Manila, Luzon, Philippines
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
On the way to work this morning, we were stopped at a red light when a face appeared in my window. It was a little girl in dirty old clothes saying she was hungry and asking for money. This is something that is rather common at some intersections along with the many who are making a living selling snacks, umbrellas, dish clothes, and anything that will bring them a few bucks or the blind people who feel their way thru the stopped cars looking for a hand out. But the little hungry faces are the hardest to say no to. I have been advised by people, both Filipinos and foreigners, not to give any money. They tell me there are scams and those who send out the children to collect money for them and the children get none of it. But still, with talk of increases in the number of people here who are considered "food poor", I wonder how many of them really are hungry.
