Beautiful Smile/Sad Smile

Feb. 11, 2005: Bantayan

My first image of Bonita, and my favorite portrait of her - taken a block away from the local elementary school.

Her name is Bonita, and to look at her, you'd never realize there was anything wrong in her life, but locals would tell me (and we did confirm it) she has an 11 year-old daughter, that the state took away and placed in an Orphanage off Bantayan - somewhere in Cebu City, Philippines.

Apparantly, Bonita does not understand - or can not understand this, and she spends her days roaming the street by the local elementary school, searching for her daughter twice per day - lunchtime when the children go home for lunch, and 5pm when the school day ends...

Long before my http://www.projectrice.org became an official effort, I was using my own money to make sure Bonita had her meals during the days we saw her, and we even went shopping for Bonita & her new baby ChinChin in early 2006, putting together a gift package of dresses for Bonita & baby clothes for ChinChin; items they desparately needed.

Needless to say, she has never been able to locate her daughter - and is most likely suffering from some sort of a mental/medical condition - and since she is extremely poor, can not afford to see a doctor - or to obtain any medication, etc.

There is a tremendous need on Bantayan for people like Bonita, her baby & others that I am trying to get addressed there.

Thank you for reading this today.
PJAMES