a "Mother" PIMPS her kids out to beg at 12 Midnight

November 23, 2007: Manila Philippines - 11 year old Edison is roaming the streets at 12:29AM

Go back to the posts on Rosa & Edison from November 27, 2007.

I went through that days files and remembered that on Nov.23rd. at 12:29am I went out to get a soda from the corner 7-11 as I sometimes do when I can't sleep there, and felt a presence on my 6, as I began to cross the street.

That's what we call a 'pre-incident indicator' (as we say in the business) and in Metro Manila while crossing the street with the big camera, you need to pay attention to that sense IMMEDIATELY.

It was Edison who swooped out from in back of me, on my right hand side as I started to spin around (I shot the top frame 'from the hip' while moving) I was told his biological Mother was taking the kids down here at night, to "sell" cheap flowers to foreigners who frequent a notorious girlie bar here....otherwise known as BEGGING.

I asked him what adult was with him, and where Rosa was - he told me that Auntie Josie was with them, down the street, and that they were indeed 'selling flowers', but Rosa was in Pasay City (where they had to move to) asleep.

I bit my lip and spit out a low "Edison - what the HELL are you doing out here after midnight...???" and asked them both if they'd like to come have a meal at the cheap coffee shop I go to down the street, and I got them both a good meal there.

In hindsight, I think Edison's Mother was there somewhere, maybe hiding - and was afraid of meeting me on such short notice.

I'm sure someone told her how pissed off I was, that Rosa & Edison - 2 formerly homeless children who I'd known for almost 4 years - kids I spent time with; taught, fed & clothed them as best I could - were put out (Pimped Out) to beg on the streets.

I wanted to meet their Mama - I wanted to see if Mama was old & decrepit, maybe handicapped & not able to work, etc.

I was giving them the benefit of the doubt.

Good Sunday Evening to you all,
PJAMES