Begging Child, Pampanga Philippines

Dec.10, 2005: Pampanga Philippines
Camera: Olympus E1 digital SLR

This is an interesting photo & story: a young girl who aggressively begs from foriegners she sees in Pampanga.
...the image has a photojournalistic feel to it, and she approached me on a number of occasions for money.

Although I don't give out money - I DO give out food, and she repeatedly refused my offers of food, RICE, meals, etc. - and that puzzled me, but it at least told me she wasn't very hungry....it also told me she probably makes as much or more from begging, than a local workers daily wage there. (nonetheless, I don't hold that against her or judge her)

...I really wanted to photograph her expressive face, but she was just too shy and not interested.

I took 2 images of her, and after she realized I wasn't going to give her money, she didn't want her picture taken anymore, so I respected her wishes and thanked her.
...to date, she is the only person in Philippines who's ever refused my camera - and that's ok too - but I did want to tell the story behind the image.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES