It was Sam who suggested that I take a photo of the boy with the sando bag. That the plastic grocery bag was used as a real bag interested her, I suppose.
The photo was taken in Quezon City ten days ago. That’s North Avenue on the background. These kids were selling flannel cloths that car owners find so useful for cleaning the car exterior. They positioned themselves on the intersection to knock on car windows when the traffic light was red.
I wish that children didn’t have to earn a living this way. I’m not the first to say it’s dangerous. These kids are competitive and they often run towards the cars even before the vehicles come to a full stop. Just to be ahead of the others, you know?
Actually, I wish that children didn’t have to earn a living, period. But this is a Third World country. I used to say that local governments should just round up the street children and keep the roads safe for motorists. But if these kids can’t earn a living, how will they survive? And what’s the alternative? Turn them into petty thieves?
At least, these two boys are trying to earn money the honest way. And that’s much more than I can say for the beggars who will even dictate how much the motorists should drop into their dirty plastic cups. And these boys are several notches above the ones who have gotten so good at detaching sideview mirrors as vehicles slow down to make a turn.
Shucks, I don’t know why such depressing thoughts are crossing my mind. Perhaps, it’s because I’ve got sore eyes and I really am depressed. 
Di na ko nagkaroon ng sore eyes since moving here, thank goodness. Hope you feel better soon.
I can understand your musing though. You don’t need to be sick to feel bad about our street children. They can certainly bring you back to reality that Pinas has a long way to go in terms of economic growth.
Thanks, Auee. Uso daw sore eyes. Apparently, may peak season sya.
I am not really sure if street children are a phenomenon present only in poor countries. I mean, the ones who need to earn a living like the boys in the photo are only found in poor countries. But people living on the streets are found even in rich countries. You know, the “homeless”.
“At least, these two boys are trying to earn money the honest way. And that’s much more than I can say for the beggars who will even dictate how much the motorists should drop into their dirty plastic cups.”
I agree with you, Connie. These two boys in the picture are definitely earning a living in a decent manner — although, like you, I feel that kids are not supposed to do earn their keep at such a young age; they should be in school actually. But as you said, what can we do to keep them off the streets, the Philippines is a Third World country….There are not so many options for the poor.
*****
Surprisingly, there are adult beggars here in Switzerland. They are reportedly jobless drug addicts who ask for money in the guise of using it to pay for shelter for the night.
Sometimes, I can’t understand it. The government here takes care of its people very well. There’s a very reliable welfare system. There are various programs for the jobless (for possible job placements). Public education is free. So many options for a better life. Some people here just take things for granted.
Buti pa yung mga buskers, naggigitara at kumakanta.
I often find myself thinking of wanting to adopt some of those kids just to take them off the streets and get educated. For one, they’d probably make good sales executives someday, if given half the chance.
The only thing holding me back is, ah, cash…
Somebody willing to donate $10M for this dream? 
hmm, like auee, i’ve never experienced sore eyes here. in big cities in germany; there are more homeless adults than kids… and these are the real sore eyes. i dont know what they have against working, but i see that most of them are physically able! they even have big dogs, e it is not cheap to keep them ha.
True. Homeless do litter the streets of London. Most adults are alcoholics, most kids are runaways. There are shelters and I guess there are more support, so the scene is still not as bad as our streets. O baka naman di lang masyadong “in your face”, naka-airbrush?
I live near there and am a regular buyer of those kids. They sell their stuff for 20 bucks for 10 pcs. It’s a decent way to earn a living and they work hard. Kahit umuulan andyan sila.
Uso talaga sore eyes ngayon..ang malas mo naman
Jayred, like “hobos” in the States? They are a phenomenon I will never understand. Like you said, great social welfare is available, and yet… Perhaps, it’s just social deviance. Some kind of inability to live by the norms.
