— witsandnuts

Ang paslit

binondo kid

While taking snapshots of the side entrance of Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz (Binondo Church), this boy approached me.

He: Ate, picture-an mo ako!
Me: Ha? O, sige.

He posed.

Me: Okay, napicture-an na kita.
He: Ate, pahingi ng pera. (I thought he was going to thank me. Though I’m used to it, I got surprised that moment since there are no beggars in Abu Dhabi. Primarily because street begging is punishable here.)
Me: Anong gagawin mo sa pera?
He: Bibili ako ng pagkain. Nagugutom na ako eh.
Me: Sinong kasama mo?
He: Ako lang
Me: Bibigyan kita ng hopia (Since I’ve just been to Eng Bee Tin)
He: Pera na lang
Me: Okay. (Handed him one peso. That’s the only money/coin I had in my (jeans) pocket. I didn’t want to open my bag for some obvious reasons. He should have agreed to take the hopia.)
He: Ayoko nito. Gusto ko 5 pesos.
Me: (Looked for and found a 5-peso coin in my bag and gave to him)

Then, he ran away.

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33 comments
  1. sheng says: November 4, 20098:14 am

    That was so bad, wala man lang “thank you”? When I was in Manila, I was warned talaga not to open my bag in public places, and never ever use your fone too, or you’ll be surprised…
    .-= sheng´s last blog ..A Visit to the Big City (Part 1) =-.

    • witsandnuts says: November 5, 20094:37 am

      I was not using my phone, too, when I’m out on the streets if I’m in Manila. It depends din kung saang area.

  2. upto6only says: November 4, 20098:28 am

    hayyy oo nga a little thank you man lang sana. and you’re right, hopia na lang sana ang kinuha nya.
    .-= upto6only´s last blog ..PHOTOHUNT: Bags =-.

    • witsandnuts says: November 5, 20094:38 am

      I think I experienced this, too, during college. Binibigyan ko ng baon ko na sandwich yung bata, tapos ayaw nyang tanggapin. Mas gusto nya pera/barya.

  3. jeanny says: November 4, 20099:08 am

    ganyan na talaga ang mga batang lansangan ngayon….Yung iba kasi hindi naman talga food ang binibili kundi rugby. So nakakalunkot talga.
    .-= jeanny´s last blog ..Man in the Mirror =-.

    • witsandnuts says: November 5, 20094:39 am

      Yeah, I saw a documentary about rugby and beggars. Sana the youth in this situation can be saved pa.

  4. JenTrajano says: November 4, 20099:10 am

    Mas mahal yung hopia! LOL

    • witsandnuts says: November 5, 20094:42 am

      Yes. =)

  5. odette says: November 4, 20099:18 am

    oo nga, mas mahal ang hopia! ^-^
    pero cute ng pose niya ha.
    .-= odette´s last blog ..postcard winner =-.

    • witsandnuts says: November 5, 20094:43 am

      Very genuine ‘no?

  6. BlogusVox says: November 4, 20099:39 am

    Very common naman yan sa mga batang lansangan. Mas gusto nila pera. Yun nga lang, dapat kuntento na sila kung magkano ang ibibigay. Pero hindi yan ang tumawag pansin sa akin. Yung kuha mo. Ang ganda, lalo na’t ginawa mong “black & white”. Parang documentary picture sa National Georgraphic magazine.
    .-= BlogusVox´s last blog ..Buhay Buhangin (Sn 30) =-.

    • witsandnuts says: November 5, 20094:12 am

      Thanks. =)

  7. kg says: November 4, 200910:17 am

    hay naju ko! ganayan na talaga ngayon! di na uubra ang piso! mapili na ang mga nanlilimos ngayon! :)
    .-= kg´s last blog ..Kwentong Pinoy: Barangay Ginebra =-.

    • witsandnuts says: November 5, 20094:45 am

      Alam mo nung binigay ko nga yung piso, saka ko naisip na almost no value na nga pala yun ngayon. Anong mabibili nya. Ibig sabihin pag maglilimos, dapat may minimum amount na (i.e. P5)? ;)

  8. dong ho says: November 4, 200910:31 am

    photos like this deserves a post. the smile are priceless despite the hardship that they experience everyday. great post!
    .-= dong ho´s last blog ..kapurpurawan rock formation ilocos norte =-.

