The finish line is already approaching the horizon for our Baclayan group. Thankfully we have hundreds upon hundreds of photos to go through and discuss with the kids. They have really been a stellar group. Last week we talked about possible photostory ideas and by our next session they had come back with dozens of snapped shots to look through. Giggling into the palms of their hands they sat wide-eyed as I clicked through each thumbnail. Who's this? I would ask pointing to different portraits as I passed, They would answer, "my cousin", "my brother", "my parents". These pictures have proven to be monographs of bits of each of their hearts and you can really feel it when you look through their growing portfolios.
Woven throughout the photographs are stories that paint the landscape of the lives of these kids. Stories of school daze, family ties, and their house and home -- all things that immediately resonate with Meagan and me but at the same time take us to a place we could never had imagined. Of classrooms full of blue and white checkered skirts inches from the floor: uniforms brought to a whole new level. Of brothers, sisters, cousins, uncles and aunts sitting outside of their straw and bamboo laden home, talking and smiling. Of long hikes up and down their mountain, to and from school, giggling and playing the whole way. Of stern toddler gazes straight into the lens of the camera-- offering up their confusion and questioning of what device is shining back at them. Stories of making woven baskets and beaded necklaces which help support their livelihood.
Of farming and the ecosystem they live in. Of their uses of coconuts as the Philippines is the largest producer of the fruit and as such it is a major player in the economy and lives of those living here. From coconuts Baclayan communities can make oil which they use as oral and topical medication and for cooking. They make coco-jam to sell to vendors and restaurants. They drink coconut water for hydration, pick fawns for basket weaving and building roofs and crack shells for fuel and source of charcoal. Fresh husks can be used to clean the body or wash dishes. Coconut trunks are used to build sturdy roads and walls of their homes and the leftover bits are used as livestock feed. Their photographs tell these stories.
Finally, the undercurrent of the images is the story of poverty. Living with less than anybody able to read this post. Living with a constant lack of food, nutrition and health.
We talked about these stories with our participants and in the midst of our discussion one of our photographers, Juliet, interjected -- But Ate, thats why we have school. Confused, I looked at her, what do you mean, I asked. At school, they give food. Breakfast and lunch-- the Feeding Program provides. And with that, the rest of the group chimed in, yes yes! Ate, the feeding program! More than 100 children! Go to school! They eat there!
We talked about these stories with our participants and in the midst of our discussion one of our photographers, Juliet, interjected -- But Ate, thats why we have school. Confused, I looked at her, what do you mean, I asked. At school, they give food. Breakfast and lunch-- the Feeding Program provides. And with that, the rest of the group chimed in, yes yes! Ate, the feeding program! More than 100 children! Go to school! They eat there!
It was at this moment that the dust that had been kicked up from mindfully placing myself in their shoes began to settle. A new perspective dawned and with it a strange sense of hope, a seed of understanding and a percolating smile wedged itself in-between my discontentment and innate need for resolution. These kids, who are living in poverty, struggling, fighting for an education, are happy.
Now, I know I may seem like I'm playing the classic western perspective here, "their lives are seem hard but they are smiling so every thing is good". But that is not how I wish to relay this experience. We should acknowledge that everything I say is being filtered through my own personal lens. And we all know everyone has their own special pair of bifocals-- each which needs to be taken into consideration when digesting stories.
With that being said, I want to portray to you all that yes, these kids are living in extremely tough situations, their lives are not easy, technology lives on the very outskirts of their communities, luxuries such as showers, toilets, electricity, their own bedrooms, or even their own "things" are simply not to be found. Instead, sharing is at the core of their lifestyles and communication and familial relations are principal. The way I see it, there are more things to learn from these communities than not. Like, while more is not always better and enough to survive is a right we are all warranted: to be happy and content is a luxury that the poorest of the poor can afford and the richest of the rich sometimes struggle to find.
These are some of the stories left to be told.
Food might not be plentiful for these communities but food for thought certainly is-- for us, at least and hopefully for all of you as well.
Much more to come,
Maggie
Now, I know I may seem like I'm playing the classic western perspective here, "their lives are seem hard but they are smiling so every thing is good". But that is not how I wish to relay this experience. We should acknowledge that everything I say is being filtered through my own personal lens. And we all know everyone has their own special pair of bifocals-- each which needs to be taken into consideration when digesting stories.
With that being said, I want to portray to you all that yes, these kids are living in extremely tough situations, their lives are not easy, technology lives on the very outskirts of their communities, luxuries such as showers, toilets, electricity, their own bedrooms, or even their own "things" are simply not to be found. Instead, sharing is at the core of their lifestyles and communication and familial relations are principal. The way I see it, there are more things to learn from these communities than not. Like, while more is not always better and enough to survive is a right we are all warranted: to be happy and content is a luxury that the poorest of the poor can afford and the richest of the rich sometimes struggle to find.
These are some of the stories left to be told.
Food might not be plentiful for these communities but food for thought certainly is-- for us, at least and hopefully for all of you as well.
Much more to come,
Maggie