Baseco is built on the banks of the disgustingly dirty Pasig River, where there is very little electricity, and no running water. Children make money by going and buying water and lugging it from shack to shack, selling it for $1 per gallon. They also sell their bodies—prostitution is rampant, and the selling of a kidney for $2,000 is quite popular. As I write this paragraph, there is a newspaper article on the table next to me about a young man who died, selling his kidney. Seems the Doctors didn’t think to check the boy for hypertension. “Do no harm … unless you can make a buck.”
Just before I arrived, a buddy of mine who was just here, wrote to tell me that anyone who comes here had better have no fear, and know how to take care of their selves. Uh, thanks for the Heads Up!
It is quite difficult to get to Baseco by land so we took a skiff. If the locals want to catch a ride on one of these water-taxis, they often will barter their young daughter's bodies
You know how here in the US communities spring up around golf courses, tennis courts and shopping areas? Here communities spring up around garbage dumps. Over 70,000 people living on 125 acres of garbage. They either utilize what they find for building a “house,” or they sell or barter it.
The smell of sweat, refuse, dirty water, and tons of garbage create a stench that is nauseating. Here in the US we treat out pets better than this.
One of the problems here, as you can easily guess, are the typhoons that sweep across the area. In 2004, 2500 people had their homes dumped into the river.
HOWEVER, there are a number of groups that have braved the challenges and are working to make Baseco a safer place for its inhabitants. One of these groups is the “Center of HOPE,” specializing in child sexual and physical abuse cases.
They have an amazing Community Center here where hundreds of children receive love, food, and entertainment. The reason there are no photos of this Center is because Monte forgot extra batteries. So rather than shooting photos, let's just shoot Monte.
Copyright, Monte E Wilson, 2008
2 comments:
You make this place seem like hell on earth when it is extremely far from it. I just came from there (by myself with over $6K of camera equipment around my neck) and it is extremely far from what your Americanized words lead it on to be. YES it is dirty and YES it is a sad place but you make the people of the compound seem like animal when they are the most kind and gentle people I have come across in Manila. Prostitution is far more rampant in the touristed areas catering to rich tourists that roam the street looking for a quick fun time. I do give you credit for going and exploring the compound but I am extremely sad to see how you wasted a great opportunity to show the reality of the situation. I am a 24 year old Canadian that stuck out like a sore thumb and in the few hours that I was there I was welcomed into peoples houses and lives. I chose to show the gentle and warm side of the people rather than having souvenir pictures taken of myself in front of the modestly built homes. Shame on you for depicting these lovely people as savages. Next time your rich ass has the opportunity to reach such an isolated area do more to show the real side of the situation rather than going for shotty shock and awe journalism.
Yours truly,
Someone with a head on their shoulders.
Dear Someone With a Head on Their Shoulders,
Whose head?
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