Well obviously they are poor. But then again, there are so many other countries in the world with poor people. I've travelled around South East Asia and I've been to countries with even poorer people than the Philippines (for example Laos).In the Philippines, you see some people with nice smartphones like an iphone, or even tablets like ipads etc and they are still begging you for money or the girls are trying to make you their husband so you can help them out financially. I just think, why are you asking me for money 'to pay your bills' or whatever when you can afford a nice phone and other luxuries!
In other poor countries you can get that a bit but even in POORER countries it isn't as bad. In Laos, people are so happy yet so poor and they don't beg from you like many filipinos do. They would never be able to afford an iphone and yet they still aren't begging. I know I'm comparing Laos to the Philippines but that was just a general example. I've visited other countries in SEA too such as Cambodia, Vietnam, and I've also been to Bangladesh, India and a few other places in Asia.