Poverty in the Philippines
Two street kids in Cebu city in the Philippines.
Tough kids gambling on the sidewalk.
It is a hard life to be old and living on the streets.
Without a doubt there are kids that beg for a living in the tourist districts of Cebu and anywhere else tourists congregate. Some can be very aggressive and will walk alongside and tap your elbow as you walk along. Rarely do I give anything to these kids but once in a while there is a person that touches your soul and you give them something. You can’t save everyone but why not help out once in a while.
I find beggars in General Santos in Mindanao to be the most aggressive. Give me money. Give me money. Give me money. Give me money…under no circumstances do i give them anything. It is not as easy to ignore them as you might think.
On the other hand, I usually keep plenty of coins in my pocket and give freely by my own choice and have no regrets about that. It is kind of a personal call.
In Zamboanga there was a group of friendly young boys that slept in a vacant lot across from my hotel. Every night I bought them a bag of pan del sol (small breads) and some rice to share. An acquaintance really was angry with me, saying that these kids were just part of an organized begging gang. I think that they were just working together to survive because I saw them sleeping on those piles of garbage late at night.
You can’t help everyone but it is a good idea to remember that you can’t take it with you either.
It brings to mind that Phil Collins song
Oh, think twice, ’cause it’s just another day for you and me in paradise…
Climbing Mount Apo
General Santos
Growing Orchids
Judy's Resto Bar
Logging with Motorcycles
Mount Mayon
Balabac Island
Biri Island
Calbiga Cave
Capul Island
Mangrove Swamp Palawan
Mikes's Resort
DP I reconize that old woman, if I am correct its outside Fooda corner Mango and a one way street. I am sure its the one and same as I rent an appartment close by.
Agree its hard to just close your eyes how ever some of thse kids now are getting quite heavy if one does not give. I experienced this recently when one older and larger kid started to get very aggresive with me, was at night and a bit of a worry.
Each morning during my walk to the internet I always give these old woman some foods, never money. Its so easy to buy some cheap foods from he vendors and they really appreciate it.
They live in a terrible situation under the bridge on queens road about 3oo meters from Fooda.
Most of the kids from the skywalk going to robinsons have been removed…..god only knows to where but at least its easy to cross over it, sadly the cursed viagra vendors are always just waiting to pounce….One must never meet their eyes……..I know long noses that have ben followed for over an hour by these guys.
again your site is toops….
bruce,
Great idea about giving food! I usually go that route too, but i give the kid that puts cardboard on my motorbike seat a few pesos.
Those seats can really heat up in the hot sun!
I am also a sucker for buying orchids and other plants from the old ladys on the streets.
When approached to buy viagra or cialis I just put my arm around the guys shoulder and look him in the eye and ask “Do you think thats really necessary?” ( I mean these filipinas are so very sexy)
cheers
dp
bruce,
you cant choose your parents when you are born,,,if only you can,,how dare all these poor people to make children like a necklace chain,,,when you give this children money to think that you are helping them,,you are not so right because you just teach their parents to be dependent on begging and for them its a kind of work…education is lacking on this people because philippines is a catholic country everything about artificial method of birth planning is against the church,,i think for myself as a filipina its a crimne to bring a child in the world when you cannot be responsible for them in all aspects.
Hi jhen,
dp – rick here.
I think that it’s a personal decision weather or not to give money.
Most of the time I don’t, but once in a while I do. The pro and aggressive beggars are ignored but if there are others that I can help – why not?
ps – Usually I give food.
I also tip cab drivers if they were good, the same in restaurants.
dp
I have been going to the Philippines since 1993, this situation has not changed for the better in all this time.I dont care where you go in pinas its the same.Homeless and Starving people of all ages.
I have been to many areas in Cebu , Manila,Cagayan,Mindinao, and many more.
I make it a point to take a little extra money like $100 or $200 each trip and Just before I leave the area I have stayed in I throw a “PRIVATE FREE FEED”….
I rent a small hall and print invitations to be handed out and they are checked at the door.However none are ever turned away unless the look to be well off and just think they’ll scam a free meal.I have been lucky enough to meet a person that a dietary planner for a well known hospital and she has been allowed to take the last 3 days of my trips off to help out.
If anyone out there reading these messages feel BLESSED and would like to DONATE non paerishable foods or a few dollars to help you can contact me at …..lovin_u_so@yahoo.com …… and I will give you contact information….GOD BLESS…..
Hi Joe,
Cool idea…!
I do find the Filipino society to be very socially integrated and think that people actually starving to death would be quite rare.
Having hard times – yes, but Filipinos are often seen helping out less fortunate ones. They will know right away if the need is genuine or some rascals just scamming.
dp
I used to live in such areas and once gave a wafer to a woman who was begging. She just kind of stared at it, like she was thinking “what is this supposed to be?” Really sad to think they don’t even know about the cheap P1 snacks we eat everyday. As I grew up seeing them everyday, I guess I sort of hardened and just ignored them.
PS it’s pan de sal…not pan de sol….
It means “salt bread”. Pan de sol would be something like sun bread. On second thought, that would be awesome. Keep using that spelling. Haha.
Poverty and Ignorance (lack of education), I believed are universal. I’d been here in california for 32 yrs. It’s even harder over here than there because the beggar were bigger and stronger than the giver, of which we pinoy will say “You’re healthy and strong and yet begging? Be ashame of your self”. We can not do that over here. In my neighboring City, a Pinoy who just recently arrived from Phil was shot to death because a guy asked him a cigarette in the gasolin station and he responded by saying “you have a car and you can not buy a cigarette?” In the 80′s the first time I took a vacation here people couldn’t believed that there is such thing as beggar, homeless, etc. in USA they laugh at me as if I’m crazy. When it comes to education – education here are free upto highschool and there are so many helps both from the Govt’ and private sector for higher educ. But still . . .
I think life is a mysterious thing. People has to see both poverty and abundance in order to know and learn. We will never know what is rich if there is no poor. We will never know who are the good people if there is no bad, either. Some people were born with a wealthy parent some are not, same with understanding. There are so many people who has lesser understanding that others irespected of their educ attainment. So, I think, we should be thankful to God (or whatever to those who don’t believe in God) that we are not so much so of the lesser group. All we can do is open our heart to have love and compassion and be thankful for them because without them we will never know what is a “poor and rich)”. Now , they serves their purpose of being. I always advised my policeman nephew not to be too personal in enforcing the law and never hate a law breaker because without them he will sure ly loss his job. (Dp, I just want to tell you that, I think you are copying me! Who in the wide world told you my secret? Can you just grin a little bit for me. pls.
Jack