A Street Urchin from Sabang

While the combined local and national election brings a cacophony of promises from candidates addressed to all the voting and non-voting people of the land, I wondered what promises are hollowed ideas and concepts that may just fade in thin air once elected.

The people have a penchant for election, one of the favorite past times of Filipinos. Everyone gets so intensely drawn to the election fever it causes total disruption of the everyday lives.

Billions of pesos are pouring into the economy from the deep pockets of billionaire- politicians and supporters enticing voters, dividing allegiance and disproving beliefs while flaunting the idea either they used to be poor, came from a poor family or pro-poor. Take your pick.

Meanwhile, on my stroll at the Sabang breakwaters, I saw this street urchin, oblivious of the election frenzy, supposedly the future beneficiary of the promises of the candidates. I waited until he made a turn and snapped this shot but had no more time to make sure I had a good frame as the boy’s sister (I presumed) came. (The sister wears one piece of slipper, on her right foot only.)

Poverty is the theme in this locality. The parents are rearing more children than they should raise. In the end, these angels suffer in silence and replicate the experience in their adulthood. An endless circle of life.

The Sabang street urchin and politicians have commonalities. The street urchin nibbles at food crumbs he can lay his hands on whenever, wherever, while politicians nibble on the people’s weaknesses and the government’s resources all the time. Hefty nibbling, though.

This is my post for This is My World. Many thanks to Klaus, Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy, Louise and Sylvia for hosting this wonderful meme: My World – Tuesday.


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6 thoughts on “A Street Urchin from Sabang”

  1. I do agree with J, a very thought provoking post indeed. So many little ones that get lost in the shuffle!

    Sylvia

  2. Guaranteed…the promises will fade after the election, unfortunately. Sad story but so true all over the world, actually.

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