Bautista’s poem hints at established social and historical issues in the Philippines. Colonialism, injustice, political corruption, and poverty. "This country without history" refers to how the truth and voices of the masses are often silenced or forgotten, buried beneath the lies of those who possess the power. The author describes a country where people survive on “instant things” that are “delivered from evil” by a “man with a thin mustache”, possibly referencing a past political leader who offered false salvation. Poverty is a deep systematic problem that affects identity and hope.
The author used literary devices such as metaphor and irony to present the harsh reality of life in a Third World country in his poem. The line “My stomach is a ricefield” & “I learned all the words and broke them” shows how poverty is not just around the people, but it is carved into their very being. It’s a metaphor that turns geography into suffering, where hunger becomes a part of someone’s identity. The line “Deliver us from evil” echoes a desperate prayer, but instead the people are delivered by a questionable leader. This contrast strengthens the poem’s message, that even faith can be manipulated or empty when justice is absent.
As a Filipino, the poem speaks to me on a deeply personal level. Our country has long been shaped by colonization, political corruption, inequality, and injustice. I've long seen the gap between the rich and poor. The gloomy eyes of tired workers, and yet, despite the hardship they still try to seek for happiness. Just like what's written in the poem, there is endurance. We have to keep going.
The emphasis on the repetition in the line: “I live in a third world country. I sleep in a third world country. I die in a third world country.” forces us to face the reality and that there is no escape unless we try to change our cruel faith. It made me reflect that while I may have access to education or a safe home, many others live this truth every day. “My hands are the color of a criminal.” It is a painful realization that reveals how poverty can define how society sees you. That to be poor is to be blamed, feared, or ignored. It challenged how I think about justice and empathy. It’s not enough to notice poverty. We must question why it still exists and how we can change the system.
Cirilo Bautista’s “Third World Geography” is not an easy read but it’s an essential one to awaken those who still manipulate our country. It forces us to look at the scars of our country, not just with pity, but with the desire to understand and act. Literature like this reminds us why words matter. They reveal the truth others want to conceal and forget. And they call on the next generations to not only feel, but to move, to speak, and to rebuild what our country could have been.
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