my friend garrie tries to inspire the kids.
she sat naked as water dripped from her hair. she just had a bath. and she anxiously stared at us as we took pictures of her.
at 2 AM early that day, government social welfare agents apprehended street kids again. in a rare show of zealousness, government agents seemed bent on removing street people. the outgoing manila mayor had already announced that street kids are non-existent. well, they were still there that evening. only sadder and more anxious. those remaining were saying that they were being treated like annoying stray cats. they were being hauled away from malate and dumped somewhere outside the government agent's jurisdiction. far enough so the kid would not be able to get back easily. and many enough to reach some set quota. one mother recounted how her daughter made it back when she was already a teen-ager. it was a sad night. perhaps, a fitting night to end this phase of the project -- a grim reality check on the futility of an insensitive and misdirected government.
we wanted to show the life of the street kids in a positive light. we did that quite easily when we concentrated photography in the parks. taking their pictures at night, in their places of sleep and work, brought us back to reality. we are now considering a phase 2 of the project.
2 comments:
About the people and kids being herded off and dumped somewhere else--that was done to sex workers in the past, and is illegal. Is there any way to enlighten the DWSD on it?
I like the picture of that kid after her bath, stirs something inside.
Hello doc! Just droppin' by...I could not help but feel sad....sadder each day as I see these kids, everyday in fact. You captured their emotions superbly po! By the way, I already bought a camera, I showed it to Dra Joy when it was a few hours old, hehehe. Bought it in Hidalgo po, by myself lang. I'm lovin' it! Can't wait to take more pics, and also make a photo blog soon.
Godspeed!
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