A few months ago I was having a meeting set at one of the condo units here near SM. Before the person that I had meeting with arrived, while my nephew was looking for a space to parked our vehicle, I was standing outside the building on the near walkway. I was standing at the sidewalk and texting. I noticed a cart (kariton) loaded with folded empty boxes. I can hear people talking. So I looked at the other side of the kariton, I saw 4 people eating lunch. I smiled at them and said hi. I tried not to looked at the food, I could tell that the couple were embarrassed that I saw the food they have.
Just to make them comfortable, I moved a bit further. I just can’t resist it, I had to talk to these people. The kids were really cute. So I was asking them how many kids do they have? And what part of town they are from? They told me that they are from somewhere in Mati. I told them I’ve been there and I liked the place. I asked them what part of town they are from here in Davao, and it must not a long ways since it would be hard to be pushing the cart. The wife then said that they didn’t have any house here and that they are homeless. Watching the kids and them my heart just sank and I almost cried.I was gonna ask them why not go home to the province and live there with simple life. At least they can plant something and have some animals to sell and for food. I don’t really know the real story why they left the province, I don’t really want to pry with their lives. I was a stranger to them.
I should have figured it out why they have with them the empty boxes and the pots and pans. I should have known better than that. It was hard hearing from the people what they are doing especially with kids involved though. I really wanted to help these people out. But my gosh, we’ve got so many people that we are trying to help out too. We can’t afford to be helping more. Its always difficult seeing something like that. Just then the person that I was going to meet showed up. Before I went to the meeting I gave some money to this people and told them to get some food. Really not that much, but at least to fill up their stomachs for the day.
Another homeless couple that I really noticed here was living in the downtown area here in the city. These people were sleeping outside the building. I did notice them before like 2 years ago. I just didn’t think about it because I’ve seen a bunch of them sleeping at the sidewalk or the walkway of some buildings. But early this year I notice a hammock hanging at one of the tree outside the building. So I ask my niece and nephew if they noticed that before. They told me that those homeless there now had a baby. At first I thought they were just resting there for the day. But, I noticed every time we passed by there, that hammock had a baby in it and the father or the mother swinging it.Can you imagine during rainy days when its pouring down here in the city. They just had like boxes for the bed and a blanket. They could get wet. I felt sorry for the baby.
When we went back to take the pictures. It’s not just one couple there now living outside the building. Another couple was there too with a kid. Oh boy, whats going on with these people. I don’t really know what to think of it anymore. I wished they really used some protection for not having a baby. But on the other hand they might want to have a baby with them, so that its easy for people to dig into their pockets for change by seeing a baby there.
Geez, are we just sucked into our feelings here. Can’t help it though, I felt for the baby.
Big Sigh!!!
Feyma,
Does the Philippines have any type of social programs run by the government to help homeless people?
Hi Cy – Unfortunately no government programs here for the homeless people. It’s really just the people will help out to the homeless.
Take care!
kanang nagpuyo sa acacia na pamilya, naa silay iro. maluoy jud ko magtan-aw pag muagi ko.
Hi Ralph – Mao man siguro na nga pamilya we are talking about. Looy jud kaayo sila ilabi na ang bata.
Mao gyud, Ralph, pero dili ko kabalo ug ilang iro! Maayong buntag, Ralph!
good morning pud Bob! hehe. have a great day!
Ikaw pud, Ralph. Salamat kaayo!
Hi Feyma: In Cebu City there are many homeless children as well. My mother belonged to a church with a woman’s club. They raised funds and bought ready-to-eat food to distribute to the homeless in lunch bags. At Christmastime, my parents had extra burlap sacks that contained a bag of rice, two cans of corned beef, and two cans of salmon which they gave out to carolers (if they came as families). They also had the usual carolers’ treat (a bag of candy with a 20.00 peso bill) which were given to each caroler. At Christmastime, they also contributed a regular amount to the barangays (they had residences in Cebu City and Cagayan). My older brother, who is the estate manager, continues my parents’ tradition.
Hi Roselyn – Good thing going there with your parents and with your brother too. Keep it up.
Take care!
to sad to see there are families suffering in dire poverty and struggle hard to earn a living while others have lot of mansions and enjoy life in gusto and seldom have sweats in labor but in golf and gyms
Hi Oliver Maygay Ferrarez – Very sad indeed. It’s really nice to see lots of people have money, only they can give out a little of what they have to the needy one here. I know some do though.
