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Smokey Mountain, Manila, Philippines Part 1 - Devastation of Smokey Mountain. Part 2 - Hope from PCF. |
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| 1. On 23rd Oct 2008, with Jane and Lynie from PCF as my guide, I entered Smokey Mountain, Manila, Philippines. The situation shocked me. There is much I would like to share about Smokey Mountain and I think starting from the background will be the most appropriate. Smokey Mountain operates as a dumpsite for Manila daily wastes and an estimated 25,000 people reside on it. Most of these people are unregistered citizens and thus, for the Filipino society, they do not exists. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 2. As for the environment in Smokey Mountain, there is simply no words I can use to describe how bad the situation is. As you can see from picture 002, the pair of boots on loan to me by PCF sank in three inch deep of what seems like mud. Except it wasn't mud. It is decomposed rubbish mixed with rainwater and mud. So you really don't know what you are stepping on. My heart broke that morning when I saw one of the lady's foot pierced with a sharp object causing her to bleed and limp. Later I learned that boots are considered as luxury items to the residents in Smokey Mountain. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 3. Another thing to note is the foul smell of Smokey Mountain. Imagine living on wastes and food left to decompose for years, together with the frequent flooding due to poor drainage system. I was told that the condition is so bad that even mosquitoes cannot breed on the foul-smelling stagnant water found everywhere in Smokey mountain | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 4. A particular experience that I would like to share is when I came across this provision shop operating inside Smokey Mountain and bought 19 packets of biscuits that cost me only one peso each! That is equivalent to about 15 Singapore cents or 10 US cents each. When I tried to give the biscuits to the children, they were so shy to take it from me that I have to offer this particular girl three times before she was dare to take it from me. Though they are hungry, I realise that the people are not violent or harmful, in fact, people there are friendly and peaceful. One of the mother came up to me and thank me for giving food to her girl for she had been hungry since morning because their food ran out. My heart ached for I have never heard of such experience in Singapore where a mother has got no food for her child. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5. Children in Smokey Mountain that are old enough to walk are sent out to the dump site as “wastes pickers” to collect recyclable objects and support their family financially. I cannot say more about how this job destroys the childhood of any child. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Continue Part 2 - Hope from PCF. |
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