The Mentat, my mother sent an indigent child through high school (I was also in high school at the time) and I remember the kid used to see my mom after every grading period to show her his grades. If life weren’t so much harder now (and if tuition fees weren’t so much higher), I’d like to do that too. But if the parents are just bums, the financial aid should contain a stipulation that none of it will go to the parents. Baka maubos lang sa inom, aba…
Raqgold, I think that’s it. Social deviance. I studied the darn subject for one whole semester. Very interesting but very disturbing too.
LOL Auee, what a picturesque way to put it. hehehe
Kongkong, when it rains hard, sometimes, it’s difficult to see them. Wag na lang sana kasi yung biglang tumatakbo sa harap ng sasakyan.
E-mail kita ng sore eyes, gusto mo? hahahahaha
pengeng sore eyes Connie para makapag sick leave ako!
take care!
That was a wonderful thing your mother did for that child, Connie. Do you still see that kid? If ever I will be doing that, I will make sure to do my homework.
My objective is for the kid to benefit most of all.
It’s really sad seeing these kids on the streets.
There’s actually an opportunity for us to help underpriviledged children. Check out World Vision http://www.worldvision.org.ph. Sending donations is really easy; you can have an autodebit arrangement using your credit card. For only P450 a month, you can help send a young boy or girl to school and you will actually receive a regular update personally from your sponsored child.
Sige subukan mo..hehehe:)
Tapos pag pagaling na ako, email ko uli sa yo
LOL Brenda, baka magkatotoo yan ha.
The Mentat, no, I don’t see him anymore. I’m not even sure if he was able to go to college. Actually, my mother did not want us to meet each other because we went to the same school. Eh naco-conscious yata yung bata (I was two years ahead of him, if I remember correctly).
Hi Nikita, I didn’t know that a specific child could be sponsored. I always thought na blanket donation lang, ganun, eh hindi ako bilib sa ganun. Will check that out. Thanks.
Growing up seeing streetchildren regularly on our streets has sort of desentesized me to their plight. It was only when I came from the US for a visit and having become a mom was I jolted at the sight of a naked toddler together with other childern playing at the sides of a busy intersection across SM Cebu.
In the beginning I also couldn’t understand about street people in a rich country like the US, epecially when most of them are twice my size. I’ve read that even workers earning $8 an hour (min is $5.75 something) can still be homeless. Apparently it’s very easy to end up in the streets here – divorce, addiction, illness not covered by insurance etc. Di tulad sa atin na maraming relatives na puedeng kumukop na pangsamantala (pwede ring permanently hehe).
Geri, sometimes I wonder what the function of the Department of Social Services is in the Philippines. Administrations come and go but the streetchildren are still there — just as malnourished… I should post a photo of a family sleeping under a flyover. Naku, nakaka-depress.
I’ve always been on the fence when it comes to street children and street children who work/beg for money. Sometimes, I feel bad or sad for them because they’re children, for crying out loud. They’re not supposed to be trolling the metro during ungodly hours trying to make money. Most of the time, though, they infuriate me as a lot of them tend to harrass people into giving them money (my friends and I were once threatened by a bunch of street kids).
But whether or not they’re trying to make an honest living peddling things or they’re “services” (hailing you a cab or a trike) or simply begging for money they believe they’re entitled to (because they’re poor and we’re/I’m not), LGUs should take some serious measures towards getting them off the streets. I can’t begin to stomach the psychological and physical impacts of growing up in the streets. The question is a big fat “HOW THE HECK”, boo.
Helga, re “services”.
In Antipolo, from Sumulong Highway hanggang bayan, there are young boys who hail vehicles then they stand there with hands together (as in praying, meaning, they presume you’re a local tourist who wants to go to the cathedral) followed by a motion pointing to some unseen place. They’re actually in cahoots with car park owners. These boys will run alonside your car while you drive to bring you to the car park where they can collect a commission from the owner.
