My passion is to make photographs that document and educate and emotionally move in

some way anyone who looks at the photograph, wherever they are in the world, regardless
of their language, culture, beliefs, or their mental state. The camera gives me a reason and
purpose to be in dreadful places and in dreadful times. I always try to capture the humanity
of the people that I am photographing, in societies in the world where inequality is a norm.
My purpose is to photograph people and hopefully provide with my photographs, a more
compassionate understanding of their struggle. I am trying to show an ordinary life situation
in a different, exciting, and unusual way.
I have been deeply moved by them, living in a city that is celebrated for an economic revival a
revival that affects only a small percentage of the population. I am overwhelmed by the
hopelessness of their situation. I hope that my pictures create awareness and that social
documentary photography will eventually end the ordeal that the children are experiencing. I am
optimistic that national and international agencies will eventually alleviate the suffering of the
Manila street children.

Last June 10-12, we went to Caramoan, Camarines Sur together with my friends to unwind
and get some fresh air. On our 2nd day, after getting to some of the islands of Caramoan,

our last stop was at the Caglago Mountain in Baranggay Tabgon. A flight of 524 steps to the
grotto leads to the 26-foot image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On our way to the entry point
of the shrine, I met a very delightful and hyperactive kid named Joshua. Together with her
younger sisiter, they accompanied us from the docking area up to the shrine. Frail-looking

and gaunt, one would not think that 10-year-old Joshua could reach the 524 steps of the grotto for 3
to 5 times in a day just to earn a small amount of money given by the tourists. Out of curiosity about
this amazing child, I got the chance to have an overview of his life. Aside from being a tour guide at
the Grotto, he also help his father in fishing. He could lift tons of fish and load them in truck. He said
the work was hard, but his body has gotten to used to it. For a day's work, he earns P100, which he
gives to her mother and father for food and other expenses of the family. At 10, he stopped schooling
- unable to make both ends meet, and because it has become impossible for him to work and at the
same time, attend classes. Joshua was among the children engaged in labor and are exposed to

His life is only

among the several other unheard stories of Filipino children. They are often
pushed under the rug because it sounds all too familiar in this country. They are
among the thousands of children who roam in different landscape day and night,
often growing up uneducated and in harsh conditions, receiving little support for a
better future.
dangerous and hazardous conditions, lowly paid and forced to live adult lives.

These children dont attend school. There is no work for them. Their lives waste away. There is
no perspective, no hope for change.

For the children living and working in the streets in urban or even rural areas, life is an ongoing
battle in which their rights are denied on a daily basis. If one day we will meet another Joshua,

in any part of the world, regardless of his language, culture, beliefs, or his mental state, let
us provide a more compassionate understanding on his suffering and struggle.

Poverty to blame
Poverty is one of the main causes of the countrys poor education record and has
affected participation in education in more ways than one, according to Education
Watch Preliminary Report: Education Deprivation in the Philippines," a study done by
five advocacy groups including E-Net Philippines, Asian South Pacific Bureau of Adult
Education, Action for Economic Reforms, Popular Education for Peoples Empowerment,
and Oxfam.
Citing data from the National Statistics Office 2003 Functional Literacy, Education, and
Mass Media Survey, the study said the top reason of people aged 6-24 for not attending
school is employment or looking for work," with almost one-third or 30.5 percent citing
that reason.
Lack of personal interest came in second at 22 percent, while the high cost of education
came in a close third at 19.9 percent. Other reasons include, among others,
housekeeping, illness or disability, failure to cope with school work, and distance from
school.
The lack of interest among school children indicates a weakness on the part of the
school system to make education interesting for the students. This may be due to poor
teaching quality, inadequate facilities and supplies and poor infrastructure. Poverty,
social exclusion, school distance and poor health are, likewise, factors that weigh
heavily on children and dampen their interest to pursue schooling," said the report.
The challenge, therefore, is how to make the school interesting and encouraging rather
than intimidating; how to make it inclusive, non-discriminatory and poor-sensitive rather
than exclusive and elite-oriented; and how to make it accommodating rather than
restricting. Finally, the education content, process and experience should be made more
meaningful to the childrens life experiences by ensuring appropriate, culture-sensitive
and values-based interventions," it added. - See more at:
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/111257/news/specialreports/poverty-hungerprevent-filipino-kids-from-getting-basic-education#sthash.oQ9ulx83.dpuf

Forced to live adult lives

"Work available to children is often dangerous and hazardous to their health, which is worsened by
the lack of any personal protective equipment. They are exposed to chemicals or use of heavy
equipment without any proper training on their use," according to the study.
It added that, "At an early age, they are forced to live adult lives. They are exposed to activities that
are usually reserved for adults, including gambling, drinking and smoking."
"Worse, child labor, especially in plantations and mines, provide no means by which the children and
their families may escape the vicious cycle of generational poverty," it said.
The Bata Balik Eskwela of EILER and the European Union is helping make a dent on the fight
against child labor, and are slowly plucking out the children from the hazardous work environment
and bringing them back to school.
According to Colina, at least 105 child laborers are now back in school in six key areas that are
beneficiaries of the community-based program. She said that the project's education component will
be complemented by the livelihood trainings for the children's parents, as well as advocacy initiatives
to raise awareness on child labor.
The learning centers established are in Don Carlos Bukidnon (25 students); Labo, Camarines Norte
(25); Monkayo, Compostela Valley (17); Trento, Agusan del Sur (15); Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte
(13); and Bago City, Negros Occidental (10).
The curriculum being used was based on the Department of Education's Alternative Learning
System designed for out-of-school youth.
Downward trend
At a forum where the findings of the study were presented, Ambassador Guy Ledoux, head of the
European Union delegation in the Philippines, said the report of the International Labor Organization
that there was now a downward trend in the incidence of child labor worldwide was encouraging.
From approximately 226 million in 2000, the latest figures showed that the incidence of children
engaged in labor went down to 168 million, which equals to a 74% reduction, he said.
"Even more encouraging is the fact that the fastest decline rate has been recorded in the most
harmful areas of work: from 171 million affected children, it is now down to 85 million," he added.
But Ledoux acknowledged that more work needs to be done because there are still 5.5 million
Filipino children engaged in child labor, with 3 million "trapped in the worst forms of labor."
"Reducing the vulnerabilities of impoverished children means coming to terms with the real causes
of poverty," he said.
"Child labor is a function of the status of wages, of the state of agriculture and industries, of the kinds
of employment opportunities, of the state of governance. Governments are called upon to implement
transformative development strategies that enable their people, especially the children, to enjoy their
rights and realize their full potential," he added.
Ledoux continued that while many of the children regard themselves as important contributors to the
welfare of their families and feel some pride of that contribution, "many feel resentful or angry at the
situation that has forced them to leave schools, and feel that there is little to look forward to in their
own lives that will distinguish their future from that of their parents."

Ledoux said the continued existence of child labor should prod the government, civil society groups
and all stakeholders to pursue their efforts to end the situation.
"It means ensuring development does not just equate to impressive stats, but something that
produces concrete positive results for the children of the world, something that enables them to
claim their rights," he said.