Street Kids in Cebu
When I was in Cebu City last week, we had the normal vendors selling things in the street. They can be quite persistent. One guy tried hard to sell me his “Beautiful hat, this is your hat.” I found this to be humorous and laughed openly.
There are always the beggars too but I didn’t see as many this trip as I usually do. They will put their face right up on the window and tap and motion with their hands toward their mouth. The idea is they need money to buy food. They all have the same pleading face. They don’t bother me a great deal except when they do it when I’m eating. Usually when I take pictures they run. Not this time though, not only did he not run away, he called his friends over to get their picture taken too.
 |
In the above photo the child did have his face pressed right up against the window. He pulled away when I put the camera up but then called his friends or family over.
 |
The guy on crutches comes on over next. He started posing for me but that picture is not shown. I thought this picture was a good one so I choose to share it.
 |
This time my plan back fired on me. Usually when the cam comes out the beggars go away. This time it caused them to gather around to join in!
There is a law in Cebu making it illegal to give to beggars. I doubt it is widely enforced. I wonder though, if a child got hurt while begging in the street and the child happened to be taking money from a rich person just as he was struck by a car and killed. Would the family try to go against the donor? Some families would. I think the mayor would do every thing he could to prevent it from going forward. I’m not sure of that though.
I would think it would be very bad for tourism. The headlines would be something like charity results in jail term. Good Samaritan jailed for kindness in the Philippines! Naw, that’s not the image I think the country would wish to portray. It is something to keep in mind when approached by those in need.
Best Selling DSLR Cameras on Amazon
|
||
|
||
|
Tagged with: Cebu • Philippines
Filed under: Living in Cebu
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Get
To The Philippines Faster
Hi Rusty – When I visited Cebu a couple weeks ago, one thing that I really noted was that there are many more beggars in Cebu than in Davao. It kind of surprised me, I sort of expected it to be the opposite. In Davao, beggars are limited to certain areas. In Cebu, my observation was that they were located just about everywhere I went.
Yeah they are. There are also a LOT of homeless there. See young children bedding down at night with their mother or father or both sometimes.
I don’t know where it is but I use to pass an area on my way from shopping at SM going back to Talisay and it had a lot of homeless people. Colon does too.
I keep wondering what religious organizations are doing to help these people, if anything.
There are a lot around Osmena circle. None of them bothered me too much but some people have reported that some of them are very aggressive.
I hope after all the picture taking you slipped them some skyflakes or candy Rusty.
Can be aggressive? They make me mad and get nothing but I don’t talk about what I give or don’t give. The can be extremely aggressive and often are.
Someone told me the other day some of them work for the “Philippine Mob.” That seems unlikely to me but who knows. Doesn’t seem like enough money in it to me. At least not in street kids. Seems really unlikely.
Hey you are the one who broke out the camera.
Actually many of them have controlers. I don’t know about mob connections but of you are managing 30 or 40 beggars you could do reasonably well. Especially since they give them hardly any of it.
I just wave them off and keep walking they usually take the hint. In the taxi I just ignore them. I wasn’t asking for a budget report.
Yes, I broke out the camera. It certainly has nothing to do with what I gave or didn’t give.
I’m not going to give money to someone to stop them from harassing me. I’m not going to reward that kind of behavior.
They take the hint? Dude, they do not. I’ve had them wait for me to come out of business and then follow me for blocks.
At least some of the time they are working for the dispatchers. That is the people that help you get a taxi or tric.
I just am not going to believe the Philippine mafia is going to bother with a few coins. They don’t get a lot of money.
I don’t know about that, Rusty, I think sometimes people end up migrating to the city from the province and when things don’t work out they end up in worse shape than before. I don’t think Cebu City designates any particular area for squatters to live either. There are a lot more of really destitute people and beggars in the older sections of the city. They can be agressive at times, but they still touch my heart as I’m sure your’s too, and I’m mostly just more frustrated at the sheer numbers and how little anyone of us can do. I figure that I can only help in my town and family to try to raise some peoples’ quality of life the best way that I can. There isn’t too much you can do as an individual. I always feel that poor folks always have a better shot at a more quality life in the province than in the city, even with limited prospects. You can always scrounge up some food, find a safe place to live, and I think townspeople and neighbors will help and look after you there. I think health issues can put people in more dire straits like that man in the photo. If you can’t work at something, you’re in trouble and your family suffers. Mental illness is another problem with beggars too I think. Lack of services and affordable medicine is a big problem.
