Street Family

The world today is much more different than before, more and more families are now living in the streets, no home, no decent clothes and no food to eat. I dont want to be self-righteous but I did something very different last night that I would like to share.

Last night, as I was on my way home I passed by the same street, walking from Rockwell Kalayaan to Makati Ave. For the past month that we relocated our office there I pass the same street everyday, but this time I heard something. I heard a little baby crying, there was a family living in a kariton a few steps from our office. For the everyday that I passed there I didn't noticed them. They are hidden under a tree beside the delapidated building. So I continued walking, I was in Makati Ave already, about 200 meters away from them but I cant get that crying off my mind. I told myself I had to go back. Part of me wants to go back, the other half of me is scared to go near them. I just got my salary last night and these people might try to get it from me. I don't want tpo judge but, this things happen all the time here in the very poor country Philippines. But I had to go back and at least buy them dinner,so I did. I passed by the carinderia and bought them 4 orders of rice and 2 viands. I thought it would be more than enough for 2 adults and a toddler to eat for dinner. I paid Php84. So I went back to the kariton and gave then their dinner.

As I was approaching, I noticed that there are 3 children all under the age of 3, or they must be just malnourished to look so small. The father and the mother are there too. The father is laying some carton on the cold sidewalk, maybe preparing for their "bed". The mother is searching for something in their kariton. When they saw me, I noticed that they are scared, maybe as scared as I was. So when I get there I said "Manong, binilhan ko kayo ng pagkain" (Sir, I bought some food for all of you). He was still shocked, still a little scared. All of them are staring at me, not knowing what to do or what to say. Me, myself dont know what to say. The father broke the silence by saying "Merry Christmas". I smiled, handed the bag of food to the mother and left.

Then I walked a way heading home, I am already far from them but I still can't take them out of my head. I don't know if I am like this because it is Christmas, and I know helping is right, but this also makes them lazy and doesn't get them off the streets. I passed by McDonald's and bought a nuggets happy meal for my daughter, it cost Php100. Isin't it ironic that the food that I bought for a whole family a few moments ago cost less than the meal that is for my daughter. 5 mouths was happily eating the meal, and it cost less than what my daughter would eat for snack. Made me feel truly blessed. This Christmas season has been a very happy one for us. Truly, we are showered with blessings.

This morning, I went back to the "street family". I brought some old clothes and blankets, some old shoes too and pansit for their breakfast. When I passed by their kariton it is still covered with tarpualin, most likely they are still sleeping. So I just dropped the bag of clothes and food, right beside their kariton for them to see as they wake up.

To be honest, I wouldn't go back again there to give them food. This will only make them dependent to people who will give alms to them. They are 2 able adults who should look for work, even as a construction worker or a labandera. For now, I gave them food, hopefully they will come to their senses and go look for job, they are responsible for 3 kids. I would like to to talk to them to tell them that they should be responsible for their family, but since they are still asleep I wasn't able to do that.
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