POSING MENDICANT.
A Pinay journalist in the US specializing in feature writing was in Cebu recently in connection with a study on PHL mendicancy about which she was commissioned to do an article. She posed as a beggar and for two days “did what beggars do” to beef up the article she was writing.
EXPERIENCES. Maria (not her real name) said she learned many things about the life of beggars here (and in Metro Manila). Her experiences included arrest for violation of the anti-mendicancy law, sub-human treatment by some people she sought alms from, etc. At one time, a drunk man spat on her face, at another time a lawman tried to mash her breast. Maria, whose parents are pure Pinoy, was born and educated in the US but could speak Tagalog well. “Mahirap ang buhay pulubi dito,” she said shaking her head.