Documentary: Filipino Children Driven to the Streets by Crushing Poverty

 

            You will stumble on children having this condition around the Philippines.  Some are runaways, abandons and are driven because of domestic violence and abuse; these are just few reasons why they are on streets.  No one knows the exact number of street children in the Philippines, but it was estimated that one and a half million children are living in poverty.  A missionary, also a former street boy, tries and helps these children. He easily gained their trust for the reason that he knows how each one of them feel.  Through him, these street children learned to gain confidence in themselves and now experiencing how to be loved and to be cared.  The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), an organization supporting the less fortunate children is also there to assist and aid them in their situation and lessen their increasing population.

The video successfully showed the life and situation of children living on the street having no parents to care for them, no permanent shelter and nothing to eat thus illustrating their dreadful loneliness and yearning to be loved. It is simply an eye opener to everyone especially to the Filipinos that the number of street children in the Philippines is rapidly increasing. 

Poverty in the Philippines remains a challenge. Once you stepped in to the Philippines, it is impossible for you not to encounter street children.  They are seen everywhere including highways, bridges and even in tourist spots.  You will see children sleeping on the concrete floor and selling Sampaguita all day and all night on the streets instead of spending their time studying and enjoying their childhood.

           Every time I see children on the street I feel sorry for them and I always say to myself that they will not be in that situation if their parents make an effort in improving their lives. Being reliant to the government and other organization such as UNICEF, have always been the resort of such predicament for the Filipino people.  We should not only rely or depend on the government nor blame the government for this arousing problem but we, as citizens must also do our part.

I believe that there are many ways in order to help reduce the number of poverty but it would take a long time and great effort until the population of children living in the streets will lessen.  We should all help each other in coping up with this situation. One little action will surely help our country. We should also remember that – the first step should start from each individual.

 Source: Filipino Children Driven to the Streets by Crushing Poverty