Live in the Philippines

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“The Pandesal Kid” named Delmer!

Business, Food/Drink / by

My daughter and I did our early routine, walking in our neighborhood early in the morning. When we were almost home a kid showed up on the corner and yelled “Ate you want pandesal? It’s still hot”. I said to Jean we will just buy later at the bakery shop  since it’s too early. While following the path of that kid, I told Jean I think we’ll just buy so that the kid will make a little bit of money. So we then called the kid and told him we will buy some. I asked him how much per pandesal? He said it’s 2 pesos each Te (kids here called the older to them female “Ate” or “Te” – short for Ate).  So we bought 20 pieces. I gave him 50 pesos and told him to keep the change.

Delmer
Delmer

Then I was asking him what’s his name? Where does he live? How old is he? And what school is he attending? He answered my query. His name is Delmer. He lives in Maa, a bit far from us. So I asked him if  he walk from Maa to our subdivision? He said yes. Wow, he must starts waking so really early. He said he’s 13 years old. He’s attending public school in Maa. The sad part is he already quit school before and now again because the mom gets mad at him every time he comes home late. He said he comes home late due to he had to stay later in school because the teacher still teaches the slow reader kids. And he is one of them. So to satisfy his mom, he quit school. I guess the mom would rather have Delmer sell pandesal than go to school everyday. Delmer looks like a really good kid and very respectful. He probably thanked me a dozen times.

Delmer the pandesal kid
Delmer the pandesal kid

I was really telling Delmer before we walked separately away from him that he should try to go back to school next year and not stop. I told him if he won’t finish up at least high school he will be continue on getting lower job since he had no education. His mom works as a stay out helper for somebody near their house. The dad’s job was collecting plastic bottles, cardboard and metal stuff (They call it here “bote bakal”). So really they don’t make that much. I think he said he has 2 other siblings.

It really makes me sad that so many kids here have to stop school because they have to help making money for the family at a young age. It’s one of those unending cycles going on here in the Philippines.

I wish those families that struggle to live in the city will go back to the province and try to raise poultry and pigs for meat. And make a small garden for a start then maybe expand later to sell. Sad part for so many of these people they don’t want to live in the farm. Even though they struggle living in the city, still they stay. I know for one family, our laundry lady, they have a farm not far from here in Davao. But she said she doesn’t want to live there because it’s too quiet for her. Her husband and kids said the same thing.

Anyway, I’m really hoping for the best for Delmer. By the way, he is a 5th grade student. I’m really hoping he will continue his studies next year and will continue on until he graduates high school. I’m crossing my fingers for him. So many kids like Delmer here in the Philippines. Hoping for the best to all of them too.

Cheers!

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Hi Malcolm – It sure is in the province. I think being in the city the bakery is just around the corner, that’s why not much sellers for that other breads. Pandesal is more of the icon of all the breads. LOL

      Thanks Malcolm. Have a great day!

  2. So considerate of you Feyma, you’re a good lady, Bob is lucky to have you.
    This is precisely why I make sure my 3 kids there go to school so that they don’t have to work and go to school like their mom did. My kids love school and are eager to learn and my almost 16 yo oldest girl Cheann is already taking advanced classes. I’m very proud of my kids, next step is to get over there and tell them in person.
    Salamat for the article Feyma, have a great day!

  3. Hi Feyma

    The lack of education and the poverty cycle in the Philippines is sad.

    Delmer needs education but probably will never get it in an adequate manner and thus the generations after him will most likely imitate him and so on. A lot of poverty is generational and tough to break.

    Delmer would be happy would the tip!

    • Hi Brenton – Yep, it’s one of the cycle that will never end here in the Philippines. My heart bleeds seeing those kids. I’ve seen lots of them in the place where I grow up. I’m just lucky that my parents really wants good education for all of us their kids.

      Oh yeah Delmer was really thankful I gave him extra money. Luckily I brought some change with me on that walk.

      Good to see you again here. Cheers!

  4. Hi Feyma –

    I remember when I was in the 5th grade at Palauig (Zambales) Elementary School, when roll was called in the morning, certain pupils were habitually absent. When their names were called, and they didn’t answer, the male teacher would always smirk and say in front of the class, “Absent again due to poverty”.

