With a slaughterhouse on one side, a black stagnant body of water on the other and a Manila City garbage site at the entrance, this is not the place you imagined raising a family.
For all residents of the Vitas Community in Tondo, Manila, this is the case, but due to forces outside their control they all ended up living here.
The majority of homes in Vitas are part of a Government Housing Project. These sites were set up by the government to supply homes to those families whose houses were taken from them or destroyed by the hand of government acquisition.
Told that they would be forced to leave their original homes, but new homes would be provided for them, they found themselves in Vitas.
However the positioning of these blocks could not be worse. Flies, sounds and smells of malnutritioned cows and pigs waft in the windows, as all the flats on the left side literally back onto an open slaughterhouse. A rubbish and petrol filled black lake is what backs onto the flats on the right side, and a Manila City rubbish dump is what faces the entrance. Which to state the obvious is not the most ideal environment for young children or people of any age for that matter to live. Knowing that these homes were for families with up to 10 children, this site was chosen by the Government.
The community has electricity but no plumbing which can prove to be difficult for those living on the upper levels. Obtaining fresh water and disposing of the old is a daily job for all residents. A unit consist of one room measured on average at 4 by 8 meters. Most families have put up dividers using plywood or cardboard to create separate sections for the children and a toilet.
There is one health center in Vitas, however it is only open once a week and has a select amount of patients it can take on that day.
On the far side of the lake is a hill known as Smokey Mountain. In the past this hill was the original garbage dump site, which is what has given it its height, however these days the city garbage is delivered to the space at the front of the community. This explains the floating rubbish, smell and colour of the lake that borders this community.
But of all the shocking facts about Vitas this one takes the cake.
Residents are forced to pay rent for this arrangement.
Their original homes were taken or destroyed without their consent, they are then brought here only to be told that this is your new home, the rates are as follows.
Most of the residents are in the below minimum income earning bracket. Working in areas such as pedi-cab drivers, tricycle drivers, jeepney drivers, construction laborers, carpenters, messengers, security guards, laundry workers, street food vendors or housewives, owning small "Sari Sari" (variety) stores that they operate from their homes. I am told that most available work is menial and irregular, so many are unemployed for long periods. Then there are those families who find themselves scavenging at the dump site across the road.
So the idea of finding somewhere else is not an option. Most struggle to pay their monthly rent payment as their focus is more on feeding/clothing the family, finding work and sending those children that attend school, to school.
Those families that continue to miss payments are eventually removed and join the many homeless living on the streets of Manila today. Or move to the local city dump site and join the many "working homeless" who reside there. Their flat is quickly filled by the next group of families on the waitinglist, of those who have had their home taken away by the government.
It is the view of the ‘Concerned Mothers League’ (a unified group of mothers from the Vitas community) that Government Housing Projects such as this, exist not to fulfill Government promises, but to generate funds from the lower class.
The Concerned Mothers League is located on the rooftop of one of the housing blocks in Vitas. In this cage style construction there is a small collection of donated books and basic first aid facilities. The group gets together to discuss women’s issues, community issues, empowerment, and to hold small educational events for women and children in the community.
When talking to them about education and the issues involved in sending their children to school, they brought up these problems.
That the price of school text books is way too expensive when you compare it to an average daily income in the Philippines. So most mothers are forced to buy books with other families, meaning that in the average classroom of a lower class school there is a 3 to 1 ratio at best. 3 children to one book. Which is not very practical when it comes to filling in answers in the text book.
The mothers explained that most children are considered lucky to finish primary school, even more so to attend secondary school, and it is extremely rare for them to go to college. There are no admission fees to most primary and secondary state schools. However there are fees for such things as tables, chairs, light bulbs etc. These fees are what they call "expected donations", it is called a donation however it is unofficially compulsorily as in the past students have been asked not to attend for not submitting a donation.
When a child has an exam, they are not permitted to attend the exam without first purchasing the exam paper.
I am told that the Government started a "Food For School Program" for elementary, which in theory was a great idea. It was created with the aim to encourage more children to attend school. As many children start working at an early age to provide for their family, they are not able to attend school. This program offered a kilogram of rice per day to a child that attends all classes.
"However the problem is that this offer only extends to one child per household, and in a family of nine children that is not a big incentive" said one of the mothers from CML, who does have nine children.
Also the rice itself is of the poorest quality, not nutritional or clean, according to the mothers. So this program which was a great idea, in practice doesn’t work. Children are still needed to join the workforce early to help their family survive.
The Concerned Mothers League works with ‘Anakbayan’, a group of male and female youth leaders aged 15 to 19 from the Vitas Community. This group takes care of the local youth, encouraging them to steer clear of drugs and encourages them to have a political voice and participate in mobilizations and protests.
In recent weeks the military has entered Vitas, setting up a base outside ‘Permanent House’, one of the housing blocks. They have initiated curfew and spread fear community wide. At one community meeting held by the military a short film was shown entitled "Know Thy Enemy". In this video the military tagged many organizations and groups, branding them as fronts for terrorist groups. Some groups mentioned were small trusted NGOs who offer medical help and education to the Vitas community, or civil society groups clambering for change, promoting land rights and policy reforms.
The military presence in Vitas is just another reminder that this government does not take well to anyone who might disagrees with the way they do things.
And that terrorism is something they know far too well.
It is a clear message of - be silent.
As for the community, they continue to scramble to pay the rent, feed the family and find time to laugh.
