My Wondering about Wandering Street Children

Being with the street children who are better in surviving but know nothing (or limited only) about their rights and responsibilities  is an immeasurable experience. They are really aggressive and harsh especially if they feel they are being threatened, but they are also just like other children. They are just the same-innocent, playful, "makulit" and so on.  It only depends on how one approaches and treats them.

a child taking his afternoon nap on a pavement

Anyway, not so long ago, I have been wondering where street children and their families come from and why there are a lot when I first arrived in this big city of Metro Manila. I found it odd seeing them around the city. I am well aware there are really street children in the country even if I rarely see them in another city where I stayed for years. Now that they are already in front of me, several questions popped out in my mind. Base on my encounter with the street children who stay with their families mostly say their parents come from another province while some do not know their parent's origin. I asked the parents who come from the province about the reasons why they chose to come to the city. Mostly said it is because of poverty and included the following:
1. Calamities which destroyed their house and other properties; no means of living
2. Sold their properties and come to the city to look for a job and to have a better life.
3. Followed husband/wife/partner who went to the city to work.
4. Run away from their family and come to the city for work when they were younger or to escape abuse/maltreatment from family
6. Victims of human trafficking.

Migration is the common denominator above all these reasons. Most of them admitted that their notion of coming to the city and to search for their luck that would make their life better was a bad decision. They thought that the city was a promise land. They came to realize the difficulties since most of them did not finish their studies. They manage to be in the blue collar jobs but not for long because they are often abused. 

street children 

The parents can not afford their own basic needs much more to their children so they tend to let their children find their own way of survival. The children stay on street "working"-begging or scavenging in order to eat. They prefer to look for other means in order to live even to the extent of prostitution. To them "what is ABC if the stomach is empty?" Older children who roamed around the city are sent by their families to work especially if they are the eldest. They are already given responsibilities at a very young age when every other children enjoy their rights. They have little contact to their own families and would rather stay on street. 

street family sleeping

I remembered my big boss saying that there were few families living on the street before when he arrived to the country. Now, street families mushroomed everywhere around the metro. Street children find partner or "marry" at a young age (15 or 16 years old and above) and bear children. So the cycle goes on and on...

On Schizophrenia

Case

Buy-uc is 21-years-old. He recently graduated from a reputable university finishing his 4 year college course. He lived in another city and he was doing good in college. As a matter of fact, he was a consistent varsity player credited for his contribution on the university's success in the field of sport from his first year up to his last year in the university. He was holding down a job order as a clerk staff in one of the municipalities after a month of his graduation. But then he suddenly began to change, became paranoid and was acting out in bizarre ways. First, he became convinced that the policemen he saw were "spying" on him and his co-workers were talking behind about him or always looking at him. Then he wandered and got lost so his family and neighborhoods went looking for him. 

From there, things got worse. He became suspicious to other people and kept asking everyone in the family if they love him. Then he started hearing voices telling him someone wanted to kill him and that he wanted to be avenged. He took out the knife and wanted to kill the puppy he grabbed outside the house. Later on, he was hospitalized for a few days for he went back to normal. He began again to change during his follow up check up in the hospital when he saw other patients acting strangely. Because of that, the doctor prescribed him a stronger dosage of medicine which he argued he did not need them. He took the medicine for a while but decided to stop. He was reckless at home and easily lost interest whenever he started one like singing while playing the guitar. However, after 6 months, he slowly showed a great improvement and seemed to have recovered after few more months. He is currently active in joining a training.

I am uncertain if the case above is considered as Schizophrenia even if the patient showed some of the signs and symptoms. I am confused if it was really schizo or a depression. The patient above was diagnosed (as written on his medical chart) with this kind of disorder and yet I am not fully convinced so I tried asking other professionals that could help me understand this. 
According to a Psychiatric Doctor, it takes years to come up with this diagnosis. There is actually no test that definitively indicates that someone has schizophrenia. So the concerned medical/social practitioner needs to study the patient's back ground from his  medical, family and mental health information including his daily routines etc.
I tried to make my own reading hoping to rest my mind about the case. 

