Sunday night, when we were parked outside a drug store at downtown, I saw a group of kids huddled in a corner. I watched them curiously and found out they waited for cars to back out or enter the parking space so they can volunteer themselves as the watcher for a couple of pesos. This was how they got money probably for food or whatever needs they have.
I watched them for almost a full thirty minutes and found myself staring into their faces and zoning out.
I soon remembered our reach out last March. It was for our Confirmation Rites. At first, it was just supposed to be a feeding activity. We didn't plan on doing anything but play with the kids and give them food after.
When we reached our destination, the Lagoon, we gathered children from around the area and played with them.
Miss Anna, our Christian Living teacher, told us to talk to them. We did. What I heard was an eye opener to me. I never imagined life was like that for some people.
I remember particularly one woman we talked to. She had two kids, two boys roughly the age of six and seven. She said they were from Cadiz (about three cities from Bacolod) and that they moved here because it was much easier to beg for a couple of coins in the big city.
As we talked to her more, we learned she originally brought three kids with her when they moved to Bacolod. The eldest, a girl, was arrested and brought to the local Social Services Center because she got caught using Rugby. The mother was reduced to tears then and hid her face from us. We were all speechless and were unable to move for a couple of minutes. We left it at that because we understood the woman was sensitive about the subject.
As the day progressed, we learned more and more. Most of the children's last meals were scraps customers of McDonald's (right across the Lagoon) gave them. We also learned that they no longer lived with their parents but still had siblings somewhere in the area.
Life was simple for those children. All they did was beg for coins and food and keep themselves alive. Think about it, it's not that simple. Kids those age weren't supposed to live through that hardship. Growing up in that environment has deprived them of the true essence of being a kid.
I heard true to life stories that day. I was mostly speechless and awestruck. It opened my eyes to the harsh reality those children had to face. Never again will I complain about having to go to school, or having little food. Obviously, I have much more then they ever did. I'm luckier than I think.
