Beggars in the streets....

Tweet

I was walking yesterday along the sidewalks of the city when i passed by a group of children running around the streets and chasing cars and other vehicles to reach out their hands to windows and beg for coins. They were so greasy, their clothes were all worn out and they had no slippers to protect them from the heat of the asphalt road. By the belfry of the church were two unfortunate women who were just sitting down and munching on burgers that seemed like they were just given by passers by. I stopped to observe them. I brought my eyes back to the children and watch them beg for money from motorists. I was worried of their safety. What if these kids get hit by the cars? What if they get exhausted and collapse under the scorching heat of the sun? What if they die of hunger and sickness? After a minute, they finally got their 5 peso coin. They ran towards the church and I was shocked when I saw them get to the women by the belfry. They were their mothers. They gave the coin to one of them and ran back to the streets to, maybe, beg for more money. To myself, I asked, "What kind of mother sends her children to the streets to become beggars?". How come they are able to risk the safety and lives of their children? I really wondered. But, I also was able to understand because they were very poor and had no other means of living. So, they send their children to this activity even if it poses great risks on them. Also, i thought, what if the mothers do the begging instead? That will be more justifiable if ever, right? However, none of my reasons are right because these mothers had complete body parts, they looked strong and surely could do work if they would just want to. They can do manual labor jobs or even just gardening, and perhaps, simple selling of vegetables. But who would trust them if they look so grimy and greasy? Nobody will. I tried to analyze about who is to blame regarding this social problem. Our culture? Our history? Our government? Or just an isolated case of that family being lazy and dependent on others' bounty just to live? I started with the government. Social workers should have done their parts on this problem. They can get these people out of the streets, give them decent shelter and clothes and provide them with simple livelihood projects that may eventually help them stand on their own. But a though came to pass my mind. Where could they find the budget if the money intended for this department fell to the hands of the corrupt politicians and left to the department are just meager resources insufficient to support their social work. Lack of education is also to blame but where could they find funds to support them in schooling? The government? Duh, forget that thought! Maybe this is a product of a culture of laziness. These families might not have exerted extra effort in making a living. They can look for the simplest but very decent jobs that they are able to do. They can even make gardens of their own and sell vegetables eventually. I don't get the point of risking lives and begging on the streets of the city. But i thought again, where could they find shelter and land to till? None. So, perhaps, their best resort is to go the streets and beg. But this is still quite unjustifiable. Everything to me is confusing. This problem seems to have a very difficult solutions because of the cycles that it has to undergo.. The rich become richer, the poor become poorer.. After a while, i began singing the song PARAISO by Smokey Mountain which says: "Return to a land called paraiso, in a house made of cardboard floors and walls. I learned to be free in Paraiso, free to claim anything I see. Matching rags for my clothes, plastic bags for the cold. And if empty cans were all i have what a joy, I never fight to take someone else's coins and live with fear like the rest of the boys...... " So sad, but true. I don't know when this problem would end but I hope and pray it will... Let us all pray and do our own thing to help our fellowmen. Tears....