Children in the streets

By Marifi Jara

On more than once occasion, while waiting at the shed across the San Fabian church for a bus up to Baguio, I’ve been approached by children, on average between seven to ten years old, begging for money.

Always, I am tempted to tell them, “There is no dignity in begging.” A life lesson I learned from one of my Jesuit professors back in university when we were on the topic of moral dilemmas over giving alms to streetchildren.

But I never open my mouth knowing that that would be a lesson that will simply fly by their young minds. I just toughen myself up and simply shake my head to say no.

But one time, one kid, who did not particularly look impoverished and desperate, certainly nowhere near malnourished state, was very, very persistent, trying all facial tricks to put up some drama.

My emotions getting the better of me, I blurted out: “Akin anggapo ka’d eskwela? Kulanto’y ama’m san ina’m?”

The child, probably shocked and confused by my question, dropped his saddish stare, stepped back, then went running and crossed the highway.

I felt awful immediately after letting the words out.

The question was not really meant for him. It was a question for his parents. Or his guardians. It was an expression of frustration over a society that allows for such innocence to be out there unguided.

I’ve also seen some children who jump from town to town by discreetly hitching on public buses. Conductors give them a good tongue lashing before forcing them out on the first possible stop.

And at least twice in Dagupan, while waiting at a stoplight, rather lost in thought, I was startled from my musing by a face, which seemed to have suddenly appeared from nowhere, pressed against the window.

Innocent faces, as in any child’s face of any race.

But the eyes. Not quite that of a naive, trusting child.   They were eyes trying to look sad and deprived, but what I see is a kind of world-weariness from having known the tough side of life.

Who knows what heartbreaking story drove them out in the streets.

We can have shelters and halfway homes to help these children. No, make that, We NEED shelters and halfway homes to help these children.

But more than that, we also need more responsible adults.

Being a parent is not simply to sire and to give birth to a child.

Parenthood is a very serious obligation to make sure that, at the very least, no child ends up out there begging in the streets.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/roots/)

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