Anger. Sadness. Love. Hope.
Day 2 in Cebu — A mixture of anger, sadness, love and hope.
The Corruption:
A troika of shameless landowners, heartless government and greedy developers leading the drive towards so-called ‘progress’, evicting entire communities in order to replace their homes with hollow and out of place skyscrapers, a reminder that in Cebu wealth belongs to the few, not to the downtrodden many.
The River:
A beautiful, secluded pathway, hidden away from the bustle of the city streets. Shaded, a cool breeze offering a temporary respite from the suffocating heat.
It was not unspoiled however, the river a murky grey, raw sewerage flowing freely, the stench almost overpowering. The pathway was a maze: crushed plastic, cracked concrete and slimy waste.
The path led towards another thriving community, invisible from the main city boulevards, as if by design.
Which of course it was; the troika of developers, government officials and landowners complicit yet again, seizing on the vulnerability of unprotected residents and to further their drive for wealth and unequal prosperity.
This particular community, we were told, had seen many evictions, with many more residents vulnerable. Only those fortune enough to own their property were assured of their right to a home.
Earlier that day we had seen the crushing effect of corruption, a community reduced to 8 families, hemmed into a small space whilst a grandiose skyscraper hotel overshadowed them.
It was in the riverside community that I saw the Dog.
The Dog:
Skin and Bones.
Emaciated.
Closer to death than life.
Poo on its paw.
Probably not its own.
At first I gazed at it transfixed, afraid to keep looking, unable to turn away.
I thought of myself first.
What if it touched me, could I get rabies?
I thought not of the dog, not of the circumstances that left it as little more than walking bones. I did not think of its owners, of their own food circumstances.
Do they go to bed hungry at night?
Has poverty left them unable to feed their children too?
Or was the dog a stray, forgotten and discarded by an owner who simply could not provide for their four-legged companion?
I did not consider these issues.
I thought of myself first.
Selfish.
The Lunch:
After a morning touring the Redemptorist parish in the sweltering heat, we returned to the community centre to be greeted by an incredible spread — noodles, spring rolls, salad and of course the staple rice. The family of one of the community leaders had prepared the meal while we were out exploring. Not only was it a delicious meal, it was a beautiful gesture, welcoming us to the community and making us feel very much at home.
The People:
The Philippines is a strange land, a foreign land, completely alien to any prior life experience of mine.
The people, whether that be a woman on a Jeepney, a child in the Badjao tribe or the chatty bag-packer in the local supermarket, have made the strange and surreal seem incredibly understandable and welcoming.
And they fill me with hope — The Cebuano I met today and the Badjao I met yesterday do not bemoan what they do not have. They are filled with happiness, making the most of what is at their disposal whilst working towards a better further.
The spirit of Meitheal is very much alive in Cebu.
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This was my second day in Cebu. I am only beginning my journey, taking the first steps towards learning, understanding and hopefully helping to make the world a better place and becoming a true global citizen. I will do my best, offering all that I can.
