THE STORYOF

JUN-JUN

JOHN PAULAND

WRITTEN BY AJAE EVANGELISTA

PHOTOS BYMARCO GUTIERREZ

DAN TANAJAE EVANGELISTA

Ang lansangan ay tanghalan ng ating lipunan.

- Maluo Jacob (Ang Juan Tamban)

JUST ANOTHER WALK - A LITTLE GIRL STROLLS THE STREETS OF CORRALES, AS SHE ASKS FOR ALMS FROM STUDENTS AT THE NEARBY UNIVERSITY.

INTRODUCTION

WAITING IN VAIN - AN OLD DISABLED MAN PATIENTLY WAITING FOR PASSERBYS TO GIVE HIM COINS.

They say that if our society is a one big show, the streets is our one huge stage. This is where most of our daily lives takes place. With every road sign that guides our path, with every step we take as we pass by or run for our own business , this simple act we do on the streets intertwines and creates a story.

But as we get busy with our own spotlight, we tend to forget about that dim light directed to the street’s so called insignificant characters, the street settlers. The dim light that is waiting to shine and be noticed. Where stories and lives are just to be unfolded infront of us.

This is a photo-essay that hopes to give a portion of our spotlight to them, a portion of our hearts to hear out their thoughts. A portion of your story to get intertwined with theirs.

But the question is, are you willing to?

SINKO - A USED BOTTLE WHERE THIS STREET KID PLACES HIS COLLECTED MONEY FROM THE PEOPLE PASSING BY THE STREETS.

LUNCH TIME - JUN-JUN AND JOHN PAUL ENJOYS A FEAST GIVEN BY SOME SMB VOLUNTEERS DURING LUNCH TIME.

THE STORYOF

JUN-JUN

JOHN PAULAND

WRITTEN BY AJAE EVANGELISTA

PHOTOS BYMARCO GUTIERREZ

DAN TANAJAE EVANGELISTA

JUN-JUN11 years old

DREAMING OF BEST SELLERS - JUN-JUN SLEEPS INFRONT OF A BISTRO, DREAMING THAT ONE DAY HE WILL HAVE A TASTE OF A GOOD TOMORROW.

Meet Jun-Jun, an 11 year old street kid roaming around the streets of divisoria. An active kid that loves to sing and play around. He in a very age was aware of the difficulties in life. He chose to roam around and scavenge garbage for food, due to the poverty his family is experiencing. Since his parents cannot afford to provide him good education, he was forced into scavenging garbage and asking for alms in the streets of Divisoria.

When I asked him what was his dreams, he answered that he wanted to be a soldier in order to help his government. An ironic sight, a kid wanting to help the system that didn’t even bother to take a chance to help him.

SO NEAR YET SO FAR - JUN-JUN STARES AT THE PEOPLE INSIDE A BISTRO,BEGGING FOR THEIR SYMPATHY AND OFFER HIM FOOD.

ONE DAY I WILL - JUN-JUN STARES BLANKLY AT PEOPLE, HOPING THAT ONE DAY HIS DREAMS WILL COME TRUE.

“GUSTO NAKO MAHIMONG SUNDALOPAGDAKO NAKO

ARON MATABANGAN NAKO ANG GOBYERNO.”

JUN-JUN

BUT FIRST LET ME TAKE A SELFIE - JUN-JUN MIMICS AS IF HE WAS HOLDING A SMARTPHONE WHILE TAKING A SELFIE, DURING OUR STROLL AROUND THE STREETS OF DIVISORIA

JOHN PAUL12 years old

JOHN PAUL - A SMILE AFTER A GOOD HUNT.

TREASURE - JOHN PAUL COLLECTS USED PLASTIC BOTTLES FOR A LIVING.

Meet John Paul, a 12 year old street kid and a good buddy of Jun-Jun. He plays the role of a “kuya” for Jun-Jun. Though they have almost the same age, it is evident in the way he acts towards Jun-Jun, that he is taking charge of the responsibilities. He, like Jun-Jun, is a victim of poverty. Without proper grooming and education. He together with Jun-Jun, roams the streets of Divisoria, hunting for used plastic bottles. They would exchange this bottles for small coins in junk shops.

He said that instead of engaging into sniffing rugby and stealing, he would rather scavenge garbage. He finds that this job is decent, and one day through this he will find his way out of the pit of poverty.

SI KUYA- JOHN PAUL ASSISTS JUN-JUN INTO STORING THEIR COLLECTED USED BOTTLES.

“MANGITA NALANG KOG BASURA UG MANGAYO SA MGA TAO KESA MAG-RUGBY

OR MANGAWAT, YA.”

JOHN PAUL

THE IRONY- A BLESSED KID, AWAY FROM THE TERROR OF POVERTY, AND THE VICTIMS OF IT, ENJOYING A PORTION OF HAPPINESS.

SMILES- SERIES OF SMILES AS THE SMALL INTERVIEWS WITH JUN-JUN AND JOHN PAUL ENDS.

The day ended and I together with my group unfolded a real story beneath the eyes of these street children. Proof that poverty is real, and life is precious. Evidences that goodness is possible and it lives inside each and everyone, that if these little children can dream of something that would help their society, how come we cannot dream for about something good for them too.

Now that the story is told, the remaining question is...

...will you be willing to act?

ARE YOU WILLING TO HEAR MY STORY?

THEMADPHOTOJOURNALISTS 2014