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, mental disorder and characterized by symptoms of thought, behavior, and social problems. Some common early warning signs are social withdrawal, suspiciousness, deterioration of personal hygiene, inability to show emotion, inappropriate laughter or crying, depression, insomnia or oversleeping, odd statements, forgetfulness, extreme reaction to criticism and strange use of words or way of  speaking.

Causes of Schizophrenia: 

Current research proposes that schizophrenia is caused by 

1. Genetic vulnerability coupled with environmental and psychosocial stressors, the so-called diathesis-stress model. 
2. Prenatal which is well established that obstetric complications are associated with an increased chance of the child later developing the disorder.
3. Infections like viral infections (influenza) in childhood or in the utero 
4. Drugs like Cannabis, Amphetamines and other stimulants , Hallucinogens

For more reading: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/complete-index.shtml 

The Glory of Negros

I was in the province when one of my colleagues who happens to be from Sipalay, Negros Occidental called and informed me about her incoming trip to her province due on December of 2009. (She was aware I really wanted to go to their place since I saw her sister's picture in one of the beautiful beaches in Sipalay.) I agreed so she booked us for the plane on that very day. After few more weeks, our scheduled flight for the trip came in.

Dec. 28 at around 2:30 pm, we boarded the plane from NAIA Terminal 3.We landed past 3 at the newly constructed/opened airport in Silay where taxi drivers delightedly meet us offering their services to the town proper which is almost an hour away. There were taxis which they filled in (like jeepney ") charging Php 150 per person. 

Mambukal Resort Entrance

It was past 4 when we arrived at the city town proper (market area) where her friend was waiting for us. Their Hello's and kumusta seemed like forever to me since I could already hear my "pet" rumbling inside my stomach. We spent another 30 minutes searching for a carinderia that offered Bacolod specialties. After eating, we went around the city (Bacolod park and the new city hall) and had our time enjoying the different blinking bright lights all over the place like there was no lights in Manila..duh!

The following day, we traveled to Murcia for half an hour where Mambukal Resort is located. There are a lot of things to that can be done here like boating, swimming, slide for life, wall climbing, trekking etc. We decided to challenge each other and trek the 7 falls which tested our endurance. The 2 reached the 4th falls and wanted to stop. I told them to wait for us (with our guide) since I was really determined to see all the falls. According to the people there, there are still falls after the 7th but are not yet open to public since it was not yet developed. When we were about to leave, our guide informed us that there is a cave in the resort.

bats in Mambukal Resort

The next day, we got on the last trip ordinary Ceres bus going to Sipalay. It was a 4 to 5 hour travel from Bacolod but it was like 24 hours because of the tedious experience we had in that bus. We were at the back and there was no more space that even an ant could not pass through yet the driver and dispatcher still accepted passengers. My backside went sore because I was not not seated comfortably and it was a rough road! It was a very long ordeal. Anyway, we reached their house around 8 in the evening, rested for a while, had our dinner and off to bed. 

We celebrated new year by visiting a lot of beautiful white sandy beaches.

7th falls in Mambukal 

The next day, we got on the last trip ordinary Ceres bus going to Sipalay. It was a 4 to 5 hour travel from Bacolod but it was like 24 hours because of the tedious experience we had in that bus. We were at the back and there was no more space that even an ant could not pass through yet the driver and dispatcher still accepted passengers. My backside went sore because I was not not seated comfortably and it was a rough road! It was a very long ordeal. Anyway, we reached their house around 8 in the evening, rested for a while, had our dinner and off to bed. 

We celebrated new year by visiting a lot of beautiful white sandy beaches.

Dagat-dagatan is found in the town proper of Sipalay. Some people were enjoying a dip in the water while we took our time walking and appreciating the view of the sun going down. Restaurants and bars are also available nearby. 