Have a good day!
Yes, Oliver… I believe that is very, very true.
While in the Philippines last year, my brother decided to take us for a ride around Cebu city. Amazing to see Bob, a homeless family of about 5, including an infant spreading cardboards on the side walk of a closed for the night business. I mean, really! How and where do they get the “chance??”.
Hi Christine Amores – I know what you mean. We have the same questions too.
Thank you for the thought!
Hi Christine, kumusta ka ba? I am not surprised that you saw the family sleeping on cardboard… there must be thousands of such families in Cebu, and tens of thousands or more around the country. It is sad indeed, and makes us stop and think about how luck we are. I like to help such people, but the vast number of homeless and poor make the job daunting!
Hi Christine, kumusta ka ba? I am not surprised that you saw the family sleeping on cardboard… there must be thousands of such families in Cebu, and tens of thousands or more around the country. It is sad indeed, and makes us stop and think about how luck we are. I like to help such people, but the vast number of homeless and poor make the job daunting!
Feyma, Bob,
Its unfortunate with all the homeless people. It’s the same here in the US. I don’t mind helping the homeless, but i would only give them food instead of money because most of them would spend the money on alcohol. Also some of the homeless are homeless by choice. Our County here in Florida has an ordinance prohibiting panhandling. Believe it or not they arrest them and bring them to jail. Have a beautiful day!
Feyma,
The children involved is the hardest part for me also. It just tugs at your heart strings! But as said above and in your article, there are some many it is hard to help them all.
Hi Steve Maust – Very true… Really heartbreaking to see the kids suffers.
Good to see you here again.
Thank you so much!
I am good Bob 🙂 But yes, in Cebu city, it’s not just the homeless families that I saw, but even very young children sleeping on the sidewalks. One time I was on my way to my Dentist and was walking on the side walk. The guy ahead of me suddenly stopped and looked down. What he was looking down was 2 very young children all under the age of 5 years. I stopped also to check if they were breathing as it was 9am. Thankfully they were alive. I looked at him and said” do you know who to call to care for this children?”. He laughed at me and said “you’re obviously not from here!” and walked away. I also walked away but felt bad about it. When I told my brother about it, he said “there’s just too many of them and not enough services”. People get burned out from helping.Yes, their sheer numbers just makes it a bottomless pit of needs.
Ha ha.. as I read your comment, Christine.. I was thinking it was obvious that you were not from here.. even before the guy said it to you. The truth is that what you were told was right… there is nobody to help such kids or adults, only private people who take pity on them, which rarely happens, though. The government does almost nothing. It’s sad, but unfortunately true. I am sad to say that after you have been here for a while, it becomes easy to just ignore them and go on with life. From time to time, if you do take notice, it makes you feel terrible.
Honestly Bob, I was not sure what made me feel more flustered. When the guy told me “it’s obvious you’re not from here” or the fact that I also walked away. I mean these are very young children. But what else can one do other than give them something to survive for the day? What about tomorrow and next day and next day? I guess there are no easy answers…
Hi feyma ,yes it is a dillema and not just confined to your country,whilst i was there we stopped at a fruit vendors as we got out of the taxi a woman came from behind us begging ,she to had a baby over her shoulder now i dont know if she was fair dinkum or if it was a con but i had been told by others not to give as this may lead to problems ,someone mentioned birth control for these people, also when i was there i was at i think sm department and saw condoms but unfortunately they were very well hidden at the bottom of the shelving so as i presume not to atract attention to them.I beleive that the catholic church has a lot to answer for in this region and i know that this may cause a heated discussion amongst other readers but this is not the case for mentioning it ,in western society there are family planning clinics but still we have young women becoming pregnant at 15 years old and with the different types of contraception available today it seeems almost unbeleivable ,perhaps the government should set up some of these clincs or maybe there already is ,education in schools to show what can happen and how your life can spiral out of control ,just recently schools have started a plan to bring girls back with there babies to complete there education so that they may make something of there lives for one simple mistake ,in your country homeless people do have it very hard ,in our society the government pays them a fortnightly pension but who knows what it goes on ,i have to say feyma that when i first came there the poverty that i saw did shock me and made me realize how damb lucky i am ,you and bob do heaps for people who are less fortunate ,the girls lunches ect ,your maid,the xmas distribution and i rekon there would be more that you do ,we have a saying here if the house is on fire get the ones out you can and cry about the others later ,you cant save them all feyma it would be nice but impossible ,your government is to blame for a lot of this lining there own pockets while the majority struggle and some fall through the cracks i should imagine that the taxes that the people pay could go towards a lot of things but i think we know where it goes
chris
Hi Ms Feyma – Here in Manila, I alsos see those homeless people living in makeshift kariton house. Plenty of kids too roaming around.. tapping car windows..asking for change. Usually if we have some food left, we just give them burger or something. The other day, I saw little boy sleeping… underneath a fire hydrant. I did a double look just to be sure it was a little boy and not like dog or something. Can’t do much though. Hopefully there’s something for these homeless people… especially the little ones.
