The type of beggars that makes me angry!
By Sasha on Feb 24, 2008 in Community issues
If you are passing by an MMDA footbridge or an overpass or any other bridge here in Manila, you will surely notice a mother carrying an infant or a toddler, begging. Both are sporting a set of dirty clothes, most of the time the infant or toddler is naked. Both are dirty. They look like they haven’t taken a bath for quite some time already. In short, they really look like helpless people, it will break your heart seeing mother and child in such condition. They use this scenario to squeeze some change out of people passing by them.
I must admit that I am one of the many people who are being ‘duped’ by this set up. A mother and child begging for change so they could have something to eat… who will not feel like giving when you see this, right? I give money if I have some extra in my pocket or I give whatever food I have with me. But lately, I notice that some are taking advantage of other people’s kind hearts. A mother is using her kid to beg at the Sto. Domingo MMDA footbridge. You will
see this mother always eating something while her kid is crying his heart out, probably out of hunger and cold. Whenever I see the child, it is always naked from waist down, and it is lying near the edge of a step. While the mother is busy eating or barking orders at some kids that I assume are her own as well. My dad reprimanded the mother several times already, asking her to go home and not exploit her child. Do you know that she would stand up, adamant, glaring at my dad, telling him to mind his own business? We reported her to the barangay officials already, telling them that maybe they can send the mother and child to the Social Welfare. I don’t know if they listened to us. But this afternoon, there is a new mom and child when we passed by the footbridge. This time, the mother looked like they just dirtied themselves so they would look like beggars. The mother looks fit to work. It just makes you angry at times to see this kind of mother. Exploiting a child, just to be able to have some quick and easy money.
There is another type of beggar that makes me angry…
There are kids, around 7-11 years old, begging inside the church. They will go near you, tap your shoulder, will get your attention and will ask for money. Most of the time, these kid-beggars will go near you when you are kneeling and is deep in your prayers. Of course, you will feel guilty when you won’t give anything to these kids. For me, this is emotional blackmail! Making you feel guilty so you will give them money??? One time, a kid approached me. I was inside the church after lunch that time, just passing the time, talking to myself. The kid is well dressed. Looks decent. I thought she would just ask something. I was surprised she asked for money. I shook my head, I told her no. I noticed she was looking at someone at the other side of the church, a guy with his cap on. I asked the kid who the guy was. It was her father. I stood up and was thinking of giving the guy a piece of my mind. He walked out of the church. I told the kid to tell her father not to make her beg. He should work and she should be in school. Her dress looked more expensive than mine and she was begging??? These people! And the other kids begging every weekend when there is a mass, they are barking the same lines, something that goes… “ma’am, sir, konting barya lang po para pangkain namin…” (just a little change so we can buy something to eat…). I see these kids almost everyday. I know where they live. I know that they are taught to act like beggars.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t go around berating every beggar I see. I am not cold hearted. I know that some of these beggars are legitimate. They really have nothing and ought to be given help. But some people… Instead of feeling pity, you will get angry at them for exploiting their kids! If you see this kind of beggars, don’t give them alms. It will stop their begging-business for sure. Or talk some sense into these people. They might listen.
I am an accountant, a CPA. I'd been working for 10 years as a corporate rat when I decided to quit. I am now working at home as a consultant and full time blogger.
liza | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
Actually hanap buhay na ito. Ako rin naiinis pag nakakakita ng ganito, pero kadalasan naka-drugs sila eh.
Salamat sa dalaw. Happy weekend.
liza | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
Nga pala She, ask ko lang ano ba ang requirements ng payu2blog? tiningnan ko kase sa site nila, wala naman nakalagay eh. Thanks
desis | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
hello sis!
hay..same here sis. nakakainis ang mga ganyang mga tao na ginagamit ang anak para maawa tayo at bgyan sila ng pera kahit na pwedeng pwede silang magtrabaho. noong unang salta pa lang ako sa Manila hehe, talagang nagbibigay ako kahit last money ko na un kunyari pag sa daan, ultimong ung last money na dala ko eh ibibigay ko..kaso nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon nung college na gumawa ng research tungkol sa mendicancy, nalaman ko na ang iba palang mga beggars ay hawak ng s*ndikato. so ung soap ni sunshine dizon ba un, bakekang…totoo un ung mga bata na palaboy eh ginagawang mga beggars ng s*ndikato..
salamat sa dalaw sis! happy sunday!
irzh | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
aww ganean talaga mga tao.. kakainis!!
ellenheartbeats | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
kapait na shashing salamat sa dalaw hah!
ay naku cnabi mo pa…kainis nga ang mga beggars na tulad nila na bitbit pa mga liit na anak sa initan ng araw para lang may maglimos…matitibay din naman ang mga baby noh…isipin mo expose cla sa germs at init na araw..
minsan nga nangangatok pa talaga yan sa sasakyan kapag naabutan ka ng trapik sa bandang coastal road…to think na marami sa kanila galing pa sa malayong lugar…punta lang dto para maglimos at tumira sa kung saang sulok …gaung sa probinsya nila ndi sana ganyan ang buhay nila kung masipag lang…haaayyy.
ellenheartbeats | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
intay ko na yung post mo regarding panabengga…sooo exciterd about it…I really love flowers eh
Angelo | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
Hey Sasha! Ya it’s been a while, I’m not as addicted to blogging like I used to be.