I think we can do something. I’ve tried to organize something in the past but got no where, not even a reply but that was on a forum of expats that sit around complain all day long.
I don’t’ think any place desingates a place for squatters.
As for what I’d like to do is several of us to get together and buy buckets of chicken and take them to the areas where there are a lot of people on the street. I know of a place, there is a police station nearby too. I am afraid to go alone, though many of them are good people, most of them just on hard times, hunger can turn a good person to desperate measures, especially if that hungry person is one’s child.
Much harder for me to do something like that in Cebu City now that I’m around 100Km north of the city. I usually don’t go to the city very often. I tend to get sick. Even now Jessie is out buying antibiotics for me.
I may have to give up my smoking vice. Chest congestion.
Oh Rusty, Sorry you’re not feeling well. I thought that you were away and wondered when you’d get back. It’s true about the city being smoky and dusty at this time of year, march, april and especially may, before the real rains come. (much worse than an occasional cigar–you don’t inhale do you?) I’m pretty far from the city too. I think that for me, the best I can do in the province is to buy my needs locally, create jobs for neighborhood businesses, people and extended family that help us, give my time and donations to a barangay school and help the family through different ways etc. Any effort that we make can fan out to people around us. Look at you for example you support and care for your family, buy from local restaurants and businesses etc. When you needed a cage for Juliet you hired someone to build it, I’m sure that helped the carpenter’s family and it goes on from there. All we can do is the best that we can in the area where we live IMHO.
I was away. Now I’m back and sick. It may be lupus. Usually when I travel, even to Cebu City I am sick for a day or two. Trips to Bantayan Island are the same. For many years, I had no kind of life. I knew if I did anything I could get to work. I missed a lot of work even though I had no life. I was in Bangkok.
I spend most of my money here and yes that helps a lot. A bucket of chicken once a month would also help and probably more than anything else, the mental help from someone knowing that people do care about them has to last far longer than a meal will.
But I would be the first to admit, I don’t know what I’m getting myself into. Still, I want to do it. There is a lot of need here.
There is another side of this, a lot of Americans have come to this country to rape and pillage. I feel guilty at times that I live so well, sometimes on what seems to me like the back of Filipino that are under paid. I feel guilty on what I pay maids, but I can’t pay more and they seem eager to have the job. There is a little girl next door to me that is horrified of Americans because of the guy that use to live here. I can’t undo all the damage the undesirables have done but I can do my part and I really want too.
Inhale? Not always.
Queenie, what does IMHO stands for? I seem to see a lot of this at Bob’s forum, but could never figure it out. Can you xplain??
Hi Rusty, I hope that you feel better soon. At least you made your visa run and got it behind you for now. We can’t make up for any jerks that come and disrespect and abuse other people. There are idiots in all parts of the world that do that. All we can possibly do is conduct ourselves in a decent way, just be respectful and sensitive to the people around us I guess. There’s no escaping the strength of the dollar and other foreign currencies. My filipino husband says that a fair wage is what is the going rate for the Philippines. You’re creating a helpful steady income for your maids that can spread out to their families. You can always treat employees in other ways if and when you can though, like helping with extra food or rice for their families, extra medicine in a crisis, paying for a school uniform, , a small birthday party, a small church donation, whatever. For me that’s the only way that one can contribute to the big issue of poverty in general. When you’re retired and on a certain income to do what you can within your budget. Sorry I kind of led us off the subject of street kids in Cebu, but in general,I do what I can in my own backyard.
I am paying the rate that is common here in Bogo. In Cebu City it is twice as much as it is here. One of our maids asked for months to work for us but she was working for a neighbor and I didn’t want to cause any trouble. She finally got fed up enough to quite them so we hired her.
