Last week I was running some errands with my niece Glenda and my son Chris. We were gone for quite awhile. When the place we went to didn’t have the stuff we wanted we then head home.
As soon as we opened the gate I could see my kids and my other niece and our helpers were so busy talking. I can’t see what they were doing and busy about, so after opening the gate we went to the area where all of them were standing.
As soon as Jared and Jean saw me they immediately told me “Oh mom, here’s 2 young kids that are so hungry and no food in their house. We gave them something to eat and drink”.
I was shocked that two little ones were walking on the streets without parents supervision or somebody. I then asked the older girl how old are they? She told me her name is Arnie and that she’s 9 years old (which looking at her size, she looks like a 5 year old girl to me). She continued on saying that her younger sister, her name is Irish and she’s 6 years old (which looks like 3 years old).
The older one is not too shy but more reserved. The younger one, she’s more giggly and friendly and not shy with the camera. They were going around our neighborhood to get some empty Coke bottles and other stuff that they can make money with. So my kids and niece told them that we they will be gathering our empty bottles and other stuff that we are not using to give it to them. They were ecstatic and so thankful.
The older girl Arnie came by again at our house yesterday to pick up the empty bottles. So I got a chance to talk to her. I asked her where is her mom? She answered that her mom was out doing laundry with other people and was paid (not enough really to support the family). Her dad she said was just at the house watching the house. It really puzzled me that the dad just stays home and not looking for a job for him to feed his family. I was just quiet and really feeling sorry for the kids. I asked her if she goes to school and did she already had some school supplies? She said yes, she’s going to school but they did not buy their school supplies yet. I asked her if she is saving the money that she will be making from the bottles for her school stuff? She said no, we are giving the money from the sale of the empty bottles to our mom to buy rice.
Gosh, my heart just goes out to these girls. What can I say. My kids are gathering the extra school supplies that they have from last year and we have extra too when we went shopping a few days ago. Nicole had some stuff that she’s not using and fits perfect for Arnie. So at least they have some stuff.
Our yard guy brought some bananas for us. He brought a lot. So we gave some to Arnie for her and family to have for snacks. She had bottles and some other stuff on the bags that she’s carrying. We let her eat something first before sending her home. I even offered to pay for her fare but she declined. She said she will just walk home. We were really watching her, and I could tell my kids really like Arnie. I was telling Arnie to really try to study hard and work hard because that’s the only thing she will have to improve her life. I know lots of kids that live the same life as Arnie and Irish have live.
Really knowing the two kids now, I’m hoping that someday they will have a better life. Praying for them for that.
Thank God for the Martin family and for those who look out for the little ones! I pray that one day I will be blessed to assist many! You have done a great job of raising your kids and not be “me, my and mine” selfish kids of the U.S.
Keep up the great work!
Ed
Hi Ed Griffin – Thank you for the nice comment. It would be hard to turn away your head with these cute and hard working kids. They are also behave kids.
I am so proud of my kids. They really are kindhearted kids. I’m so glad they know how to value what they have in life.
Good to see you here again. Have a great day!
Great story, it brought tears to the wife’s eyes as we were reading it. She says that she has seen this to many times in CDO. Thank God for the Martin family!
HI CJ Cook – Thank you. I know the feelings of your wife. I did cry a lot before too. It’s hard seeing young kids that struggles in life. Problem is, they are all over the Philippines. Hopefully life will get better with these kids someday.
Thank you so much for stopping by! Have a good day!
First off God bless you,you have a heart of gold,i also do and cant help to give the kids something to eat or a few peso’s.I wish i could help them all.I to have to buy school supplies and shoes ,and of course some for a poor family girl to..Keep up the good work.
Hi maynard – Thank you so much for the nice compliment. It really is a good feeling to helped out even just a little. Gosh, if you just see the requirements of our kids for school, it’s really a long list. But my kids were also willing to give a little to Irish & Arnie. I’m so proud of my kids for doing a little bit of sacrifice for the new friend they have.
Always good to see you maynard. Have a great day!
Unfortunately, there are so many children like this in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia. It’s impossible to help all of them, but if we took the time to help out like you did, Feyma, we can make a difference. Well done!
Hi Mark – Sadly but true. Yep can’t help them all, but like you said if we can make a difference especially to a kids lives, that would be something then.
Thank you for stopping here and the good comment!
Bob
Great story, sad thing it is not a story but the real deal.
So I am wondering on how hard of a hurdle was it to get over when you move there and see so many poor unfortunate Kids and only being able to help so few.
Maybe you have to get in the mindset of knowing that you helped some and without your help they would have never been helped at all.
Ha ha… just to clarify, the article is from Feyma, not me.
🙂
Hi Neal – Thank you! I’m not going to lie, it was really hard at first. I think that was one of the reason that it was hard for me to moved back here. Seeing lots of people living below the poverty line made me depress, but on the other hand thinking too that me and my family can help out a little bit is making me feeling better a bit too.
I’m just happy that a lot of our LIP family tried to give out from their pockets during holiday season to give to the poor people here. Really thankful for that.
I think with your questions, I encourage other expats who lives here to give their opinions on how they handle living here and seeing the kids like Arnie and Irish and other less fortunate people here.
Always nice to see you here again. Cheers!
What a good hearted Bob & Feyma’s family. My heart goes out for those kids. 🙁
Thank you so much Emy and Will.
Have a good weekend ahead!
