a week in manila re-opened my eyes to reality. life is hard. poverty is everywhere. traffic is something that has to be dealt with everyday...with patience, lots and tons of patience. you can never trust anyone. you always have to look out for yourself. when the jeepney driver says, "there's still a lot of space inside", he's lying. you have to submit yourself to frisking everytime you go in the mall. handkerchief is a necessity, as well as a handy fan. you have to get in the bus in the middle of the highway...
street children are everywhere...
children at the age of six or seven, the youngest i've seen was maybe around 4, dressed in ragged clothes, skinny, dirt and hunger are written all over their faces, their eyes speak of sadness, helplessness and maturity that can be, and supposedly, can ONLY be seen on grown-ups who have gone through a lot in life. they get on the jeepneys and pass on empty envelopes to each passengers. my heart melts everytime i see them. those children were supposed to be in school or playing with their friends. but there they were. scattered everywhere, asking anyone for money. forced to make a living.
if, only, i can be of help to them... i would bring back their innocence and let them experience the joys of childhood. i would take them all in a place where they can be protected from the harsh blows of life. i would provide everything for them so that they wouldn't have to worry about anything else. i would let them play all day.
it breaks my heart that i couldn't help them at all. even if i give them money, what difference can that make? the next day they would still be out there, doing the same thing. i worry about those children. the government is, definitely, not doing anything for them.
jose rizal said, " the children are the hope of our nation". if this scenario continues, i see no hope at all. my country's future is doomed.
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