I invited one of them to go to the BBQ with us last night. She’s to shy. Both are very shy around me. It partly has to do with the person that use to rent this house.
I disagree that we can’t undue the damage of those that came before us. I do not think I can solve all the worlds problems, in fact, I can do very little. I don’t have an outgoing personality so trying to organize a formal charity is not really my style. I’m more of the idea person. I also just don’t have the energy to do it. I am not the right person for the job, but someone out there is.
I hate budgets. LOL I’m not giving up yet though, I’m gonna be rich. LOL
I would like to start a tour business but I’m far from being able to do anything like that. There are requirements beyond just the visa for that type of business. I’m hoping to send Jessie to school to learn the ropes, that is if she really wants too.
I seem to be recovering already which points to lupus and nothing more.
I don’t think this is off topic at all!
Don’t even worry about that, write what you want and if I want to move it Ii will.
That’s good to hear that you’re doing a little better. Yeah, you’re pretty much following my style I think Rusty. I’m not too into making a single show of charity just for making myself look or feel good, although yes it can be kind and helpful and beneficial to do. That’s nice about bringing your helper to the BBQ, I’m sure it meant more than you know. For me I guess I just feel more comfortable helping people closely around me because I get to see the impact more than a larger gesture of giving out food, let’s say.
It’s all good of course, but it just depends on your personal style. I think if you make the effort of visiting, moving or living in a foreign country, you owe it to yourself to make a decent impact in some small way, either in kindness respect, monetary help.
I asked the helper to go, she wouldn’t. They are too shy to be around me much.
Also, they guy that use to live here has done a lot of damage to the reputation of Americans.
i really hate to see children hungry in the streets.
As you likely know, many times they don’t ask for money, they ask for food.
Hi Christine, How you doing? IMHO means “in my humble opinion” I just happened to see it and figure it on one of Bob’s posts too and I figured it works to say it sometimes.
Christine, I touched on the problem of mental illness or illness in general being a problem for many people. That would be a good post for you to write on. Recently we went to the phharmacy in cebu city to refill a psychiatric prescription for a nephew. I was amazed at the cost per pill and thought that without help this young man would really suffer. It was a Lilly pharmacutical and probably imported. Another incident happened with my neice about six months ago. She was involved in a habalhabal accident coming home from mass in another town in Cebu and suffered an awful skull fracture and hematoma. Against my better judgement she ended up in the free city hospital, but they were able to save her life which was a testament to their skills, but the medicine to follow cost a small fortune. If a patient’s family doesn’t have help from a generous private doctor or relative, they just do without. Would you be able to elaborate on that topic in another post?
Absolutely Queenie. After I come back from PI, I will post some articles for Rusty. I had been planning to write about the dangers of Momosodium Glutamate, also widely known as “Vetsin” or “Ajinomoto”. These food seasonings are widely used in the Philippines. However, they are known to either cause hypertension, or increase the risk for one who is susceptible to hypertension. Hypertension is a big issue in PI. In my brother’s town, it is the most common cause of death because if uncontrolled, it can cause cereborvascular accident, commonly known as “stroke”.
You cannot buy them in Australian grocery stores, only large food manufacturers are allowed to use them. But by all means, I will write something on mental health if you prefer.
Medications are expensive here too, part of the reason patients become uncompliant, not buy it, and they become unwell again, necessitating admission. I do realize the costs of medication in PI. Another also to watch for, are the expiry dates of the medications. Lots of drug companies dump their nearly expired medications to third world countries like PI.
Hi Christine, I’m glad you’ll write an article about the medication issues. More pressing though, write about the “vetsin” dangers first. It’s true that adding “vetsin” is a common and widespread practice for people in the Philippines, especially I think because I think that it helps” enhance” a dish that might contain limited ingredients that would diminish the flavor. The dangers are unknown to most and learning to go without it would be a big benefit to peoples’ health. I’ll look forward to reading that and passing on any info.
Oh Christine, Have a great vacation! When will you be leaving?
I should be in Cebu by the 26th of June, and if all goes well for my friend to come with me the second time around, it will be 24th July to end of August. I might not want to come back to Oz after staying in PI this long!