I used to be a bleeding heart ignoramus when I first moved to the Philippines. I would feel sorry for every beggar I saw until people started telling me that most of them are controlled by some kind of organized scum syndicate. I started seeing the patterns in the beggars’ behaviour like you mentioned, and if I really felt compelled to give something to one of them, I would always just buy them some jollibee or kenny rogers or something like that. I still remember an old blind lady who I used to just call lola. She would always stand on the corner of Dona Juana Jimenez and Aurora in new Manila (if I recall correctly). She would be guided by a bunch of little kids. I used to drive by there often on my way to my ex’s house, so I tried to have something for her whenever I drove by. I know that giving them change or food here and there is really no solution at all. Give a man a fish and they can eat for a day, but teach a man to fish, and he can feed himself for the rest of his life…. I would have much rather saved my change and give donations to charities that would take care of needy people like that. It’s just hard to know who you can trust. I should’ve been more proactive and sought out organizations like that which I could support, but I was too busy with my own silly problems.
I think a big problem also is that people will do anything for money, and if they can expoit somebody or something, somebody will find a way to exploit it and make some money. Even if you help one mother and child get off the street, or one blind lady, another one will come along soon enough to fill in the void. In the end, it just made me feel like it was a hopeless situation, and left me apathetic.
I really believe that some tough love is called for in this situation. If nobody gave to beggars, vulnerable people will not be exploited like that. Just save your change for reliable and trustworthy providers of social services… easier said then done eh?
reyna elena | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
hey sasha!
i was in manila last november 2007. i went bloghopping and up to the mountains of baguio. although i had a great time, especially in bohol and cebu, it’s the sight in cebu that broke my heart. i blogged about it, it’s here:
http://reynaelena.com/2007/11/19/where-art-thou-my-father/
We do have the same vibes, don’t we? HAHAHA!!!
jane | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
can’t agree more with you sasha.
manilenya | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
alam mo sis may kilala ako ang trabaho naman e kunwari humihingi sya ng tulong para sa mga asosasyon naman ng mga bingi, yung letter nya e naka laminate pa talaga at may ID pa sya, pero sa totoo lang yun yung trabaho nya..okey lang sana kasi may mga anak sya at walang asawa ang problem e nagbibisyo sya. kaya ako wala akong tiwala talaga sa mga humihingi ng tulong na may kasama pang sobre o letter.
joanna | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
nakakainit talaga ng ulo minsan pag may nakikita din akong parang ginagamit lang nung nanay yung baby para makapanglimos.. kung tutuusin kasi kung talagang gugustuhin ng isang tao eh hahanap talaga sila ng trabaho para lang makapagsuppost sa family nila.. kaso ang problema yung iba talaga sobrang tamad at umaasa lang sa nakukuhang limos galing sa ibang tao..
pam | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
hindi ako nadadaan dyan ate. or well, naparaan na pala ako dyan pag bumababa kami sa manila and nakakapity talaga yung mga ganyan. poverty at its highest. grabe. only in pinas.
wifespeak | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
beggars like this belong to a syndicate. people do this because of extreme poverty, lack of decent jobs, and the lack of a level playing field for all types of labor. but perhaps more importantly, they resort to doing these things because of lack of moral fortitude. again it all boils down to how are parents brought us up. which is why my blog’s primary goal is to implore all mothers, specially, to teach their children the values which will make them good citizens of the world. hopefully, if we bloggers heed this call, a greater portion of the coming generations will compose of individuals who are disciplined, selfless, and highly moralistic. kudos to you for reminding us of the wretched state of the community we all belong to. by this simple act, you have ignited a forum for change. blog on!
sasha | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
Alam mo tita, the mothers that I am talking about does not look like they’re on drugs. Talagang hanap buhay na nga.
sasha | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
Sindikato nga talaga yan, Des. Pero feeling ko kasi yung sa Sto. Domingo footbridge, hindi eh. Talagang mga nanay na pinagkakakitaan yung mga anak nila. Naku kung makita mo lang yung mga batang sinasabi ko sa loob ng church, malusog pa sa bunso kong kapatid!
sasha | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
Oo ate Ellen, meron ding mga ganyan. Ibang type of beggars naman yan. I am sure public officials see them eh. Yung mga traffic policemen see these beggars. Why they are not doing something about them really bothers me. I mean they can call DSWD about these people. They can tell them that they are endangering their lives by begging from passing cars. Ganon.