    • witsandnuts says: November 5, 20094:59 am

      Thanks. When I was sorting my Binondo pix, I really thought I should blog about this one.

  9. docgelo says: November 4, 200911:53 pm

    2 things i usually feel whenever i see children begging on streets : i pity them and their situation and i am disgusted on their parent’s irresponsibility…
    i share with your first commenter’s observation – this unfortunate kids rarely say THANK YOU; a sad reflection of how they’re raised.
    .-= docgelo´s last blog ..EAT AND BE MERRY =-.

    • witsandnuts says: November 5, 20095:00 am

      If only we change the world :(

  10. Fine Life Folk says: November 5, 200912:27 am

    Children are just children. This is why it is tragic for a child to grow up without adult support and guidance. Worse, if the child grows up being guided in the wrong direction. We can never blame children for doing bad things. We can only guide them to go in the right direction which is why there are no prison terms for children.

    • witsandnuts says: November 5, 20094:34 am

      That’s right. That’s why I had mixed emotions that day.

  11. Em Dy says: November 5, 200912:30 am

    Great photo, love that it’s in sepia too. Is he missing an arm?

    Come to think of it, the hopia probably costs more.
    .-= Em Dy´s last blog ..Michael Jackson’s This Is It =-.

    • witsandnuts says: November 5, 20094:12 am

      Thanks. No, he hid the other arm.

      Yes, a pack of hopia costs more than P10.

  12. lantaw says: November 5, 20091:42 am

    kulit na paslit :D . mahilig ka rin pala mag street shoot?
    .-= lantaw´s last blog ..manila bay: bay of colors =-.

    • witsandnuts says: November 5, 20094:10 am

      Yes, I like street and food photography. :-D

  13. blue rose says: November 5, 20092:39 am

    nice shot wits! kulit ng paslit. hehehe. buti nalang hindi sya nag aya ng ibang bata na hihingi rin ng 5 pesos sayo. minsan kasi once na nagbigay ka, biglang dadami ang pupunta sa’yo para din humingi.
    .-= blue rose´s last blog ..happiness… =-.

    • witsandnuts says: November 5, 20094:32 am

      Naku, buti na lang hindi sya nagtawag ng iba.

  14. Rico says: November 5, 20093:00 am

    haha! Ganyan din yung mga beggars dito sa street ng office namin. They would tap the car’s window, ask for money, and specify that you give them the 5 or 10 peso coins.
    .-= Rico´s last blog ..fiery sermon =-.

    • witsandnuts says: November 5, 20094:13 am

      Oo nga pala, may P10 coin na. Buti na lang hindi yun ang hiningi nya. =)

  15. cza says: November 5, 20099:35 am

    Buti hindi 10? Hehehe. Pero ganyan na nga tlaga ngayon. Minsan nga may nagsabe pa sa akin ng “Papel po wala?” bibigyan ko sana ng resibo e. :) )
    .-= cza´s last blog ..The Red Cups =-.

  16. Lawstude says: November 5, 20091:06 pm

    kahit saan talaga sa pinas may mga paslit na nanlilimos. pinagbabawal ng batas ang magbigay ng limos pero dahil likas sa atin ang maging maawain at mapagbigay ay nagbibigay tayo sa kanila. bunga talaga yan ng kahirapan pero kahit ganun ang buhay ay nakakangiti pa rin sila.
    .-= Lawstude´s last blog ..Wandering Around Cebu City =-.

  17. Nebz says: November 6, 20099:39 am

    I wonder what will become of him 30 years hence. Will he become our next President or will he become an OFW like us or will he be merely a part of the many statistics on Philippine poverty, dirty politics and incongruity of economics?
    .-= Nebz´s last blog ..Stung by Sting: Answering questions using title songs =-.

  18. aLiNe says: November 6, 20093:24 pm

    talagang mag papicture ano :D
    .-= aLiNe´s last blog ..Manny Pacquiao on Jimmy Kimmel live =-.

  19. redlan says: November 10, 20094:15 am

    hindi ako namimigay ng pera sa mga street children. kasi pag bigyan mo ang isa yung iba susunod rin. kapag pagkain ang dala ko, yun ang binibigay ko.

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