Christine, my sister with her son are right now in Bohol attending a family reunion (which I am missing) and fiesta, She lives in Sydney, she used to own a Baker’s delight bakery, gave it up so she can go on vacation after so many long years of owning it, They are only staying for 2 weeks,
Anyway, we have 12 hours difference with the Phils and I think PI and Oz has 6 or 8 hours difference, It is 6:26 am Wednesday right now for me and the same time in PI but night for them.
Terry, I think there’s 21 hours difference between US and Oz, then PI is behind Oz by 2hours, so if I want to ring my brother, I have to wait till about 0900 here, because it will be 0700 in Cebu. So if it is Saturday morning here, it will be Friday (almost) morning on your end. It gets really confusing! I wonder how I’m managing to keep tract of all these time zones?
Its not 21 hours, its around 12 hours but it depends on the time zone and if daylight savings time is in effect. Its 11:36am in the Philippines now and my world clock indicates that it is 10:36pm in the central time zone in the US. For standard time in the US, I just look at my time and change it to AM if its PM and PM if it is AM here. Subtract two hours during standard time and one our during daylight savings time as the US moves their clocks up an hour, they move one our close to the Philippines.
We get to day before the US but behind Australia.
If you think about it, the Central USA is -6 standard time and the Philippines is +8 that makes a 14 hour difference. Or 12+2 but if you look at a clock you need to subtract two. No wonder I get confused at times. LOL
Oh, I was going by what my phone book says Rusty. It does say between 15-21 hours depending which state, so I said 21hrs to cover all. Now you have confused me to no end. Maybe I should just get 3 clocks – one for PI time, one for Oz and one for US, huh?
Lucky Duck! I go back and forth to the Philippines when we can, but I’m sure with all of us the minute I get back to the States, I’m already making plans for my next trip and kicking myself for things I didn’t get to do! You should see my phone bill every month from calling home to Cebu to find out what’s up!
Yeah, I know the feeling Queenie! I have been using phone cards, which is supposed to give me 2 hours talk time, for AU$8.50, but I never ever get 2 hours, sometimes it’s just 1 1/2, sometimes less. In a way, this website keeps me up to date what’s happening in North Cebu, because my hometown is very close to Rusty’s.
Christine, our phone cards are $5.00 a piece and you can only talk for 33 minutes to PI,, 800 minutes to Oz. You have a better deal
Yes, I think we do. Trouble is, I found that if you have 120 mins. talk time, and you only want to use 60, you can not dial again and talk. The remaining credit appeared to have evaporated. I’ve heard from other card users that PI charged a termination fee, that is, when you hang up the phone, PI telecommunications charges you. I’m not really sure why and how it works, but I guess this explains the loss of my remaining credit??
Queenie, you should have a lot of mileage and fly free….where are you in US? I am here in Syracuse, NY – the snowiest place in the US.
You two should try Skype if anyone in the Philippines has a computer. It is free.. Otherwise google “magic jack” it will save you a ton of money.
I did look into Skype, Rusty. I didn’t think it was viable for me. AU$8.50 is not a lot really, so I just put up with it, even if I’m only getting 1 1/2 hours out of it.
For calling into the Philippines to phones its not a good choice that’s why I said if you’re calling someone with a computer. Magic Jack though maybe a better choice. If you have Vonage in Oz that would also be a good choice. With Magic Jack you have to buy some hardware and then a yearly renewal, I THINK for unlimited calls.
I only ever call Dawg. And he is a bit resistive to technology. He has a computer, but refuses to buy internet. He reckoned it’s a waste of money. He might change his mind once I give him this laptop I’m using.
That’s a waste of a perfectly good laptop. LOL
Oh, Laptop is already 4 years old. He said he needs it to for his Police work. The govt. don’t supply them for you. I’ve got a new one now, much faster and has got about 200GB HDD.
Only 4? geesh is just a teenager. Mine is at least six years old. Probably closer to eight.
The onboard LCD is dead, I had to connect a monitor to it.
when I bought it iwas was top fo the line so its not too bad but it needs more memory badly.