Nag-iinit talaga ang ulo ko sa ganitong mga issues!
sasha | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
I know what you are talking about, Angelo. I’ve seen so many people like the lola you are referring to. Yes, we should just save the money we would have given to these beggars and give it to non-government organizations taking care of the homeless and hungry instead. But you know what, IT IS easier said than done. I vowed a couple of years ago not to give to these beggars anymore but I still do whenever I saw a somewhat legitimate beggar who breaks my heart and reminds me of a love one.
sasha’s last blog post..The type of beggars that makes me angry!
Amor | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
Alam mo ako rin naiinis ako sa mga ganyan, tingnan mo nga yung picture ng bata, ni walang damit. Meron ng na feature dati sa imbestigador yata na may ginagamit lang na mga bata, hinihiram sa magulang tapos kunyari eh anak nila, dala-dala sa initan at nama-malimos. Kaya sa totoo lang, kahit nakaka-awa ang itsura, di talaga ako nagbibigay sa ganun, lalo na ng pera, pagkain pwede pa. Nagbibigay ako ng tulong pero hindi sa lahat lalo na sa mga ganitong style. Naaawa ako sa mga bata na nagkaroon ng ganung klaseng magulang. Ang lakas ng loob manganak eh wala nman plang maipakain, pahihirapan pa.
Amor’s last blog post..Social Climbing Logo Contest by Reyna Elena
sasha | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
Napapansin ko nga kamahalaan na pareho ang vibes natin! Hahaha!
The first photo in this post is a mother and child in Cebu. Parehong-pareho tayo ng photo hehehe… Hindi ko na kinunan ng litrato yung mag-nanay sa footbridge at baka sumikat pa at lalong magsumiksik doon at mamalimos na forever and ever!
sasha’s last blog post..The type of beggars that makes me angry!
reyna elena | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
teka! b’at BLOGHOPPING ang dinakdak ko? Hahahaha! ISLAND HOPPING! susko! sorry! ang tangenge ko here! hahaha
reyna elena’s last blog post..Project: Santacruzan of Overseas Pinoy Talents
Rowena | Feb 25, 2008 | Reply
Hi Sasha, missed your blog na been busy with the new business. This post caught my attention. One time, I’ve attended a Sunday mass at the Shrine (Ortigas), I saw this mother with 3 kids sitting on the floor on my way out. The baby is so dirty and without any underwear. I gave my kid’s extra diaper and some money. Know what the mother did, she just kept the diaper and continue begging for alms in the middle of a very hot day. Pawis na and hungry mga anak nya. Talagang pinahirapan mga bata. Grabe. She looks fit naman to do laundry work or whatever, mas gusto pang magpalimos…tsk. tsk…
Rowena’s last blog post..What $130M Can Do?
vk | Feb 25, 2008 | Reply
totoo yon, sasha, instead maawa tayo, magalit or mawala ang amor natin sa kanila,lalo na makita natin ang parents, nag-usapan or kumain lang sa self nila.
nandoon pa ang kamay sa sigarilyo…..
tapos yon bata, malapit na walang damit, tapos ang mukha ang “dirty”, malapit na hindi makita ang mukha sa dumi.
one time kim n sascha, feel pity, they give money and foods, what in their hands sa kids ko…..
tapos na bigla sila, dumami daw ang mga batang lumapit sa kanila…..
natakot sila……kaya ngayon, hindi na sila magbigay,,,,kasi simula lang yon lang pala.
pagmag bigay ka daw, lalong dumami at panay na ang sunod ng sunod, makulit pa daw…..
sa probensiya namin ito ha?
kaya, ngayon marunong na ang mga anak ko, sabi pa nila, bakit daw ang parents ang hindi magtrabaho or looks anything para sa mga anak nila.
this time pag-uwi kami, kung ako ang magbigay sa mga bata sa street, silang 3 na ang magalit sa akin at magsabi na AKO DAW ANG NAGTURO SA KANILANG MAGING MATAMAD…………
thanks for sharing this post…….naawa nga tayo, kaya lang ang parents hindi naaawa sa mga anak nila…..
vk’s last blog post..Our Sunday Walk……….
kiky | Feb 26, 2008 | Reply
well, those beggars are scattered all over my city or to be precise my country as well.
And the worst, sometime they Do hire the babies to win other people hearts.
Here in my country, it is a common to have a housekeeper or things like that.There was this story, both of the parents go to go work, the children stay with the housekeeper. Then the housekeeper have the child for rent to the beggars.
kiky’s last blog post..I’m-43-fast