Hi sugar – I think Manila and Davao City were similar. It’s just worst there because its over population and of course lots of homeless roaming around then.
Gosh, I really wish that the politicians think twice of building mansions all over, instead help out some of the money to the homeless. Hopefully.
Good to see you.
Take care!
I think the best thing to do here is to call the Child Welfare Division of the City Mayor’s Office. Davao boasts itself as a child-friendly city and now will be one of those times to step up and prove it…
Hi Jon B – Good point. I will talked to a friend of mine who used to work there before about it.
Thanks Jon.
Take care!
For me, one of the biggest challenges to be living in the Philippines (or many poorer countries) is to see the day to day poverty and homelessness. You really can’t help them all, and some days my “blinders” don’t seem to work and one can be easily overwhelmed by hopelessness.
Hi Rob – I hear you… honestly that was one of my big time heart breaking adjustment moving back here to lived, seeing too many homeless people everyday really breaks my heart. But you will get used to it over time though. Not an easy process I tell you.
Thank you so much for stopping by!
Hi Feyma, sad state of human suffering, especially involving children. I saw this with my own eyes in my vacation there last month. And like you said, it amazes me that the rich and the government are not doing enough to help these poor people.
But homelessness is not limited to the Philippines. Here in the US, we have a lot of homeless people but it’s a choice. Twenty miles away from the Capital of the richest country in the world, near Wash. DC, we have a lot of homeless people. They live in the tent behind shopping malls in the woods, near the cloverleaf of the exit ramps, etc but it’s their choice or some are legitimate homeless that was affected by the housing crunched and lost their house. Social services makes a head count of them and so do the police but most of them, that’s their lifestyle.
Last December in the middle of winter, my wife overheard one homeless to another about visiting their camp, so my wife offered if they need some blankets and winter jackets. We gave them two boxes of winter clothing. Different type of homelessness.
Hope the Phili government will step in and do something over there.
Mars
Hi Mars Z. – So many homeless people nowadays for sure with the bad economy. At least other countries have some program for the homeless, here none that I know of. Hopefully the new administration will have something.
Good to see you here again.
Take care!
I must agree.. i think i was lucky, and maybe unlucky with my first day in the Phils. I was not there but for a few hours, before the homeless children was pointed out to me. A friend, (from Mindanoa Island.. He is national police there), came to meet me in Cebu. And we had lunch. Ordered normally, ate.. and grab the leftovers in a bag. Walking out, he asked me if i really need to eat the leftovers? I said.. umm. noo. He asked for them.. and then took the bag over to a homeless family living under a tree, about 20 ft from the front door of the restaurant. They had several small kids with them. He and i talked about that family and the homeless problem alot for a many days. I was lucky to learn and realize things so fast from my visit.. and take what i learned to my heart, along with teaching my children, so more generations will continue. Unlucky, cause my first day in the Phils, left me heartbroken forever, for many of the pe0ple there and the way of life that many people are living there.
Well.. to put it simple.. i realize just how lucky we are here in the US.. and also remembered that food is mainly there to keep us alive for energy.. not supposed to be our entertainment and many of us are a bit gluttens about our food. Since that day, i have lost about 60 lbs, along with telling my children about the people there. My family all eats much better now, and what we need.. Yes.. i still love to cook foods with lots of flavor.. but now we just do not eat more, just because it taste good. We eat what we NEED for energy.
My heart and my family all feel so emotional about the children there in the Phils. And the more research we did, and trying to figure out different ways we can try to help. I am on a very small disability pay. Not much we can do since we allready have 4 children also. Not alot of money left over. But the population we feel the most sorrow for, is the children or young ladies, who are sold by their parents, or told lies of Jobs in the city.. then forced into prostitution, or the sex business. (about 60,000 – 100,000 girls a year, according to Phils govt) Homeless children is terrible, and i feel for them.. but the mental and physical abuse of being forced into the sex business, is unimaginable to my mind, and unfortunetly it is many forigners who are fueiling that business.
