[1 of Juan Hundred] “Lola Clarita and Her Homeless Homies”
Binondo, Manila, PH | March 6, 2016 | Photo and Story by Dennis Dancel
Clarita and her husband sold newspapers on a street corner in Soler Street for most of her life. With the advent of the internet age and new technology, they noticed the declining number of people buying the printed news. And when she lost her husband to an illness more than a decade ago, she decided to give up selling newspapers.
Now 78 and very dependent on her wheelchair because of arthritis, Clarita has moved in with his son’s family. They share a small shack in an informal settlers community nearby. Not wanting to be a burden to her son, she goes to Binondo Church everyday, always praying that there will be kindhearted people who would give her “limos” (or alms).
While I was talking to her, a couple of teen-aged boys suddenly approached us, carefully observing and watching what was happening. When I asked Lola Clarita if they were her grandchildren, she said that they were friends who would always watch over her whenever they see people milling around her area. She does not even know their names.
She said a lot of people have already taken her photo, most of whom are tourists.
I asked her if any of them have given her a copy of her photo. Nobody has ever come back to give her one.
I promised her I would.
Promise kept.