I’m use to operating with 5 to 10 pcs. Having to go down to one has been hard on me. LOL
True. I have one it works great. The yearly renewal is $20. I’ve saved twice that in phone cards already. The one I got was installed in the US with a Us number so it can call any number in the US or Canada for free. In addition it can call any other magic jack anywhere for free. Your computer has to be on and online to use it.
Thanks for the tip, Tom. Problem is, my brother refuses to connect to internet, so if he doesn’t have internet, I can’t call him, right? Maybe you can tell me where to get more info. I know that after my PI trip last year, I was so homesick, I was ringing my brother every week, just to get news from home. It gets a bit heavy after a month, especially as, sometimes, I could not resist calling him 2 days in a row when I have my 2 days off. At least now, phone calls to anywhere are heaps cheaper. I remember in the late 80′s, a call to PI was AU$1.80/min., To Germany was about AU$2.00. So, telecommunications have come a long way since then. I think even if I pay .35 cents/minute with our local Telstra phone co. it is still cheaper than the old AU$1.80/minute we used to get.
Hi Rusty, Someday Skype will be the way to go, but we moved our landline over to my mother-in-laws house and because she’s pretty deaf and can only hear with a landline. Whoever else picks up would be fine but not her. My sister-in law has a landline at her house. I have some friends in Carmen and they have Vonage,and that works well for them. I really have to learn to text so then I can text my neices and nephews on their cells. In Cebu I want to get a cool phone so that I can text in Cebu too. My present one is not cool looking and boring to carry around. In the US we tried Vonage, but lousy reception–kept breaking up. I am so bad with anything technical!
Hey Rusty, on a different note, could you please try to do a human interest story on the Bonsai man up on the hill? I’m really curious about what his story is. I’m sure other people would enjoy hearing about him too.
You know what Rusty another thing–you don’t know how lucky you are to have access to so many newspapers in Bogo. If we want a newspaper we have to pick one up in the city, or have one of the conductors from one of the passing busses pick up for us. Maybe you could write a post on how you get your local news. Just some suggestions….
I like the idea of the human interest with the Bonsai guy …. Maybe can figure out a way to do it. There is a communication problem and Jessie is very shy.
I get most of my news online actually. I use Google News and setup a section for News in Cebu and The Philippines. I cant give away all my secrets on how I get information.
I’ll tell you in private though.
I don’t get the paper very often, I did at first but don’t any more. Its all online for free.
He watches FOX news.
Only when I want to throw things at the TV.
Fox news is changing though.. Not Beck, or the other comedians that are on at night. They m may be gone soon. More and more people are growing tired of their lies. There may be enough people living in the stone age though to keep it going.
Gotcha.
)P
Nope, I knew what you were trying to do. I just have a reputation to hold on to, that is someone that actually has a brain.
I’d have to be brainless to believe that crap.
Queeniebee, i did get information for you about reflexology. It turned out the guy goes to the university once a week and give reflexology to the librarians. My friend’s mom got theirs from one of the hotels. Re: chinese store, it is near the University of San Jose-Recoletos. I used to work in this school. Re: newspaper: I think you can subscribe but I do not know how much and how often…should be daily but I guess they can make arrangements how the newspaper gets to you daily.
My cousin has vonage in Cebu and I have been calling her regularly…the good thing is her daughter is the one paying for the calls. also, there is the yahoo messenger where you can hook up a camera and then you can talk and see your family in PI if they hook up a camera or the computer hasa built in camera. It is free and then you can see each other. Try this one. My friends and I have been using this…the reception is also good.
Skype too is free PC to PC and has much better video.
Hi Rusty, Forget that for now, too high tech…
if you can install a game, you can install Skype but if you run into problems then it might get a little intimidating..
It use to always run into problems but these days, it usually works just fine.
About the newspapers Rusty, I just remenber in Bogo in the past seeing tindahans selling all kinds of newspapers in Bisaya and English. I read Cebu Sunstar Daily on-line, and the Freeman sometimes, but I’m just old=school I guess and like to read a real paper mostly. I know…I’m a dinosaur… In the city I usually buy my papers from the young vendors outside Ayala or SM.