‘Yan halos ang isang dahilan kung bakit ganun ang ibang tao. Our government is partly doing what it can with what available resources, manpower and will
i’m learning a lot from your blog since coming from all over the world ang iyong readers and post comments afterwards. I call the homeless here in San Francisco, spoiled bratz, kasi binigay na sa kanila lahat ng tulong, ganoon pa rin sila, kamukha pa rin sila ni Sadam at Bin Laden. sobrang freedom kasi, one time, naka pila ako sa cable car, may lumapit na homeless, sabi ko in a polite manner “No, sabi nung nasa harapan ko na tourist No, sabi noon nasa unahan nya na mama na me kasmaang girlfriend No di, pati ung isa pang couple, naconssysya or nagpapkitang gilas si #3 tinawag uli ang homeless inabutan ng $1.00, so nagbigay din ung #4tourist couple, ako sabi ko “I pay my Taxes”
charity begins at home-I would say 99% ng mga Fil-Am merong pinapaaral na kamag-anak sa Pilipinas. ung worldvision maganda yan sa mga mayayamng pilantropo kasi maiiclaim nila sa kanilang tax report. sa patnubay ng aking kaibigan, natapos kong bayaran ang college fund ng isa kong pamangkin, wala akong hinahangad na kapalit kundi pag malaki na siya tumulong din siya sa iba. Noon nasa elementary pa ako, I remember selling guava , kakanin, and other merienda going around in our neighborhood kasi maputi na bukid yon dati kaya ung mga kapitbahay, naghihintay na may dumaan na magla lako ng pagkain.
napag-uusapan na rin lang natin ang recycling, I praise Sam for noticing these boys re-using these plastic bags but one problem that wouldnt go away is flooding in Metro Manila and now up to Cavite, the government should show some force in implementing “GOing GREEN” like here in San Francisco, everybody is now being encouraged to use cloth tote bags for groceries, biodegrable food containers, eliminating styrofoam. We only have one planet and we all should do our part in keeping the environment clean for the future generations. I’ve asked my relatives NOT to buy shampoos or detergents in sachets, that they should buy the bigger container so there will be less garbage. Now I carry extra cloth bags, extra rubbermaid containers since the wax containers wouldn’t holld up if I buy wonton soup, that is why you’ll notice that even “real men” here in San Francisco carries cloth bags wwhich are given away as way of advertising products such as medicines, banks and other stores.
More info re recycling here in the US, maybe our subdivison HOA can copy
Welcome to the San Francisco, CA, Freecycle(TM) Network! This is a local group, and we welcome anyone to join who is in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. The goal of the San Francisco Freecycle Network is to reduce waste by connecting individuals who are throwing away goods with others who are seeking them. The mission of the Freecycle Network includes keeping good stuff out of landfills while helping to foster a local gifting community.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SFFN/
Whether you’re looking to discard or acquire an item, the San Francisco Freecycle Network is the place to do it. Furniture, clothing, appliances, computers, old windows, possible art supplies and all the little things in between. Freecycle Network OFFERS and WANTS are for completely FREE items only. NO ADVERTISING. Freecycle is for giving and receiving tangible, but unwanted goods. Please post your free consultations, estimates and promotional products elsewhere (Try craigslist.org).
Recycle everything as much as possible. Many organizations in your community will help you out on how to recycle. Personally, I stopped buying bottled water, the tap water is fine. When I see the garbage areas, its always full of plastic bottles and it is disgusting!
mahirap talaga ang buhay.. gaya ngayon palaki ng palaki ang populaston natin. kaya ms gusto pa nilang manirahan sa lansangan kaysa sa makitang ng hihirap ang mga magulang nila.. katulad sa amin ng my document kami about street children hirap talaga kailangan mo pa silng sundan kong san kumukuha ng mga pag kain. grave na talaga yang pangulo natin nd man lang inintindi ung mga mamamayang pilipino.kaya ung iba sumisinghot nalang ng ragbi para wag gutumin/.