The rich and the poor contrast in this photo by my friend and former MindaNews colleague Keith. It’s both apt and poignant. Who do you serve? Who gets what you serve? Why do the “haves” do not always meet the “have nots”? More photos at Kitoy’s World.
Everytime I visit the Philippines and I see these kids I always give them some food or a few pesos. But what is troubling to me is the lack of assistance I see their from there fellow countrymen.
These kids can be infront of a resturant such as the one shown in this photo ,and people inside eat their meals as if that kid doesnt even exisit.
If you can eat in a Chowking or Jolibees ,surely you can spare a peso or two.
I can’t help but feel slighted by the earlier comment. I still live in the Philippines. True enough I don’t give a peso or two each and every time because I have already chosen not to. I either give them food or ask them to join me sa table ko. I am being careful about giving them money directly kasi marami sa kanila just use them for a time sa computer shop or bili ng rugby or yosi. I am a regular sponsor of World Vision for more than 3 years now. Many filipinos lend a hand but not need to show everyone that they do and hindi lang siya papiso-piso.
Here’s
my own experience with street urchins.
May is right, many, many Filipinos do their share to help out. Mr. Daroy’s comment does indeed sound offensive at first, but I’m sure he did not mean to generalize.
Personally, I do not give money to the kids, for the same reasons that May gave. Some suggestions I’d like to give:
1. If you smoke, buy from the street vendors instead of from the grocery — it’s only a few pesos more expensive.
2. Volunteer time and effort (and food/medicine) to charitable institutions, such as the Sisters of Charity’s orphanage or home for the aged.
3. Keep biscuits or sandwiches in your car for giving to beggars, instead of giving them coins.
Thanks for all your comments.
There’s really a myriad of ways to respond to one scene. I believe that all possible actions respond to one specific part of the needs of these children.
I think there is not one wrong move for as long as it is sincere because, surely, the problem is much more complicated than what meets the eye.
Talk of being of help instantaneously, like the point raised by Arnulfo, my belief is that, its a logical response for someone in passing. I mean for someone who is not from the place.
For the locals, who see the problem everyday, maybe morelasting affirmative actions could be drawn. Such as those illustrated in May’s and Blogie’s points.
I specifically find Dominique’s post profound. It presents tous another facet of this issue.But just the same, thee children,behave in the way they do now because of circumstances not of their own making. I mean these conditions are consequences of bigger social problems. In short, they too, are just victims.
Davao City’s Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is so blunt about his bias against the transformative juvenile justice system because it excempts minors from imprisonment, I mean liability for criminal acts. It’s quite alarming of course to see children being used as pawns in the criminal world because they arepowerless.
Wew, It’s really an uphill drive for their redemption.
Personally I’ve reflected on the reason why I posted that photo plus my impulsive caption.
As a blogging journalist, am I doing what is expected from me to do to help address the problem?
Anyway, Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I really appreciate it.
walts. please update your link. my new photoblog is http://www.keith.bacongco.com thanks!
I only browsing for davo pictures on google and yet this picture caught my attention. The first question that came to my mind was if is this poor child homeless or somewhat abandoned by his parents?
Naawa ako,I’ve seen alot of children across manila-cavite,There are times na pag nagpupunta ako sa mall meron mga bata na lumalapit saken and are asking for money.
I once asked a kid walking around sa Makati if where are his parents,and he said he was asked to sell “sampaguita” para may pagkain sya.
Learning this kind of situation sa pilipinas is really pitiful.
seeing that poor kid lying down on a cold cement floor and waiting for someone to help him is really troubling. * sigh *
i once walk around fuente osmena cebu city and on the skywalk i saw two kids lying like this and an old blind man ..
my partners in business bought a pizza for us to eat near club ultima cebu , after we eat there are still two pieces left and so my partnert give it to me and put it inside the plastic ..
i walk back to these kids , the one is awake and begging for money so what i did , is that i told him to give the other piece to the other kid sleeping ..
as i got down and look up the skywalk , everyone who walk beside them watches as these two kids were eating da vinci’s pizza pie in cebu .. the norm people looks it as a very weird situation as how these poor beggars able to eat clean pizzas ..
i was happy and was smiling at the people .. and happy for the kids who were able to eat pizza once in their lifetime. . i may not be able to give them it daily but i once give it to them .. a great experience on my side and i guess a memorable dinner for the two beggars ..
here in cebu a lot of them still begging from rich but cannot share people .
If God dwells in your heart even what status you are in the society , you may be poor or the super rich in this planet earth. Mind you it is automatic you will have that human nature to spare what God has given you. But if all of us will just come to realize and ask our selves this questions” WHY I am on this planet Earth? Why of all people I am here ?.What is my mission? What is my purpose why until now I am alive. ” If all of us will do our share then no one will be begging for food on the streets. No one will be staying or living on the streets like this little boy in the picture . .What we have now is just only temporary we are all CARE TAKER of the blessings in TRUSTED by God to each one of us in this world.Unless each one of us will be totally renewed Christian..not in words but in deed mind you you wont not see people begging on the street. No one will be starving. That if only Jesus is our center of our life , then we have more than enough to share…Sharing is not only money but sharing of our 3 Ts . TIME< TREASURE <and Talent .
Hi,
all well and true, and I also have my own sad experiences with street children in the Phils. However… this particular picture reminds me of times in my own childhood, hot summers, when I was sleeping on the back of my father’s truck in the pressing, humid heat of July afternoons… This boy looks healthy - is it sure that he is not simply the son of the store owner lazing around, having a siesta? It doesn’t change anything about the issue, but being a photographer myself who saw some despair - I am not entirely convinced that this picture actually shows much suffering…
Greetings from Germany
Stefan