by Miguel Jimenez
It was late last night as I was strolling along the streetside of Katipunan that two small boys by the age of 8 wandered up to me. "Pang-kain lang po, kuya", they said, as they begged for spare change.
Instinctively, I avoided their gaze and tried to walk away; it was halfway into the evening after all and I remembered the stories of the criminals which patrol Katipunan's streets.
Thus it was by some coincidence that in that exact moment I recalled our discussions in class on our responsibility towards the Other. My conscience too troubled me a bit and I knew then that I couldn’t just walk away doing nothing and not feel bad about it.
“Yet what could I do?”, I asked. Giving them some spare change outright won’t drastically aid them in their situation and would only further their dependence on others.
An idea suddenly sprung up in my head and I guess it went as a surprise for them when I said “Bigyan ko kayo ng barya, pero tulungan nyo muna ako maghanap ng trike”. Suddenly, their faces which had been feigning gloom all this time changed so much as to appear inquisitive – that kind of face you make when you’re actively thinking of a solution to something. Eventually, I got a trike and rode back home in safety.
Through it all I realized that applying Levinas’ concept of responsibility does not necessarily have to be in the form of charity or one-sided generosity. More often than not, the best gifts are those of which a part comes from the recipient. Also of note is the traumatism we encounter when we experience the Face. I found it incredibly difficult to look them straight in the eye when I tried avoiding them at first; it was only afterwards when I could converse without feeling tense.
I guess it’s something to keep in mind whenever we go out to the streets.
Helping the poor is not always in giving alms to them. Sometimes, what matters more than the tangible gift is the opportunity to stand up on one's own feet (like having a livelihood). So it might sometimes be right to help while expecting to get your "investments"back, and you help them simply through giving them a springboard, a chance, or an opportunity. Moreover, even though this would be harder for them, in the end, it will be more fulfillinf, too. Just like gracious teachers give out high grades to students who make an effort, people who are capable of giving to the poor must give judiciously. After all, love is judicious giving and judicious withholding. Also, what matters most, in my opinion, is why we give and help.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I commend you for your action that helped others get by, at the same time learning about responsibility.
Kate Bonamy
Ph102 A
After reading your blog, I thought that you were able to come up with such a creative solution to the situation and I commend you for that since you were able to do something that benefited both parties. I too have trouble sometimes when it comes to dealing with street children since like you, I instinctively try to avoid their gaze and walk away. However, it is very difficult to ignore them forever since as discussed in class, it is like there is something inside you that pushes you to help them, but then we refuse. Honestly, I believe we are all inclined to do good, but society has unfortunately made being unethical a norm, so it is always important to keep in mind Levinas' concept of the Face because through this, we are constantly reminded of our responsibility for others.
ReplyDeleteRobert Go
Ph102 A
I also had the same experience recently. I was walking on my way to the LRT when suddenly, this young lady came up to me, wanting to ask something. Remembering what my parents told me about not minding them because they might be part of some modus operandi, I ignored her and quickly walked away. When I got to the LRT, however, I was already beginning to feel guilty with what I have done. I kept thinking: what if she really just wanted to ask something, directions most probably. However, I wasn’t able to do something about it. I’m hoping next time I could find a way to help those people who approach me, just like you did.
ReplyDeleteMarika King
PH102 - A
I too am from the Nasty Streets of Katipunan.
ReplyDeleteWhen you stroll down late at night when everything is closed, it is hard to see hope in the eyes of the elderly that still have no choice but to pick up trash and beg for change. It just so sad to think that these people had dreams and must have never given up on hope for a better day until some time ago. They were just like us, 'full of hope' and ready to push on until a miracle of goodness strikes them in the open. But now people avoid them and refuse to lend a hand when asked.
If we consider lessons from our lecture, just like our responsibility for the death or injury of another falls on our shoulders, then their misery is latched on to our failure to provide our help when we had the money and capital to do so.
I don't know how to help, but if somebody out there knows how to intervene in ways that may bring about long term improvement in their lives. We shouldn't be taking our time in passing the love and preaching the Face.
This is just on how our little deeds might make a difference in ways we would never expect them to:
“I'm not saying I'm gonna change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world.”
-Tupac Amaru Shakur
Goking, Christopher
PH102 - C
Actually, I think that was a refreshing blogpost.
ReplyDeleteYou gave such experience such honesty. But I think what's important is that you were able to show the realities that we all go through, when we try to fully experience and encounter The Face.
But digging deeper, the cause of perhaps your reluctancy--at first to experience interacting with them in a certain degree is the fact that their whole being, "pagkatao" are already thematized. We already have a certain notion to them that somehow, affects our actions of interacting with the Other.
