adopted a home from

the school premises as they seek refuge, safe space, and security. In a general sense, animals tend to stay where they feel safe and eventually survive a day in their life. Some stray cats are in a, somehow, good condition as some faculties are able to take good care of them and give their needs. However, these are not enough due to the imbalance in the structure of humanity and the lack of awareness in terms of stigma and misconceptions about stray animals. As the volunteers are able to delve deeper into the situations of the stray cats around the PUP community, it leads to some problematic cases: lack of animal awareness, ineffective system, and lack of resources or support.

The interaction of humans and animals is sometimes a disadvantage; it's either the former or the latter. This constitutes that awareness of the gap between human identity and animal instincts needs to be emphasized. The lack of animal awareness leads to a more problematic situation if not able to formulate a solution effectively. In the case of PUP stray cats, some students tend to play with them in the general sense that cats will not harm them involving the animal instinct. Cats tend to bite or scratch people in response to their instinct that they feel uncomfortable and they feel threatened. We can say that humans did not intend to harm them, however, animals are relying on their instincts and eventually follow them. From a general perspective, humans are capable of understanding

matters that animals cannot. Humans are named as rational animals who are not relying on their instincts alone, but rather on the sense of rationality and logic.

Another problematic issue is the ineffective system concerning policy and regulations. In protecting animal welfare, an effective policy should be formulated in line with their needs as a living matter. They must be carried as one of the components of the community that comprises the chain and balance of humanity and the realm of animals. However, the lack of an effective system was seen as an issue that hindered the balance between the living. There are no policies or regulations that are being formulated to protect their welfare, rather, they are being deprived of living and treating them far in the worst situations. According to Martha Nussbaum, animals also possess dignity and are needed to be respected. This constitutes that the community to which the stray cats belong should implement a policy and systemic application which resolves the welfare of the stray animals.

The lack of resources and support is also one of the problematic issues that should be put on emphasis. Animals are not capable of providing themselves with the basic needs they need to acquire in order to live healthily. Given that animals are more inclined to their instinct as they were used to the things they tend to do and not to do. In line with this sense, animals need

support from the people that are capable of giving their needs. A great support system from the humans around them makes a sense balance with their natural living.

Looking forward to the result and conclusion of the volunteer activity which not only aims to feed and check the situations of the animals but also try to formulate and assess the reality that the animals were facing with the doings of humanity. However, from a positive perspective, humans are naturally kind to the animals which conveyed the care and love they have naturally for animals. As the activity concluded, the volunteers can't execute the advocacy without the help of the people in direct control which allows the volunteers to delve deeper into the situation. Some humans are in concern with stray animals to the point that they sometimes disobey authority to follow and protect the welfare of the loving animals. This justifies that, it is possible to have a balance between living humans and animals. The gap should be filled with awareness, an effective system, and great support. The imbalance structure between them should be rectified, and it should be started as soon as possible.

MODERATOR CORNER

Ella is a BSCPE 1-6 student from PUP Manila, and a member of Hataw PUP from Social Media Department. Currently, she is managing the official website of the organization - The Rational corner.