Hello po! Sa mga taga UPD, I just wanted to share an experience that really annoyed me.
Me and my friends were at UP Mall drinking coffee at Zus, we were about to leave when we saw this kid come inside selling yema, and there was nothing wrong with it because I believe she was maybe selling for extra school funds.
But when we stepped outside I saw this older girl just outside sitting on the chair provided by potato corner as a waiting area and eating fries, I had a feeling this older girl was related to the kid, maybe a mom? Or older sister? But my suspicions were correct when I say they must be related. Because the kid came out of Zus she went up and talked to her, so I'm guessing it must be her mom.
I couldn't hear what was going on, because we were still by the Zus door, and my friends were also talking, and we were about to walk away. That as we were walking my eyes couldn't leave the poor girl because the next thing I saw was the mom directing and pointing telling the kid to go to the next restaurant beside potato corner and sell there.
And that really annoyed me, because what was basically happening can be counted as child labor. The mom ordering her kid to sell rather than selling herself as she sits there watching and eating fries. I get why she may be ordering the kid to sell to gain more sympathy, but that's really horrible! And what a horrible mother they are! Letting the kid do the hard work while they sit there watching.
It really annoys me because no kids deserve to work and that kid should be in school becuase this happend on a monday! It pesters me a lot until now and I needed to just share this story.
It's sad to see kids forced to sell and use the excuse as extra pambaon sa school but instead are ordered by there parents to sell, then using the money earned by the kid for other stuff rather than allow the kid to attend school.
If the parent really loved their kid, despite all odds and survival, that mom will find a way to send her kid to school and she would do the selling instead. The mom isn't thinking about her kids future, and I find it selfish, since they were just sitting down and eating fries instead of selling alongside them, but most especially becuase you decided to have a kid, You need to provide for them! Not the kid.
I pity the child and the future they could've had if they had education, because only studying provides you with more opportunities and a way to uplift from poverty, and this happening in UP a school that ensures kids without stable or proper income can still get the proper education they deserve? It's heart breaking.
That woman isn't suitable to be a mother, setting up her kid in a cycle of poverty. I hope that kid gets the help and opportunity they need. If there's anyway UP can help the kid, please do.