Thank you for the nice article! I was very happy to read this. Your children’s behavior reflect their good upbringing. Good job, Bob and Feyma! We should all be as kind!
Hi David Heil – Thank you so much for the nice and good comment. I will agree to what you said about my kids. Ha ha ha… Sorry, I’m going to be the most conceited parent right now. lol… Kidding aside, I am really happy and proud of the way my children care for other human beings, may it be rich or poor. Everyone deserves to be respected. That’s what we always tells them.
I really appreciate what you said. Thank you.
Have a great day!
Hi, this is Cheryl’s fiance. Gosh! I am so happy you could help out a bit, but feel so bad for those little girls. Hopefully their life will get better.
In my travels to the Philippines I have seen this so often and each and EVERY time it chokes me up.
My filipina fiance lived like that…never knowing if she was going to be able to eat or not when she was younger. There are so many like that. And to think I spend more a day on mochas than most of these people make and all I do is complain. Makes me feel so ashamed.
Your children, with their willingness to help, show great hearts and attitudes and have been raised well.
Hi there to Cheryl’s fiance – I can understand how you felt right now. Remembering what you girl been through before meeting you. I’m sure it would be hard on Cheryl hearing and seeing the struggles of the kids that I posted.
I’m glad that Cheryl got away with the hard life she had endured during her younger years.
Thank you so much for the nice comment about my kids. I greatly appreciate that.
Cheers!
hi mate will u just know how to make a old man cry dont u it gos to my heart to see kids like this with no hope in life at tall it is so sad but we can do a lot if we was to start in a little way and help kids like this i am trying to start some thing here in tassie to help the street kids all i need is some one to back me and away i willl go as i hate this as it make me down too look on little one with no hope or no one too look after them and u know where some off them little one will go mate u know well in to some scum buying them for sex it is happening in manila and citys like that all over……SO SAD….peter martin
Dear Feyma,
As I wipe the tears from my eyes, I have to say God bless you and your family. Just looking at the little girl’s eyes tells a lot of their struggles. The kindness shared by your kids shows how blessed you really are. Cheers!
Feyma.
Good article and glad your family contributes as much as it can. Every December, my bike club does its annual toy run and invites about 300 children from orphanages. We donate about a ton of rice to the various orphanages and have a mgaic act and provide lunch. They are a bunch of nice kids and appear so happy and balanced. Not sure how their lives would differ if they were not in the orphanage and lived out on the streets or had to work to support families.
Feyma,
I agree that it’s rough on the heart to see children suffer in any way. My Asawa
had a simular up bringing and just hearing her talk about it I can understand why she has such a strong will for life. Make my upbringing (a family of 11 and my dad working two jobs) seem like a cake walk even though we were not rich by any means. But it also gets me angry the their dad just sit around the house and does nothing to help his family. Thats why when we were their we only gave them items that they could use or some food. I would hate to find out that their parents would take what little money that they could collect and use it for smokes and booze.
Mrs Feyma,
It’s so sad that children have to wander around the streets to help support the family. I’m very concerned about the childrens safety with the possibility of getting hurt or abducted. They are such cute little girls, its so heartbreaking. Thanks so much to you Bob and the kids for once again stepping up being a good example for everyone to follow. Be safe always.
Hi Feyma,
There are so many like those two. Again you show the goodness of your hearts to offer some help. I wish everyone could visit and experience such things. The feeling of entitlement that our younger people in the west have may disappear if they were made to experience everyday life like some of these poor kids do.
Mark G.
Oh gosh, this story brings tears to my eyes. I can’t help feeling sorry for those kids. There are a lot of kids who have the same life like Irish and Arnie and I can’t understand why their parents let them be like that. The good example the Martin family had shown really touched me. Great children you’ve got. Thanks for this story.
Great analogy by Abrahem In another thread about the hungry eyes behind the food bowl being the same eyes behind the AK47. Sad but true.
Feyma;
Thank you and your family!
I live in a nice house in Angeles City, in the street there are many squatter huts and poor people. I do what I can to help but I always feel in myself that it is never enough, even though it is all I can afford. I like to have a few beers and every time I drink one I feel I should have spent the money on a Kg of rice for a poor family in the neighbourhood. I know I can’t look after my own family and every other family in the street, but I do what I can.
Doesn’t stop you cracking open a good old San mig does it murray 🙂
My heart goes out to the poor people in the Philippines! I hope to retire there soon in Famy! I hope I will be able to make a difference in the lives of a few good poor people there! Running into so many problems that I may encounter in trying to live there!
good story. Perhaps not a good idea to post their pictures and their names for their safety. Just saying…
Very sad to see this happening unfortunately it happens right across the world and even here in my country there are starving people and people who live on the streets some by choice and some by unfortunate circumstances that have occured in their lives. If governments across the world would look after their
own back yard and peoples health and well being instead of greed and wealth the world would be a better place. I have a question for Bob last night I was reading
all about travel tips and health and other things when travelling to the philippines
there are many thousands of women married to Australian men who live here, my family were really concerned when we read about the real threat of terroist
attacks violent crimes and kidnapping of tourists over in the philippines could you please let me know how safe is it to go there Bob as you have been living there for years do you of any Australians living there and are you safe to travel there it certainly puts a lot of doubt in your mind when you read all the bad things that happen over or is it just in certain places as they say not to travel in certain areas one of them is where you live or a part of where you live could you please inform me of the safety for tourists there and especially if you marry there and want to live there, take care.
Kind Regards
Philip