Better Days Await the Children of Payatas

Although hundreds of families have lived on the dumpsite for years, the plight of the Payatas community only captured national headlines when tragedy struck in July 2000. Giving in to the weight of tons of garbage and torrential rains, part of the dumpsite collapsed and buried shanties, killing at least two hundred people.

        In June at the start of the school year in the Philippines, Aling Tess Solasco used to go around the neighborhood loaning money to raise five hundred pesos (roughly US$9) for her childrens tuition and books.
   None of her neighbors can afford to lend her the full amount for Aling Tess lives at the heart of Metro Manilas urban poor community, the Payatas dumpsite in Quezon City.
Although hundreds of families have lived on the dumpsite for years, the plight of the Payatas community only captured national headlines when tragedy struck in July 2000. Giving in to the weight of tons of garbage and torrential rains, part of the dumpsite collapsed and buried shanties, killing at least two hundred people.
Aling Tess and her family were spared but memories of the unfortunate incident remain fresh. And because they have nowhere else to go, they continue to make do with their hand-to-mouth existence in Payatas.
Fortunately, the incident served as a wake-up call for government to take action. Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), has provided assistance to Payatas as part of her administrations program on poverty alleviation. The DSWD then tapped an organization of Payatas residents called the Sandigan ng Magkakapit-bahay sa Lupang Pangako (SANKAP) to help select beneficiaries of Pres. Arroyos educational assistance program.
   Among the programs scholars is Aling Tesss 11-year old daughter, Glaysa. A consistent honor student from the time she started schooling, Glaysa has also won awards in competitions in journalism, oration, essay writing, among others. Despite the meager earnings of her father, who works at a gasoline station, Glaysa strived to do well at school.
Glaysa proved herself worthy of Pres. Arroyos scholarship grant when she received the highest honor on her second year at the Payatas B High School. The P10,000 she receives every year significantly contributes to her schooling and other needs. Aling Tess no longer has to ask for loans just so she can get enrolled.
Other children who were affected by the Payatas landslide tragedy have also benefited from the educational assistance. The social welfare department hopes that by supporting their education, it will help the young children of Payatas become responsible and productive individuals capable of supporting their families and serving as agents of change in their community.
   The contribution of the PGMA Educational Assistance Program to help raise the plight of poor children gained the attention of Childrens Hour in the Philippines, a fund-raising program for children and youth that encourages employees, individuals and organizations to donate one hour of their earnings. The Childrens Hour has given the program a years worth of educational assistance for the children of Payatas.
   This is good news for Glaysa, who is inspired to pursue political science in college and wants to be of service to others because of the many blessings that she has received. Its also good news for parents like Aling Tess, who wistfully says that her daughter will be able to finish her studies in just a few more years.
   For now, they hope for better days and thank the people who continue to give them the chance to fulfill their dreams.

If you want to help give a brighter future to children in the Philippines, you may send a check to Ayala Foundation USA at 255 Shoreline Drive, Suite 128, Redwood City, CA 94065. Donations may also be remitted online via www.lingkodpinoy.org. For more information about the Childrens Hour and other noteworthy projects in the Philippines, please call Myrna Araneta at (650) 598-3126 or e-mail us at afusa@ayalafoundation.org or visit our websites at www.ayalafdnusa.org and www.childrenshour.org.ph.