a year later, still homeless

Nov.23, 2007 & Nov.21, 2006: Manila Philippines

Nov.21, 2006: Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/500s f/3.5 at 50.0mm iso400

...almost a year to the day between these 2 images taken of this homeless child whose name I do not know - my immediate thoughts are that she does not look in as good a condition in 2007 as she did in 2006 in the bottom image, where I was sitting quietly in a local back alley coffee shop and noticed her fidgeting with her hand; her body language suggesting she wanted food, so I asked the counter girl to bring her a plate of whatever she liked, as she would not come sit at my table.

I've never seen an adult with this child; I don't know if there's anyone looking after her, and she's most likely on her own.

She still won't look me in the eye most times, and when I passed her last month in the top image I gave her all the raisin bread I was carrying from 7-11, and all the coins in my pocket.

The song 'Crystal ball' by Keane was playing in my head all the time I was in Manila, and everywhere I looked that week I was constantly being disappointed; feeling vulnerable & sad when I saw the kids on the streets, the lyric:
"..oh crystal ball/crystal ball, save us all - tell me life is beautiful..."

"...I don't know where I am, and I don't really care.....I look myself in the eye, there's no one there..."
"...I fall upon the earth, I call upon the air....but all I get is the same old vacant stare..."

I was worried about my Father back in the USA - I was worried about the familiar faces I was seeing who were no better off then last year; it all made me feel pretty helpless in many ways...