1.5 Million Street Children

The Philippines has one of the world's largest populations of street children. A 1996 report of the non-government movement End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism (ECPAT) showed that the Philippines had 1.5 million children living or working in the street of 65 cities. Metro Manila alone had at least 75,000 street children.

ECPAT claimed that many children in the street were working as pickpockets and beggars and that around 60,000 children were either sexually exploited or driven to prostitution. According to the Dangerous Drugs Board, 325,000 children were using illegal substance, particularly rugby. 
About 100 million children in the world were said to be living in the street as of 1994. 



http://www.txtmania.com/trivia/social.php

     Children - young ones who are expected to live a life full of innocence and joy. This is ought to be the meaning of the world children. How come we see a lot of children running in the streets with bare feet and asking for alms from whoever passes by? Why is that young as they are, some are already involved in pickpocketing, prostitution and the like? 

    It's sad to think that these 1.5 million street children are not given the chance to experience the joy of being a child and how it feels to be like one. Instead of seeing them in schools and playgrounds, they are out there in the streets earning a living, a kind of earning under the influence of evil things such as stealing, selling illegal drugs and such. On the other hand, their parents are the ones having fun and only think of themselves. Ironic isn't it? Their parents should be the ones finding ways to be able to send their children to school and provide them their needs. In turn, these children should not be thinking of earning money and experiencing the ruthless society at their young age. If only all parents play their role properly, then there would no children running and sleeping along the streets at night. We would find them only in schools, playgrounds and in their homes. We may see them laughing and joking around despite being in their situation but deep inside, behind their eyes, one could see the sadness of having experience these unlikely things in life. These children should be given the chance to enjoy life as a young and be able to experience the good life. I just hope that there would come a time that no children will be suffering and experiencing hardships young as they are. :)  

FROM THIS :(

TO THIS :)

5.1 Million Poor Families

         The NSO reported that in 2000, poverty incidence affected 19.9 percent of families in urban areas and 46.9 percent in rural areas. Real number of poor families climbed to 5.1 million, 1.5 million of them in urban areas and 3.6 million in rural areas. Some 2.5 million families were living in subsistence level, meaning their income was not enough to buy their basic food requirements.


Source: http://www.txtmania.com/trivia/social.php

        Philippines is considered one of the poor countries in the world. Poverty has always been a problem in most Filipino families. It's sad to think that this never-ending problem doesn't get any better. Fortunate are those elite people who were blessed with a  very luxurious life but how about the poor? Will they always be dominant in our country?

          Come to think of it, I can say that I am lucky enough to have three meals in a day and to be enrolled in a prestigious school. If we look at other people's lives, finding ways to make money for buying the basic neccesities they need is a heavy burden to them. Some people say that this is mainly caused by their laziness. I don't think this theory is applicable to all. I believe that there are people out there striving hard but sometimes it's just not enough because most high-paid jobs requires a college degree. If so, how can these people who can't even afford a fifty peso meal get into college and attain high positions? If only the government focuses more on upbringing the lives of poor people, then they would have chances to become professionals in the society. If only government officials would not be practicing graft and corruption, the money of the people in the country would go into good hands. The government could come up with plans on improving the lives of poor people and prioritize their education since attaining a higher education is a stepping stone in improving one's life and having a bright future. I also think that the resources of the country should be distributed more equally. It should not circulate only in the capitalists' hands and I firmly believe that this problem could be slowly put to an end if only the country's economy would be more efficient in maximizing resources. :)