before you start calling me anti-poor, an elitist, a champion for the cause of the rich…allow me to explain myself…
it’s all about a group of 5 or more kids that frequent the parking lot of USC girls high where my sister and cousins go to school. you see, these 5 kids, ages ranging probably from 6 to 13, make a living out of begging from the students that pass by the parking lot during dismissal time. they would approach the students and beg for food or money, or both, they’d even follow you around all the way to your vehicle where they would gaze at you and stare pathetically from the outside of your car window…
looks very pitiful, right?
but mind you, looks can be decieving, i had a fair share of these kids true colors…in fact, before i got to really know what kind of children these kids are, it was even part of my routine whenever i was at san carlos to give money to these children, hoping that somehow i was helping their families, i was wrong, very wrong…
you see, when one day, after my usual dole out routine, i happened to come upon the child whom i had given some money to earlier, only to find out that he was there on the street corner playing cards and gambling with other kids…although it wasnt really that shocking at first, since i didnt really fully comprehend the situation, when i finally did, it was really disturbing…
and worse comes to worse, since i found out from my sister after talking to her about these kids, was that these beggars would actually harass those pupils who wont give them anything, some even stealing food from the students, and even giving sorts of verbal threats to students who wont give in to their requests…my cousin even recounted an incident when this little girl came to her begging for food, and when she gave that child the sandwich that she was eating, the beggar wouldnt accept it, and instead asked for the unopended pack of nova on her other hand, i exclaimed, "what the f*ck! beggars can never be choosers!"
damn! these children, poor and helpless as they may seem, are actually starting to get into my nerves…begging for food, and practicing extortion just to get it…practicing extortion as early now! it’s very disturbing…i could easily imagine seeing these little boys turn into hold-uppers and snatchers, and these innocent looking little girls turn into hookers in the not so far future…
im not writing this to condemn these children, or anyone in particular–hey, that would destroy my bid for sainthood–instead, i want every rational being out there, who happen to be reading this piece of ‘nonsense’ right now, to ponder on this issue and on the possible implications it would have on our society…
lets help each other help these children out of the streets and into school…
merry christmas and a blessed new year to all!