Next was Langub beachhttp://lifesunfathomabledepths.blogspot.com/2010/01/langub-beach-sipalay.html and then Anhawan Island http://lifesunfathomabledepths.blogspot.com/2010/01/anhawan-island.html

After Anhawan, I went to the place of another colleague in Negros Oriental by Ceres Bus. I went alone but I enjoyed the journey. It was like a caterpillar ride but what really made me appreciate was the surrounding and the landscape I saw along the way.

ticket inspection

Mag-Aso Falls, Kabankalan

From Bayawan, Negros Oriental, I traveled back to Negros Occidental going to Kabankalan City to join some friends who will be going to Mag-Aso Falls. This is quite unknown even to some locals. 

a "flowering" PUJ and a habal-habal

The road going to that place was very rough. We waited for PUJ's but to no avail. Folks said only the habal-habal could go up. Luckily, there was a 6th wheeler truck heading up so we beg the driver to hitched us. It was a gravel and sand delivery truck owned by the municipal government. We joined the other people behind the truck and I swear this is one of the worst ride I ever had. I almost left the place where I seated had I  not held the metal attached on the side when the truck bounced off. 

 Finally, after few minutes we arrived at the place. There was a beauty pageant pictorial during our visit the reason why there were a lot of people at that time. It was the search for Ms. Negros 2009.

Mag-Aso falls has several mini falls. It is said that the highest and main falls is 75 ft high which drop into the well carved natural pool. The cascading water is very clear and refreshingly cool.

We walked down and arrived to this falls. It would not be easy going down for people who are afraid of heights-acrophobia. One must really watch out for his own step or else another great attraction will follow.

We waited for the beauty contestants to finish their pictorials and the people crowding the area to leave before my companions had their fresh dip. 
I slipped and had my feet stuck between the white rocks so my shoes got wet. I just settled on enjoying the spots by taking pictures.

We rode this habal-habal
again when we left the falls.

Copper Open Pit Mines, Mina, Sipalay

I was able to see the Copper Open Pit Mine during my stay in Sipalay. I think it is from this mine that Mina got its name, short for "minahan" where the said mine is located. I was so surprised to see such a mine that looks like a lake. I was actually comparing to the mine I saw in Baguio which is very much different to this. I thought mines look almost the same.

As I was told, this mine was owned by the Bernardino's and that year's ago, the people especially the workers enjoyed the benefits which the mining company offered to them. The miners and other workers families were privileged to have 24 hours free water, electricity and transportation. This was also the only place in Negros which had theaters, gymnasium and other amenities for free. 

The company operated for a number of decades until it suddenly stopped operating during the start of year 2000 blaming it to "mismanagement". Privileges stopped as well but the most difficult was that on the part of all the workers wherein they became jobless. They moved to another place were they could start a new life while some stayed and did their best to survive. Houses have been abandoned, buildings were destroyed and the mining itself was in a total wreck. Mina was in a disastrous place at that time.

This was the ground where in the gymnasium and other facilities like the bowling house once stood. For now, the the ground served as a hang-out for drunkards (we saw empty bottles of hard drinks) and a garbage area.

An eroded side of the area due to rain.

I wanted to go down near the pit but I was told it was too dangerous. I asked if no one thought of boating but I was laughed out due to my innocence. Boating is not permitted due to the chemicals mixed with the water. Because the mine was deserted for so long, water filled in the open pit and became stagnant thus it became a "lake". Near this "lake" were the rotten company buildings and rusty parked vehicles used for mining. I was really excited to see these closely but my companions were killing my eagerness always reasoning out that it was dangerous. So, being new to the place I submitted to them.

Feeding Program

siblings sharing food

After hand washing, the children again fall in line near the food which will be served. Children usually want to be the first on the line because of their notion that they will be given first. They do not want to move even if they are taller than the others who are at their back. The team spends time telling them to find their height and avoid too much noise knowing that the area is already very noisy.  

