ZAMBOANGA'S SOCIAL PROBLEM

I was rushing to meet a friend Jayvee Francisco somewhere at Camins, well actually I just wanted to have breakfast in one of the food chains here with Jayvee.

On the way, I saw several Badjaos, known as water people or sea gypsies along the crossing of Santa Cruz. They are using the middle island as their resting ground if the traffic lights in the go, but once it stopped to a red or yellow, they flocked the motorists, some directly asking money, others, using their indigenous drums, perform certain Badjao's song.

What irked me is that they are using toddlers, infants under the heat of the sun to beg and I am wondering if the social welfare people are doing something about this.

Once I saw a 7 year old male Badjao throwing an infant (probably his younger brother) to another boy situated on the other end of the island. Sigh!

My brother Bobong (who was my driver) had a turn to another direction towards Veterans Street.

Soon as we reached crossing of Veterans turning towards Nunez Street, rains fell.

Everyone was seeking cover except for a lone Badjao boy with his drums.

Ignoring the downpour that drenched him all over, the boy kept on singing hoping to get a few centavos from either the passengers or motorists.

With the sights, I decided to skip my breakfast and simply sip a hot chocolate drink in my favorite food nook.