So, my wife and kids and i have basically decided, if we can only help 1 or 2 people.. we would like to help one of those kids. We have talked lots.. and think it best if we could just find one of these kids or young ladies, at the time their parents is selling them. And we just buy them if we need to, in order to save them. With the idea of, taking them in as part of our family, sending them to school, getting them educated, etc.. 1 or 2 extra mouths to feed in our family is about the best we can afford, and maybe the best thing we can do. But also never let that person forget what could have happen, and teach them to also help someone after they are educated adults, and making money. So, hopefully… each person helped can maybe be educated enough, and make enough money to help 1 or 2 more.. and slowely over time, help make a little difference in the Phils.
We have talked much, and my family all agrees that in our hearts and emotions, those kids are the ones that probably need saved first (basically, the ones in the most danger). But we have also talked about HOW do we find these kids before they are allready mentally, emotionally scared for life from the abuse of that bisiness. As a forigner man, i can just go asking if families have a young lady they selling. It would be 99% sure, everyone would think i was one of those forigners who was the problem.. and using those ladies.. not the one trying to help. And there is NOO way, i will let my wife (a younger, beautifull lady), go to ask or find people who maybe linked to that bizness in some way.. in fear she could be taken.
There are many very inteligent people on this site.. maybe an article about this subject if someone can. Its too deep of issue to discus it all now. Can maybe some of you give this idea a thought, and i love to hear your opinions. Is my families idea a decent one, is there a better way that we could help them, instead of what we are thinking. We know these young ladies are the ones we want to help.. just trying to figure out the best way, that we can give the most help. Any ideas or comment would be great, or best maybe an article with facts, as it could possible save many lives.
Sorry, my comment is so long.. anyone is welcome to also email replies, info, ideas to me at caschwemer at yahoo, if we do not want to take up lots of space on this article here.
Thanks
Craig
Hi Craig: There is a young college student, Efren Penaflorida, who was awarded $100,000.00 by CNN (in 2009) to be applied to his program on “education on wheels” in the Philippines. He, along with three other young men carry pushcarts to slums to bring the classroom to poor slum children. Efren grew up in the slums and was sponsored by a church for his education. These young men are so dedicated. You might contact their organization.
Hi Craig: This is an update on Efren Penaflorida. He is now a teacher and social worker since he received his award in 2009. He has established a charitable institution that helps 150 streetchildren. His website is at http://www.dtc.org.ph/
This is one of the downsides of living in the Philippines – you cannot help every child that needs it and you have to close your eyes to most of the terrible poverty that is part of society. My wife and I try to do what we can and I think it is incumbent on all of us that enjoy the benefits of life in this country to do something in return.I am sure that few of us that post on this website are living in any kind of poverty so I urge that each of us as individuals do something,however small on a regular basis.We do not give money to established charities – they have large administrative costs so only a small percentage of donations actually is spent on charitable projects,also if you do it yourself, money or food can be channeled to where you see it being needed. Be cautious how you go about helping – if it becomes known then you are liable to have crowds at your front gate to overwhelm your capacity to help.
One way of safely contributing to a better future and a better life for someone there in The Philippines where you can be sure of where your money is going would be to set up and sponsor a scholarship at a school, college or university or your choice.
There are many bright students from poor families that have to drop out of school or college because of lack of funds. This may not quite be the same as supplying food for the homeless and hungry but it will contribute to the future of an individual trying to help themselves and most likely their family as well through education.
When you sponsor a Scholarship, you can specify the parameters of that scholarship and the type of student you would like it to go to. The money does Not have to go directly to the student either, the amount of your scholarship can be deducted from the tuition and other school bills that a student recieves. There are No administration costs involved in the administration of a scholarship by the school either. 100% goes to the student or can be deducated from their bills. This way it can not be spent on things like iPods, or other non-essentials.
There may be other things besides money that can help with education as well. When I discovered there was a shortage of drafting tools for certain engineering classes at a university I have been to there in The Philippines, I bought a bunch of used drafting tool sets on Ebay at bargain and took them with me on my next visit and donated them. When I informed some of the sellers of these tools what I was going to do with them, some of them even added to my purchase as a contribution of their own ( Thanks Ebayers ! ) When I discovered that decent quality stethescopes and blood pressure cuffs were available for a surprisingly small amount I bought a few each from Amazon and brought them with me an another visit, as a donation for school clinics, or for use by students in helath related courses that could not afford their own.