Feeding is given to the street children (2 to 18 years old) once a day and five times a week. Often, street adults also join in but the team always give priority to the children especially those who attend the activities. Unfortunately, there are some who do not understand our objectives and leave us only with bad comments.  Again, a test for our patience!

Anyway, the meals given everyday are considered balanced full meals-with rice and viand. Viands are a mix of vegetables and meat of either pork or chicken. There are times also which we give soup, samporado, arozcaldo and pancit. However, even if pancit is given, we still prepare rice since most of the children ask for it.  Children appreciate viands with soup (sabaw) because they enjoy mixing it with their rice. Sometimes milk is also given after eating.

Anhawan Island

view of the island

I think Anhawan Island is the best destination we visited in Sipalay, Negros Occidental. No offense to Langub but this island really captivated me. It is an untouched island and dubbed as the Turtle Island because of its form perhaps. The island is about 4 or 5 km (i think and i forgot the name of the sitio) from Mina. It is a private and a virgin island owned by a humble descendant of a prominent family from the province who also allowed us to go with him. Getting there was not an easy ride because the road was not concrete. Only "habal-habal" can get faster through the rocky road as the folks said so we rented at least 3 and headed to the place. It was my first "habal-habal" ride which is a single motor with a seat extension behind to accommodate at least 4 persons including the driver and is more practically used in going up to high places.

approaching Anhawan Island by boat

Conquering fear...

We met the owner before we got on a rented small boat just enough to accommodate 10 people. I was a bit reluctant and was getting paranoid about the things that might happen along our way. We did not have life jacket of anything that we could use in case of emergency. Everyone was already in the boat so I jumped in there and just thought it is not everyday that I ride a boat anyway. The 10 to 15 minutes boat ride was like eternal. Every one were closing their eyes while gasping every time our boat went up due to strong waves.

We saw this native house along our way near the island. The owner said it was built by some fishermen and only use that for resting or or staying overnight.

Finally, we arrived at the beach and were welcomed by countless loud barks from the owner's dog along with its master's wife and son who generously accommodated us. 


Life there is simple like 50 years ago and only the owners live there with their pet animals. 

the smart dog..beware tress passers

We were toured around the island. We hiked up the mountain and went down to the other side where another spectacular view was awaiting. It was like a hidden paradise.

a signage posted on a tree

It was very hot but nothing stopped us from running playfully on the sand. The island has white sand and almost fresh pebbles and shells all around. 

pebbles from the sea

The water from where I stood which gave me goosebumps. It was very calm yet I did not know why when I looked down, it seemed the water was coming in torrent. It is the exact opposite at the other side where in the water was beating the rock.

the rocky side of the island

part of the island

the seemed to be kissing rocks

shells

sea urchin-tasted like sea

island animals

Anhawan Island during evening.

It is such a rare opportunity to see this untouched beautiful island. I hope its beauty will blossom even if it will be opened for commercialization.

Langub Beach, Sipalay

approaching Langub Beach behind the island

One of the beautiful beaches of Sipalay is Langub Beach located in Brgy. Nauhang. 

We left Mina early morning of January 2. The travel was not easy going to the beach because of the rough road our rented three wheeled cycle went through and our agony inside holding on not to bump each other's head. We stopped at an area and walked until we reached the sugary beach line where we had our time scampering around while searching for a place to stay. We did not dare try going to the rented resorts. Why so when we can enjoy without even paying.

It was an unpredictable day when we went. It was cloudy then became windy but still, the weather did not spoil our day.

resorts in Langub

Driftwood village

Langub beach is really a good place to stay away from the busy life of the city. There is no night life here or other commercially featured stores that could destroy the nature's beauty. It was good we brought with us some foods and drinks otherwise we will have difficulty looking for nearby stores . 

abandoned landscaped resort