We are currently collecting money for school books and medical supplies.
For all residents of the Vitas Community in Tondo, Manila, this is the case, but due to forces outside their control they all ended up living here.
The majority of homes in Vitas are part of a Government Housing Project. These sites were set up by the government to supply homes to those families whose houses were taken from them or destroyed by the hand of government acquisition.
Told that they would be forced to leave their original homes, but new homes would be provided for them, they found themselves in Vitas.
However the positioning of these blocks could not be worse. Flies, sounds and smells of malnutritioned cows and pigs waft in the windows, as all the flats on the left side literally back onto an open slaughterhouse. A rubbish and petrol filled black lake is what backs onto the flats on the right side, and a Manila City rubbish dump is what faces the entrance. Which to state the obvious is not the most ideal environment for young children or people of any age for that matter to live. Knowing that these homes were for families with up to 10 children, this site was chosen by the Government.
The community has electricity but no plumbing which can prove to be difficult for those living on the upper levels. Obtaining fresh water and disposing of the old is a daily job for all residents. A unit consist of one room measured on average at 4 by 8 meters. Most families have put up dividers using plywood or cardboard to create separate sections for the children and a toilet.
There is one health center in Vitas, however it is only open once a week and has a select amount of patients it can take on that day.
On the far side of the lake is a hill known as Smokey Mountain. In the past this hill was the original garbage dump site, which is what has given it its height, however these days the city garbage is delivered to the space at the front of the community. This explains the floating rubbish, smell and colour of the lake that borders this community.
But of all the shocking facts about Vitas this one takes the cake.
Residents are forced to pay rent for this arrangement.
Their original homes were taken or destroyed without their consent, they are then brought here only to be told that this is your new home, the rates are as follows.
Most of the residents are in the below minimum income earning bracket. Working in areas such as pedi-cab drivers, tricycle drivers, jeepney drivers, construction laborers, carpenters, messengers, security guards, laundry workers, street food vendors or housewives, owning small "Sari Sari" (variety) stores that they operate from their homes. I am told that most available work is menial and irregular, so many are unemployed for long periods. Then there are those families who find themselves scavenging at the dump site across the road.
So the idea of finding somewhere else is not an option. Most struggle to pay their monthly rent payment as their focus is more on feeding/clothing the family, finding work and sending those children that attend school, to school.
Those families that continue to miss payments are eventually removed and join the many homeless living on the streets of Manila today. Or move to the local city dump site and join the many "working homeless" who reside there. Their flat is quickly filled by the next group of families on the waitinglist, of those who have had their home taken away by the government.
It is the view of the ‘Concerned Mothers League’ (a unified group of mothers from the Vitas community) that Government Housing Projects such as this, exist not to fulfill Government promises, but to generate funds from the lower class.
The Concerned Mothers League is located on the rooftop of one of the housing blocks in Vitas. In this cage style construction there is a small collection of donated books and basic first aid facilities. The group gets together to discuss women’s issues, community issues, empowerment, and to hold small educational events for women and children in the community.
When talking to them about education and the issues involved in sending their children to school, they brought up these problems.
That the price of school text books is way too expensive when you compare it to an average daily income in the Philippines. So most mothers are forced to buy books with other families, meaning that in the average classroom of a lower class school there is a 3 to 1 ratio at best. 3 children to one book. Which is not very practical when it comes to filling in answers in the text book.
The mothers explained that most children are considered lucky to finish primary school, even more so to attend secondary school, and it is extremely rare for them to go to college. There are no admission fees to most primary and secondary state schools. However there are fees for such things as tables, chairs, light bulbs etc. These fees are what they call "expected donations", it is called a donation however it is unofficially compulsorily as in the past students have been asked not to attend for not submitting a donation.
When a child has an exam, they are not permitted to attend the exam without first purchasing the exam paper.
I am told that the Government started a "Food For School Program" for elementary, which in theory was a great idea. It was created with the aim to encourage more children to attend school. As many children start working at an early age to provide for their family, they are not able to attend school. This program offered a kilogram of rice per day to a child that attends all classes.
"However the problem is that this offer only extends to one child per household, and in a family of nine children that is not a big incentive" said one of the mothers from CML, who does have nine children.
Also the rice itself is of the poorest quality, not nutritional or clean, according to the mothers. So this program which was a great idea, in practice doesn’t work. Children are still needed to join the workforce early to help their family survive.
The Concerned Mothers League works with ‘Anakbayan’, a group of male and female youth leaders aged 15 to 19 from the Vitas Community. This group takes care of the local youth, encouraging them to steer clear of drugs and encourages them to have a political voice and participate in mobilizations and protests.
In recent weeks the military has entered Vitas, setting up a base outside ‘Permanent House’, one of the housing blocks. They have initiated curfew and spread fear community wide. At one community meeting held by the military a short film was shown entitled "Know Thy Enemy". In this video the military tagged many organizations and groups, branding them as fronts for terrorist groups. Some groups mentioned were small trusted NGOs who offer medical help and education to the Vitas community, or civil society groups clambering for change, promoting land rights and policy reforms.
The military presence in Vitas is just another reminder that this government does not take well to anyone who might disagrees with the way they do things.
And that terrorism is something they know far too well.
It is a clear message of - be silent.
As for the community, they continue to scramble to pay the rent, feed the family and find time to laugh.
We are currently collecting money for school books and medical supplies.
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