Oh and Rusty, I forgot to comment on your plan in the future to become a tour guide. I think that might be a good idea for you–you guys really love the place and it shows, and with the connections you make through your writing alone could drum up prospects in the future. Do you think that you could take more pictures next time? I’ve never been there even after all this time–I’d like to see more of it. Good luck with that.
There are a lot of newspapers here, your right! I didn’t realize it was unusual. I’d love to see a Bogo newspaper, thought of starting one, then learned about the dangers of doing so. I’d need locals to help and could never find any that thought it was a good idea.
I’m looking into sending Jessie to tour guide school. There are some requirements for some of these kinds of businesses. Jessie seems interested but I am headed that direction.
Hi Christine–I know Rusty’s site is great for a lot of readers and especially Cebu people. Trouble is sometimes it makes me even more homesick. Still I can’t resist hearing what Rusty’s up to.
Hi Terry, Thanks for following that up for me. Is the University of San Jose Recoletos right near Carbon Market and it has a big gate in front with security. Do you know if there is any street in Cebu that could actually be a considered a small chinatown or is it just scattered around?
Queenie, yes that is the one,,,i don’t think there is a chinatown,,,the most chinese stores I know is near the university, If you would like I will email my friend and you can see her in the university and she will help you. Let me know and I will provide you her name…actually most of the librarians there are my friends,,,,I used to be a law librarian from that university. They will personally attend to you if I request it,
That’s nice of you Terry, I’ll let you know if I’d do that!
G’Day, All! My name is Jose and i was born in Cebu! Like most of the Filifina women outside the Philippines, my mum married an Aussie! Of course, as part of the package we immigrated to Australia. Yes, i consider my self very lucky in a certain way to taste the “MATERIAL” things of life. However, in some ways, i really miss my Filifino culture too. Supposed, i was only at a very young age to rember most things. But, i do remberber, the poverty that my family went through. Some how, apart from being hungry “WE WERE HAPPY BEING POOR”. I supposed we did not know any better…
I LOVE AUSTRALIA! I can only thank “GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER” for given me the BEST head start in life. However, their is something missing in life! There’s a big hole, that needed to be filled. As a teenager, i was searching for that missing piece? I tried and experimented with things and still that hole is not filled. Suppossed, i am not only speaking for myself but for most of the Filifino’s abroad.
Here we all are, in the “LUCKIEST” countries in the world. In can be America, Europe, Canada, Australia etc., We can only give a big thanks to our host country for giving us the best opportunity in the world, for whatever we wanted to be!!! But, somehow, there is something missing!!! That feelings is in the blood and the voice call’s you in your spirit……
You see, i been living in my BELOVED COUNTRY AUSTRALIA now, for the past 25 years. Philippines for me is only a vivid imagination now. I never been home since i was a child. Why? I dont really know the truth. A $900 return ticket is nothing really, in now days, $900 can be earned in 4 days. TIME FLY’s!
DESTINY
Here i am just finish my 8 years of University studies, working in a stable job! Living in one of the most exciting city in the world. Working days end! PARTY TIME!!! I have been partying all my life, its the same all the time. That hole in my heart is still empty! Then destiny takes over! My grand father died! My mum wants me and my sister to go home with her to the Philippines! Wow! Home? Philippines! I never been home for 25 years, now i am going home!!! I dont really know what to expect…
Wow! i am in the Mactan airport. This is Philippines! My BELOVED COUNTRY! I am HOME!!! Look at all this people, they all have black hair like me…WOW!!! Who’s that man and lady? They are saying something to my mum! My mum is very happy…they are one of her brother and sister which she has not seen for 25 years!!! My mum is crying and somehow…I AM CRYING TOO!!!
My mum, my sister and I were introduced to all my Uncles, Aunties, and thousands of cousins…WOW! They, are my BLODD!!! Inside i am CRYING AGAIN…TEARS OF JOY
(FEW DAYS AFTER ADJUSTING) Jones, Capitol, Colon and Carbon are some of the places we visited!! Wow! so many homeless so many poor, so many street kids…(in a very humble way…), i give one street kids some coins, and all of a sudden there are 15 of them…i went through my pockets and wallet to make sure each one received desame portions. The smiles on this kids faces are just PRICELESS!!!