After all, leaving the comfort zone of certainty and labels, is utterly discomforting (in a way that we are plunging to the unknown, stripping all the things we are to experience in its sheer innocent nakedness).
It's all too scary and everything is just so uncertain. You are left open, visible, and transparent of your own vulnerability.
However, I am glad that in your experience, the fact that you were able to utilize this and relate it to ethics--- already counts as a start of your progression to Being.
Denise Tan
PH101-A
I truly commend you for what you did. I mean, I know that there are many people who would not spare a glance in giving those kids a few change, but you didn't just give them sympathy. You gave them something more, you gave them the chance to prove themselves and the chance to earn those few change. You stated that "More often than not, the best gifts are those of which a part comes from the recipient.", and I could't agree more!
ReplyDeleteTrixia Tan
Ph102 C
It's actually really sad to see these kids in the streets begging for money and something to eat. But we shouldn't have the mentality as well that we ignore these people and think that they aren't there. We actually see them everyday. It's just sometimes we pretend that they don't exist. We sometimes don't want them to be in our lives. This shouldn't be the case though. They are still human and we must be aware of them no matter who they are. I think what you did was the right thing to do! In our own small way, we can help them change. It wouldn't be in an instant, but there are these small acts that we do that can actually get them on their feet.
ReplyDeleteLuis Tanjuatco
Ph 102 A
What you did was awesome. I have always been a believer that the best way to help is to give opportunities rather than giving alms. For me, giving money straight-up is the simplest thing to do. You don't need to give much thought about it and how it will affect the person you are assisting. In a way, its the most convenient solution for encounters such as that. You give money, then you forget about it. Genuinely helping just needs to be thought of and it requires the presence of the one who is assisting.
ReplyDeleteLeo Lorenzo
Ph 102 A
That was a very unique way of handling that kind of situation. I guess I would have just given money then and there if I was in that scenario. It really is something to think about whenever we just go and give money. People would often just give money for the sake of giving money so that they would not feel bad about it, not thinking about the other that they are giving the money to. It actually reminded me of the quote, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; show him how to catch fish and you feed him for a lifetime."
ReplyDeleteRiel Evangelista
Ph 102 A
Getting a job is the foundation of independence. It's the beginning and reality of adulthood. By implementing the very concept on a smaller scale, one witnesses the beginning of responsibility that works from the self. The trouble now if how to push responsibility further. Responsibility is a two way obligation that includes the other. Most of the street kids look out only for themselves. However, the compassion shown to them can very well move them to do the same in the future.
ReplyDeleteI think your experience is something that is very relatable. Just like you, I guess most of us would always have that hesitation to give money to street children because maybe a part of us wants to keep ourselves safe from the dangerous possibilities. However, I believe that just like you, most, if not all, of us are also bothered or disturbed every time we do not give alms to these kids. And I really commend you for thinking of a good way to help these kids in such a way that you are not just making them dependent on you. Also, I like what you said that the idea of responsibility is not always in the form of one sided generosity. And we can relate this to what the Bible said: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. I guess to be responsible for someone is not just to do something for him that will help him for a day but to be responsible for someone means to do something for him that will make his whole life better.
ReplyDeleteHazel Alino
Ph102 A
Interactions with kids on the street is always like gambling to me as you never know how they're going to react. My friend gave Cibo leftovers to some street kids once and in response to it not being money, they threw the food on her car's window in anger. And sometimes, they don't even ask for money and they help you out in finding directions if you look lost. It's just really a gray area.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to play the pessimist as there are so many sides and ways to deal with the problem of kids being on the street. Once, I was in the 7 Eleven at around 11pm at night along Esteban Abada. I was swarmed by a group of 8-12 year olds asking for my chips that I had just purchased. I had not eaten dinner yet and I didn't have enough on me at that moment to purchase another bag so I said no. A few seconds later police cars surrounded the area and the kids bolted in so many different directions. They rounded them up and "arrested" the kids. Some of them were troublemakers in the area apparently and all were disobeying the curfew law. The ones who were apprehended for the first time were let go with warnings but several kids moped their way into the policemen's Tamaraw as they were held on the wrist by several officers.
We don't really know who we are "helping". They could be people who are just caught in a bad situation. They could be people who are choosing to be in their situation. There's no way really to tell. I guess what I'm saying is that either way, what you did made a lot of sense. If they were good kids, you were still able to help them out. If they were just manipulating the situation, you still showed them the value of getting something from some sort of work. There was an exchange and it wasn't just "free".
So kudos. :)
- Alix Apostolicas PH102 A