The “Hikikomori” of Japan, First Webseries of “Tambay and Hikikomori”

Can you imagine how organize and efficient Japan on data gathering by establishing statistics about their “Hikikomori” but in the Philippines we may have little data on Tambay scattered through-out the streets of the country. Who are these “Hikikomori” of Japan and who are the “Tambay” of Philippines? Let’s find-out by exploring the streets of Japan and Philippines.

As per NHK Report, Hikikomori is defined by Japan’s Health Ministry as a social lifestyle in which “a person does not go to work or school, rarely interacts with people other than their family members and has been isolated or a housebound for a period of six months and longer”. They are usually adolescent males who have an abnormal avoidance of social contact.

According to latest survey conducted last December 2018, there is estimated 541,000 Hikikomori with ages ranging from 15 to 39 years old. But there more on 40 to 64 years old range with estimated number of 613,000 people. It means that through-out Japan that there are an estimated number of 1,154,000 Hikikomori living with their families far from social contact.

These data are alarming according to the Health Department of Japan as they are dependent on the income of their aging parents who are now at the stage of 85 years old. Their concern is more of who will take care for these Hikikomori considering that they are aging as well as their parents.

The Evolution of “Tambay” of Philippines, Second Webseries of “Tambay and Hikikomori”

Japan has the most care for their “Hikikomori” by looking their status as a social norm, securing their welfare is the most anticipated action by Japanese Government. But Philippines has different way of treatment for “Tambay” since historically Filipinos are always deprived by opportunities. Who are these people called “Tambay”, does the Philippine Statistics Authority have data on “Tambay” through the country? What are their usual activities on daily basis?

Let’s do “tokhang” (knock on the door) by exploring the street of Philippines to find-out the status of “Tambay”. Is “Tambay” a lifestyle culture also of Philippines same as “Hikikomori” of Japan or they are threat to the security of the country?

The “Tambay” term usually coined as “Taombahay” or housebound same as “Hikikomori” who choose not to work or lost the motivation to find work. They should be inside the house but since Philippines has temperate climate so the side of street or small pathways become their hiding place.

But “Tambay” grew massively in numbers that the Philippine Government lost track of their statistics. It should be a lifestyle for being “tambay”, but they grow in numbers that they flooded on every street of Philippines that became threat to the Philippine Society.

The evolution of “Tambay” started during the Spanish Era where there is no opportunity given to the Filipinos in terms of education and job. They end-up being farmers but without progress due to different calamities being experienced by Filipinos so some of them became demotivated and loss their self-esteem then eventually their cultural identity since Spain occupied Philippines for around 333 years. Most of the male adolescent spent time in “Batis” or creek and sometimes in “Lalao” (muddy area underneath the mangrove trees) to kill time by doing fishing or hunting “baboy ramo” or wild boar. At that time, they have no education since they are not belonged to “Peninsularis or Insulares” or having a Spanish Blood who have opportunity for education and job at that time. As the number of “Tambay” grew bigger through-out the decades since their social contact is usually on the side of the creek or river then they became threat to society so they build-up the group called “Tulisan” who robbed communities and sea pirates or “Piratang Dagat” who robbed other fishermen.

The Resolution on “Tambay” of Philippines, Third Webseries of “Tambay and Hikikomori”

The “Tulisan” are the robberies who stole sacks of palay, chicken, cows and carabaos then sell it to the other town market or “Mercado”. Their numbers are around 30 to 50 adolescent males who used “gulok” or “itak” (big knife) when they robbed small villages. But the number of “Piratang Dagat” is lesser compared with “Tulisan”.

Through-out the history of Philippines, once they become “Tambay” then become massive in numbers, there is certain kind of criminal tendency that they will commit to the society. As with the recent hit by “Oplan Tokhang” targeting different group of drug dealers and other criminal elements, it is the “Tambay” who are most affected since most of them are always on the street. There must be a resolution curving the number of “Tambay”.

The Philippine Government specifically the Philippine Statistics Authority and Department of Labor to declassify who are the legitimate to use the title fisherman, farmer, carpenter, laborer, jeep/tricycle/tuktuk driver and construction worker. The use of the title for the said jobs must comply with a requirement by being employed with regular compensation from a company otherwise they will tick the mark “Tambay” including those freelancers working on the same job. The priority is to monitor the statistics of “Tambay” so that they will be given subsidy with financial and technical assistance for the intention of being hired or employed by the company. If within one year of getting assistance from government but still they are not employed, then automatically they will be called to undergo military training. This is to eliminate the tendency of being part of drug dealing or criminal elements. The Philippine Government must be aware that there is a last sector of Society called “Tambay” that must be given a glance same as “Hikikomori” of Japan.

End of Webseries!

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