Reaction~ BATANG MANSISIBAK

This film is about the children in Pierre 18 Vitas Tondo Maynila that serves as scavengers and merchants of garbage in Manila Bay where all the garbage of Manila goes. I’m kind of amazed of those children because…wow! They can swim on such a dirty and yucky water just to earn money. I can’t even imagine myself swimming on that water. But it is only my opinion but for them, those garbage are like gold or riches that they will swim for it just to get those plastics and metals even they drink the water with the mixture of oil, urine, and garbage. They are really helpful to their parents especially Arnold and Buboy Garcia because when they earned money after selling it to the junk shop, they never forgot to give a part of their money to their parents to help them and for their food. Arnold, the older one is still studying and never forgot to have an ambition which is to be a doctor, for him to help others. However, Buboy stopped studying because he cannot take the harsh words of his classmates to him. I’m amazed at them, of course, pity and the feeling of compassion for them will never disappear. It is because at an early age of 10 and 9 they already have abnormalities in their blood, heart, kidneys, sugar, and their body system. I feel sad for them because they should work and live that way just to earn money at such a young age.

I realized that we should be thankful because we don’t need to collect those garbage and swim in Manila Bay to be able to eat and earn money. And we should also not forget to help our family even in the hardest times of our life because they are the one who will love you and care for you in anytime. That’s all! ^^

Reaction~ BATANG KALABAW

The film is all about 13 children that serve like a carabao. They go up in the mountain for more than three hours to get the woods weighing 15-20 kilos and with the length of 8 feet and go down the mountain to earn money. As I watched the film, I’m amazed of those children because they can balance the wood and themselves even if it is slippery in going down the mountain. In spite of their difficulties doing works not suited for them, they never forget to be happy. I also felt so sorry, sad, disappointed and annoyed. It seems that I am the one carrying those woods because… I don’t know why, but I felt so tired and weary after I watched the film.

I don’t know why they should live and work that way even they are still so young and they don’t even have the opportunity to study. I’m really disappointed that there are such children. Maybe the government don’t know about it or maybe they really don’t pay much attention to it. As it is said that the condition of the children is a reflection of the condition of our country so these children in Agusan Del Sur is just one of the more than 92 million population in Philippines that experiences that kind of life. I’m annoyed because their mother lives comfortably while they are suffering, especially Cherilyn that serves as the mother of her five siblings, do the household chores and take all the responsibilities of her mother at the age of 14. I know that their mother has a disorder in her mind, but I can really say that she is such an irresponsible mother. I’m also curious if Cherilyn and her siblings don’t have any other relatives who may take care and adapt them. Maybe they have, but those relatives don’t care or maybe they don’t know about it. And those people that pays the 13 children with a maximum amount of 12 pesos, why don’t they try to do the work of the children and see if they deserve that small amount of money. Do they think that the amount of money they give are enough for all the efforts and hardships of those children? I’m really pissed off on such persons that don’t even have a concern or maybe just a little care for those children.

After I watched the film, I realized that we are really blessed because we don’t live, work or earn money that way; that we may study in a good school, we eat three times a day, we have parents that supports us and that we live comfortably. I realized that we should not waste these opportunities because not all of us were given those opportunities even they wanted to. Don’t waste it and use it in the most special way and give your best in fulfilling those opportunities before it is too late. Thank God that you are blessed, but you are blessed to be a blessing to others so I hope that we and the government may help those children and other people who experiences that kind of life. That’s all. ^^