Four months after returning from the Philippines, my mum’s aunty died…Yeap, i am going home again to my beloved country Philippines!!! This time we are staying 4 months in Cebu, and somehow i can speak Visaya (THANK GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, FOR THE GIFTS OF TOUNGUE…). After, the pro’s and con’s (e.g. i got rip-off by so many Taxi driver’s, by extra charging me! Hint: make sure they have the meters on guys…), i observed Cebu more by myself. Going to many places, that i was not supposed to go. My uncle’s warning me, not to go, because of the area. But, being a hard headed and being very independent i did not listen.
Wow!!! So many poor people!!! So many people with no opportunity!!! But, somehow, they are very happy people!!! Wow! After 4 months i have learnt back some of my culture and learn a good percent about my people. It is time to return home to my beloved country also Australia.
Three months after returning home, Christmas, is 1 week away! I am bored here! I told my mum, i going to Cebu, and expercienced Christmas, New Year and Sinulog for the first time in 25 years. My mum, agreed! This time i am staying for 3 months!!! Wow! How beautiful is christmas in the Philippines, it has so much meaning over the birth of our LORD JESUS CHRIST! The spirit of Christmas here is so strong. And it does not finish until January 18th i think. New Year in Cebu, Philippines is beautiful…Sinolug is beautiful!!! Wow! So many Filifino’s and they are very happy, even they are very poor!!! I LOVE HOW FILIFINO’S APPRECIATE LIFE!!! AND THE FAITH THEY HAVE ON OUR SAVIOR “LORD JESUS CHRIST”.
My last week in Cebu again, it has been a spiritual fullfillment. This is the answer to the big hole in my heart. I miss my country and my culture!!! It’s in my blood!!! This is my people! And I LOVE THEM. Of course, I LOVE AUSTRALIA VERY MUCH TOO!!! But, somehow, you are what you are!!! It is in your blood! It is in your spirit!!! No matter where you are in the world, you must go home to your MOTHER LAND!!! Because the MOTHER LAND IS YOU!!! And your mother LAND “COMPLETES YOU!!! Materialistic things is not enought to be completely happy!!! You must have your culture!!! Your own people!!! It is in your blood!!!
I am planning again to return to Cebu!!! I will try to start with my own house and help my poor family! Then if i have extra money, i will start with my own Barangay and help the poor there…then maybe…(FATHER THY, WILL BE DONE…)
“I will start with one, then maybe two, then maybe three…”. I will start helping one “POOR PERSON” first, then if i can help another person i will! Then maybe another…
“There was a doctor! Who went for a jog one very early morning along the beach! And on his way, he saw a little boy, throwing back-in the STAR FISH. Apparently, a storm hit that night, and THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF STAR FISH, BEING WASH ASHORE!!! And the doctor said to the little boy, “it is no good throwing that star fish back in, because there are so many of them, you will not be able to save them all”. The little boy said to the doctor “I KNOW I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SAVED ALL THE STAR FISH, BECAUSE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THEM”, BUT I WILL SAVED THIS STAR FISH; AND THIS ONE; AND THIS ONE…And the doctor realise what was the boy doing, so he hurriedly help the boy and throw back whatever they can through back…
WE CANNOT SAVED EVERY POOR PEOPLE…BUT WE CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFRENCE TO THIS ONE AND THAT ONE…
SOME SAY:
“GIVE A MAN A FISH AND IT WILL LAST HIM FOR A DAY! TEACH A MAN HOW TO FISH AND IT WILL LAST HIM A LIFE TIME”
LET’S START HELPING 1 POOR PERSON FIRST; THEN MAYBE 2 POOR PEOPLE; THEN MAYBE THREE POOR PEOPLE…
Hi Jose,
There is still much poverty in the Philippines. Filipino seem to be a happy, matter of fact, kind of people. I hope things go well for you.