In Heaven's Eyes

Payatas is a place that's not only filled with garbage. It's filled with all kinds of vice. It's also a place full of children.

Young boys, barely 10, play billiards with adults along Pampanga Street.
Children walk up and down Pampanga, drugs tugged beneath and stapled to their tees.
"Who takes care of you?" "My sibling"
"Where is mama and papa?" "working in the dumpsite" or "dead" or "prison"

I've known Nicasio and his sister Joannie since he was 5. Nicassio 1st enrolled in Paaralang Pantao for the kindergarten class. He'll be 10 this May. His father passed away about 2 years ago. His illiterate mum and 2 older sisters did not know what to do. In their little hut, they kept the father's body for almost a month till the barangay authorities stepped into help. The death was finally certified and the family could proceed to bury the body. Joannie now 15 stopped school around that time. She began work as a scavenger atop the infamous Payatas Dumpsite. Mother does not come out of their home. She seems to be ill, extremely underweight, suspected TB. But she is not seeking treatment. A few weeks ago, Nicassio came to school with a fever. He had stepped on a rusty nail the day before. Mayb was unable to help him as Joannie would have to give her his medical cert before the German doctors would see to him. Joannie was afraid. She feared the same thing would happen to Nicassio just like her dad. Eventually Nicasio was taken to the health centre an he eventually recovered. Nicasio is one of the sweetest kids I've ever met. "Teacher, please wait for Arnil." he told us one day when we were about to leave for our photo project. "Arnil is working and rushing for a bath. Please wait awhile for him". "Teacher, let me go look for Joshua" he volunteered another day when Joshua failed to show up for the photo project.

Just last week, he heard us asking teacher Jane for sticker labels. He pulled out an a4 sheet of bright orange sticker labels. "Here you can have this Ate May. I found many at the dumpsite. I have many at home. I'll bring more tomorrow." And he did :) Nicassio can read! the other day he saw a sign and read it aloud "Bi ll i ard!" He's the most diligent child in the school and I know it breaks Tita Letty's heart that this boy does not have a birth certifcate to be enrolled in school.

"Nicasio what will you do in May if you can't get into a formal school?"
With a downcast look he says softly, "I'll work. Mam Letty says I cannot come back next year" This is what Tita has told him to encourage him to get into formal school.
"School shoes and uniforms are too expensive. We can't afford them."
"If Ate Sherlyn gives you shoes and uniform will you go to formal school next year?"
With a wide grin he nods, "Yes".


My heart cries for Little Roman. He's just 8 but he is as tough as underground gang leader. "Do you know who my father is?" he once proudly announced to all his friends.
"He's the one who'll rob! No one is afraid of him! He's in city jail."
Roman has sudden bursts of outrage throughout lessons. At times, he would bolt out of class and attempt to leave the school. Mayb has a hard time getting him away from the school gate. Sometimes when he is naughty, Tita Letty would ask him to look after the gate of the school, which he proudly does. Roman is ahead of his classmates. He is bored and shows it. He picks books from the shelves. Books are his refuge. Though he can't read yet, he goes through the illustrations page to page. This is the time Roman is the most peaceful. Roman often comes late for school. No one looks at him when he's late or he would glare angrily. He glares even at his teacher and Tita Letty. Some mornings, Roman walks all the way to the school gate. He waits for the teacher to notice him. Then he turns around and heads home.

Last week, Roman was very happy to see us. He came to school half and hour early. "Are you happy Roman?"
"No inside I am not happy...
I eat snacks everyday for my meals. Grandma cooks but sometimes she does not give me food so I eat out. I love my siblings. Grandma doesn't love me. Sometimes she locks me up. My mother is not my friend. I love my mother more than I love my father. I've only seen my father twice. He's in prison. There's fighting everyday at home. My siblings are fighting at home. My eldest brother in Grade 5 fights with me. Grandma fights with me also. I'm the only one beaten by my grandma. My other siblings are not beaten by my grandma, only me. That's why I am angry when I come to school. I don't want to make friends."

Erwin is one strong little boy. At home he does all the household chores. Cleaning, washing, cooking and even fetching water. He and Nicassio are good friends. They sit side by side in school. Erwin studies hard. He's as clever as Nicassio. Erwin comes for all the photo sessions. He likes to take his own face. :)



This gate does not look like much. But it leads the children to a safe place away from scavenging in the heat, drugs, pornography and other kinds of abuse.


Here the children can take off their shoes. They dont have to be afraid. This is Roman's hiding place from an angry man who had threatened to kill him. This is a place where Pepito can learn to read and write, away from the pornography at home. This is a place where Arnil and Cherilyn know they will not be hit. There is no broken glass. No one will get bruised, cut or hurt.
This week we told them the story of Noah's ark and God's promise. The children learnt to catch a rainbow. They listened to how brave David stood up against the fierce giant, Goliath. They made crowns because they are little kings and queens in heaven's eyes.