What has the world become?
by Brian Dexter M. Medija
On the sad reality of streetchildren. Published in SunStar Davao on April 18, 2000.

What has the world become? Greed has taken over what was once the realm of charity. Of love. Hope seems to serve only the moneyed. The future seems out of reach. Even for these children. The children of the streets. Aren't the children our future? Why have they become victims?

Questions echo on. But answers continue to elude us. Look around and see the instances that prompt us to ask. Take to the streets and be a witness.

Look. They are the nameless souls that wander in the asphalt pathways, tapping on windshields or hawking fragrant leis, praying for a coin from the fortunate one. Many are lured into the dark alleys of exploitation, deceived by the promise of earning a few coins more. They are prostituted. Abused. Sucked of their meager ounce of dignity. Victims. Their future wasted. Our future. Wasted.

Look. They are the needy children. Who walk on bare feet. In scorching heat or flooded streets. Wielding sooty faces. Tapping on windshields. Or hawking sampaguitas. Their masters wielding barbed whips. To rip their skin open when quotas are not reached.
Look. They sleep in carton beds at night. Sleeping away their hunger. They trudge the streets at day. No, they prowl. For a coin or two. No coin found, they scurry to the garbage piles, to put food in their mouths. To feed their muscles. So again to trudge the asphalt pathways. No, to prowl.

You stand there. What are you to do? Good anwer. Go home and continue living. We all have our lives to take care of. You give them a coin, you've done your part. Anything more is uncalled for. You don't want to bend down to rub their cold soles. Dirt! Stay away from dirt. Dirt will only soil you and your reputation.

Don't cover them with blankets. Don't' clothe them. Don't feed them. Don't take them to shelter. It's all a waste of time. Of effort. It's not your job anyway. Poverty is reality. Live with it. Shall we? ¤