Tales of children coming from a broken family
11-year old kid turned into a father-mother-brother in the family
Jessie, his face hidden with a mask,
tells his deplorable story.
The scorching heat of a noonday sun burns his face and body as he drives his pedicab (trisikad in the dialect) loaded with plastic bottles of mineral water, plastic containers, tin cans, scrap irons and copper, and all recyclable materials. This is the life of the 11-year old Jessie, one of the number of children who are victims of a broken family.
At early age, he became the breadwinner of his family after they were left by his mother over her trisikad lover. Jessie's father has no capacity to work after he underwent an operation for his lung ailment. At present, a tube which serves as a drainer for his lung discharges is still attached to his body.
A third child among the five siblings, Jessie bravely carried the responsibility of feeding his father and three brothers. As responsible as he is, he decided to stop from going to school. Instead he sent his elder brother Jersey, 13 and younger brother Jason, 9 years old to a public elementary school. Jessie only finished his second grade. At a very young age, he became a father-mother and same time brother to his siblings.
Jersey is supposed to be in first year high school is now in grade three while Jerson is in grade 1. Their three-year old brother Bartolome Jr. is left with the care of his father when he is out to gather recyclable materials.
His only sister Lovimae, 16 was sent by his mother to the province of Antique to work as a guest relation officer in one of the clubs. They seldom see each other.
In an interview, Jessie said that he wakes up at 4 am to prepare the needs of his family. By 5 am, he is on his way to collect the reusable materials. He must be on the street early in the morning as there are also adults and kids who are collecting all these stuff.
In one day, he can collect and sell, what he gathered for the day, from P50 to P100. He sells all the recyclable materials in one of the junk shops in Baluarte. He collects all the stuffs from different barangays in the city. Aside from that, Jessie also conducts a regular visit in the houses referred to him by a church worker.
Jessie was also given the sole right to collect all recyclable materials in one schools in Jaro. The stuffs are kept by the school administrator purposely for him.
Jessie would buy a kilo of rice, viand and sometimes paracetamol for his father out of the day's earnings. He also sets aside whatever money he collects from selling copper for their electricity bill and water needs. "It is good our neighbor allowed us to tap electricity from their house. They were charged from P50-100 a month. I just paid P27 for our water," he proudly says.
They don't have a television set to watch programs. They would come to their neighbor's house to watch their favorite cartoons and telenovela shows. Despite of the absence of a tv set and other comforts at home, Jessie is still thankful that they have a house that shelters them from heat and rain.
Their house then was so old and unfit to live. Jessie and his siblings slept in places where they are caught by dark. Luckily, they received housing materials from the St. Anne Parish. Their house was eventually reconstructed for the family to live in.
When asked if he gets tired of his daily routine and if he envies other kids who are in school and enjoying their teen-age life, Jessie sadly replied he must work or else they will get hungry though they also get some support from the church. "Magutom kami kon indi ko magpamasura."
Jessie added that they do not receive any financial support from their mother. In fact, it was his sister who pays the rent for the room occupied by his mother and lover in Fort San Pedro. He was in mixed emotion when he said their mother left them.
"Ginbayaan gid kami ni nanay sa tiyempo nga kinahanglan siya namon kag ni tatay," Jessie was so hurt and angry when he uttered these words. My father was sick and yet she left us in favor of her lover. She forgot her responsibility. "Maayo tani kon nag-upod siya sa manggaranon kag gin suportahan kami bisan bugas lang."
Jessie who is supposed to be thinking of something else fit to his age must have understood why his parents separated. She left us because our father could not have sex with her anymore. He said it sounds "bastos" but it is true. "Bastos na sa galing amo ina ang matuod, " he speaks with maturity in his voice.
He narrated that his mother and lover even attempted to grab the tube inserted to his father's body when they were caught in the act sleeping together in the house owned by his mother's sister. It is good that his father was able to shout and ask help from their neighbor. The incident was recorded at the Molo police station.
Prior to the incident, Jessie said his father already received information that his mother is having an affair with a different man. When confronted by his father, his mother would tell him "dakpon mo gid kami sa akto" (you should caught us in the act).
Jessie described his mother as a drug dependent and blamed her for all the hardship they have right now. She could be of help to us. She could have attended to the needs and that of our father's.
When asked if he wants his father and mother to be back again as husband and wife, he protested saying he doesn't want to. "Indi ko ya gusto kay gintunto niya si tatay." If she wants, she can go back to our house to take care our father but not as a wife.
The young boy, in a crying voice, said he got all his strength from God in these trying times of his life. He does not neglect to attend Sunday masses. I am praying that God will hear all my prayers and more people will help us. I pray that God will heal my father so that he can also work and send all of us to school.
(Editor's note: The story of two other children coming from a broken family will be featured in the next issues.)