This may not have much to do with the feeding of the homeless but it was at least something I felt that I could do to help those that are doing their best to help themselves through Education and establishing a career.
As little as $100 ( USD ) can pay the tuition for one semester in many cases. Compared to similar costs in the USA, that was a Bargain I just found too hard to resist. This link will indicate the result at MSU-IIT >>
http://www.msuiit.edu.ph/news/news-detail.php?id=58
You can actually set something like this up and fund it from anywhere in the world, you don’t even have to be there.
Additionally it is never too early or too late in the year to mention Bob Martins famous ” Travels with Minda-Clause ” at Christmas time where Bob Martin and family travel the countryside with food and small gifts for families and children who otherwise would have little or nothing to celebrate on Christmas. Several years ago Bob opened this event to readers and participants to take part in if they so desire and yes, you do get ” proof of results ” of this event each year right here on LIP.
I have found other ways that you can make good things happen for the less fortunate without even having to leave your home wherever in the world you are. For me, the results have been more than graitfying.
Rather sad…
Yes, I understand , shame we don’t have welfare system in Ph. It’s good you share this appalling condition with us.
in my opinion the main cause for poverty in the philippines especially the food/medecine/housing is influence from abroad.people in England truly make me shake with anger as if they dont like something as in foodwise its thrown away.my father i remember looked at the sell by date on 12 eggs and on the exact day threw it.i opened it and cooked up an omelete and said ‘why are western countries so regimented! there are children eating re-fried leftovers and drinking water that any westerner wouldnt dare near.in the west everything is so squeaky clean that no wonder they get sick at say a day old meal.WHY CANT FOODS 1 MTH OR 2 WEEKS BEFORE ‘EXPIRE DATE’ BE FROZEN PUT ON A PLANE AND OR BOAT AND SENT TO THE PHILIPPINES! the same with medicine if its nearly 1mth its thrown when it could save lives here as nothing as in NO-THING is free and Companies that come in to the Philippines,set up a lab or industrial site or by the rights to a mountain region they do their business make THEIR profit and when pollution strikes or say miners become very sick i Have seen in Philex mines baguio the outside person just walks of with an astronomical bank account and NO CARE at the destruction of land/water and people behind.this country should be HIRING people abroad to work here NOT have to travel leaving loved ones to work abroad.this country has so much valuable resources it could be self sufficient.bottom line Philippines is like a precious Gem yet to be named but one like no other meaning it is truly unique and god-given.
filipinos just as in west pay their taxes.in western countries the tax paid goes towards Firemen.Police/and Doctors plus Health service so i ask why is it no so HERE as you pay your taxes not only at work but in every purchase i.e E-VAT Tax who is responsible for either using this monies personaly or not letting filiinos be aware that it like overseas should go to free education/medical/policing/even in U.K if you are not working the government THRU peoples tax pays homeless jobless people a check every two weeks.kya I have NEVER voted my whole life.as politics are just fake adverts.anyway God is watching….amen
for me, the goverment is blind for the homeless people, they did’nt see it , they feel it but they didnt mind it..,
Hello everyone,
I was there in the Philippines. I left in the Philippines in 1990. I got adopt in 1990 came to the USA. I was living in the street myself. i have been living in street for a while. I was sleeping inside the box. My mom can’t afford to buy foods, get apartment, and she only work cleaning inside the markets. She got five children’s, two boys and three girls. when my mom went to the jail and left us alone in street. my sisters and my brother. we have to taking care our self. i came to the states. a lot of people here in USA got help from government. In the Philippines don’t have no help from government. i wish government in the philippines help all the homeless and children’s.
Hi, Feyma, I am so happy to have read your page. I have conducted a study on the Case of homelessness in Mindanao covering three cities. My worry is where could I publish my work. Would you give me advice relative to this?
Thnaks and God bless.
Hi Mila – Thank you. Are you just covering Mindanao for your study? I am asking also if you conduct your studies in Visayas and Luzon too. I am just curious if you did, among all the 3 islands which one was the highest rate of homeless people if ever? That would be interesting to know.
Honestly I don’t really know where you can publish your work.
Good luck!