    The one thing I remember most vividly to this day was not the faces or the names of my classmates who were always absent. It was the meanspiritidness of the teacher. He was a mestizo, having descended from a long line of Spanish ancestry. Reflecting the attitude of many of the descendants of Palauig’s Spanish elites in those days, he had an air of racial superiority about him over his pure-blooded Filipino pupils whom he condescendingly equated with poverty. He seemed to take pleasure in jotting down on his attendance sheet that a pupil was absent again due to poverty. It was common knowledge in those days that if a kid was absent from school, he was out helping in the farm, or with his father fishing out at sea.

    Sorry, Feyma, I couldn’t resist throwing this in after reading about the pandesal kid, Delmer, who quit school because of poverty.

    • Hi John – I wish to God those racist or prejudice people just keep their mouth shut. If they don’t have anything good to say, then just don’t say nothing at all. “BAMBI MOMENT”…

      Thank goodness our grade school teacher don’t make comment like that. That’s one thing I’m proud of our kids, they’ve never look down those less fortunate kids. I thank God for that.

      Are you still visiting Zambales regularly? Nice to see you here again.

      Have a pleasant day!

    • John,
      That’s a terrible thing for a teacher to say. It shows his true ignorance. It’s not surprising. If people don’t care enough to help then at the very least they should keep their traps shut. Thank you for reminding us the importance not to become cynical, judgmental, and just plain horrible.

      God Bless!
      Bill

    • John, When I was a kid in southwestern Virginia the kids who lived on tobacco farms were excused from school during planting and harvest. I was always jealous of those kids. Then, as an adult, I helped work a small plot of tobacco (about 500 plants) for a museum. I no longer envy those kids their days out of school.

      Unfortunately, what you have described seems to still be alive and well all. though it is often not so overt as your experience.

      Take care,
      Pete

      • Pete –

        There is, though, one redeeming value of the story about the mean-spiritidness of my 5th grade teacher. Although I was then too young to give it much thought, I am reminded these days by the story I related to Feyma about Mr. Lorenzo del Fierro of my deep fascination for Spanish Philippines.

        Mr. del Fierro’s name alone (never mind he was an a-hole) conjures up images of European 19th century elegance and sophistication amid a backdrop of fragrant sampaguitas and palm fronds and the exuberant strains of Strauss waltzes at a Saturday night baile held at a well-connected illustrado’s house, straight out of the Noli.

        The town of Palauig today still stands as it has always stood long before the galleon trade with Mexico started. Then as now, the centuries-old stone church dominated the square town plaza fringed by mature acacia trees and where all the festivities during the town fiesta are centered.

        In my mind, I can still hear the clip-clop of the horsedrawn calesa carrying Maria Clara accompanied by her chaperone on their way to church, while fanning themselves energetically with abanicos. LOL

  5. Mrs Feyma,
    Maybe they can set up some kind of program where the parents can kind of homeschool the kids that are unable to attend regular classes. Mrs Feyma and Bob are lucky to have each other lol.

    • Hi PapaDuck – I think it would be hard for them to be homeschool. Not so common here for that. They just don’t have the program yet here for that.

      Thank you PapaDuck for the kind words. Always good to see you here.

      Take care!

  6. Feyma,

    That was very nice story you shared with us. You had mentioned Delmer is from Ma-A. Does he live close to me that you know of? It’s too bad they don’t have the home schooling as Papaduck suggested. It’s sad these kids have to work so hard in order to help their parents make a living.

    Kids like Delmer doesn’t know what the word ‘play’ means. Very sad kids just can’t be kids here in the Philippines. At least – most.

    Bill

    • Hi Bill – He is close on the Maa Elementary school. Home school still not popular here.

      *** Kids like Delmer doesn’t know what the word ‘play’ means. *** —- So true.

      Take care Bill!

    • Thanks Bill, Honestly my heart was bleeding talking to Delmer and he’s telling us he was walking by himself. I’m really hoping he will continue his studies next year.

      Ever since knowing Delmer. Every time Me and Jean do our early walking routine now, we are on the look out for Delmer. I’m so hoping for the very best for him.

      Good to see you here Bill!