Postcards from Slums
I wouldn’t say that poverty is something that is very strange and unfamiliar for me. I, too, live in poverty. As a citizen of a third world country, it is almost impossible not to know poverty. Unless, you were raised in the privy comfort behind the isolated high towering gates of an exclusive village and your parents denied you even a tiny bit idea of how people (that isn’t your kind) live outside your guarded gates.
I’ve seen faces of poverty, in fact, I face poverty every day. It actually became a given reality, as ordinary as a default belief. The sidewalks of the metro growl hunger, the streets vehemently display child labor, the unemployment stinks along the corners. However, my poverty is limited to the inconvenience of riding MRT, eating fastfood instead of specialty dishes at restaurants, cheaper alternatives, and the frustration of being not able to buy some things that I want. My poverty is an insult to the poverty in slums.
F*ck
Welcome
Camouflaging
Leisure. (I wanted to assure them that they are more than what they do. Or myself rather)
One of my professors in college once said that poverty is the lack of freedom. If you’re poor, you have few choices. Obviously, they don’t get to choose if their steak is rare, medium, or well done. I doubt if there is even a steak to decide upon but..well, you get my point.
Let’s play
Poverty is ugly, they say. But the smiles of these children suggest otherwise. Or maybe, they learned how to cope in such a young age.
The thing about poverty in this country is that it is viewed as societal normalcy, something that we can no longer change. Some people even resort to it-is-their-fault-that-they-are-poor just to ease the guilt. Poverty must be understood in context; beyond the grim setting, there are stories that needed to be heard to shake our apathy. Perhaps, our indifference or neglect is more horrifying and depressing than the environment in slums.
Slum Tour is a guided tour around slum areas. It is being handled and organized by Smokey Tour. The tour is Php750 per person, 2.5-3.5 hours. 100% of the profits of this tour goes to our beneficiary foundation, Bahay at Yaman ni San Martin de Porres, includes public transportation allowance - jeepney and pedicab/tricycle rides) Available Mondays-Sundays 9AM, for Private Tours you can choose start time between 7AM-1PM.
Slum Tour is an activity that induces sympathy for the poor with the hope that the sympathy transforms to empathy.
For more details visit: http://www.smokeytours.com/
*Portraits were taken with permission.