Invisible Street Children

They seem to be invisible to most local government units.

For one, during the campaign where election fever was at its highest, it can be noted that the social discourse was at its lowest next to nil especially on the issue of street children.

There are not just a dozen of streetchildren in Ipil, which belie the claim of government agencies.

The shopping centers in Ipil town, this province, are home to poorly-dressed children with their mantra “Pabantayan, sir (Would you want it watched, sir)?” Some of them are on the parking ground of Ipil Wet Market.

One may be wondering if these children were plainly asking or begging?

These children have a lot of stories to tell. No one is sure though if they are telling the truth.

“Pareha ra pud sa mga pulitiko (Just like the politicians),” retorted Ronald when asked if he was telling the truth.

They are all promises, he sarcastically added in dialect.

Jonalyn Rivera could be the poster girl of the streetchildren.

She was featured by this newspaper in the past.

Jonalyn, who looks as though she did not see a comb for a week, much more the privilege of a shampoo for weeks is one of the children who serve as informal parking area attendants in shopping centers and grocery stores in exchange for a peso or two.

The 13-year-old Jonalyn said “me and my two sisters come here each day.” She was the third in a family of six siblings.

Their father, she said, is a tricycle driver while their “mother is already dead”.

“This is our work,” she was straightforward, her eyes shot on the ground. “And we take care of ourselves from the payments we received from people,” she added in dialect.

But the lady guard of the shopping center disagreed.

“Dili man na tinuod (It is not true),” the lady guard explained. Jonnalyn’s mother is alive, she added.

Jonalyn’s version of the story is one many sad stories from street children you are wont to hear.

A random count revealed there are at least more than 50 children in town of Jonalyn’s situation. Their stories may vary but it all revolves around poverty.

Street children like Jonalyn are minors who live or work and survive on the streets.

According to a report titled "Situation of the Youth in the Philippines", there were about 1.5 million street children in the Philippines.

The approximate numbers of street children in the different places of the country are: Manila (3,266), Quezon (2,867), Caloocan (1,530), and Pasay (1,420).

Regional numbers are: Luzon regional totals: 1,557 (highly visible), 22,728 (estimated total); Visayas regional totals: 5,291 (highly visible), 40,860 (estimated total); and Mindanao regional totals: 22,556 (highly visible), 138,328(estimated total).

Approximately 70% of the children are boys.

The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer of Ipil, however, said only a handful of streetchildren roam around town.

A quick look at Ipil streets, however, will show not only a handful but many children – as well as adults – living and will most likely continue to live the life of Jonalyn.

It is no wonder, politicians would love to mouth pro-poor slogans and campaign message just to get the attention of the less privileged sector of the society.

These slogans and campaign messages often do not go down to the reason why there is poverty and street children. It has remained just that.

Street children in Ipil, however, said that family, poverty, and abuse are often the causes why they left for the streets amid a large number of problems they encountered on the streets.

Growing up in an environment generally regarded as dangerous, they incur considerable risks.

As a consequence, some of their rights are very often compromised.

These elections will prove once again that these most vulnerable members of the society are powerful because they invisible to the eyes of those in power. (AMM)

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