A deaf & mute child in Cebu

Nov.22, 2006: Cebu Philippines

Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/500s f/5.0 at 41.0mm iso200

I first met Amon (it's just what the others call him, as no one seems to know his real name) while taking Lisa & LetLet to their daily meals at the local BBQ stand in their neighborhood - a smiling & energetic child who's clearly pretty much destitute & dirty, and frequently sleeps with the other kids in-need, on the street or where ever he can manage.

He was walking by, and he stopped to watch us while eating chicken - he was clearly hungry, and I immediately motioned for him to come over & join us, but he just stood there.

I asked the BBQ owner to quietly go over to him & just ask him what he'd like to eat, and bring it to him - but they told me he's deaf & mute, and they couldn't understand him.

I turned to him smiling & pointed at the chicken & pork grill, and then motioned to him to come sit at my table, which he did.....Amon sat next to me with Lisa & LetLet, and I made the motion of putting my fingers into my mouth, then I pointed at him saying 'kaoon ka na' meaning we're going to eat now, and he just smiled and pointed to the BBQ chicken on a stick, which he enjoyed with us, along with rice & Pepsi....and he didn't leave a single crumb on his plate.

Lisa & LetLet were smiling at me when I tried communicating with Amon - they knew exactly what I was doing - they knew I would not hesitate to buy food for their friends who were poor, just like I've always done for their Family.

No one knew who his parents were, or where they are - and Amon disappeared and went back to roaming with other kids right after his meal, and although he couldn't hear me speak English or Visayan, and he couldn't speak back to me, he did make small noises when he was happy or excited, as a deaf person would sound.

We got him a nice meal that day, and actually every day after that, while I was in Cebu....he always knew where to find me, and I was completely happy to be able to get him his meals.

I hope I can find him later this month in Cebu, before I have to get back to Manila.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES