Children of the Mist
By: Noel N. Villarosa
14
November 2019
Part I: The Plight of the children of
the mist
While there are families
living quite well-off, there are also those living in an unfortunate situation.
They are the poorest of the poor living underneath the beams or truss of the
bridge that spans the river where they are confident to the endurance of the
structure. You would find some of them in a demolished building where they
build their makeshift tent for shelter. They do not have big dreams, as most of
them did not go to school; just their obligation is to find food to feed their
children. The child’s young mind well perceived his obligation and when their
parents could not support them anymore, these young children will go out and
find someone to help them feed their starving stomach. Most of these children
come across a syndicate to handle their lives in a crooked job. This is where
the life of the children of the mist has started. In the early stages of their
lives, they are running, jumping, and snatching things from a bystander or on a
slow-moving vehicle. They move quickly and run swiftly just like playing a
Filipino game called “Patintero,” bluffing and circumventing their way out from
barriers and the onrushing vehicles of the highway. Their face may look like
innocent but easily transformed into another being when they sniff the waft of
solvent and rugby glue. The backdrop of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA)--the famous busy highway in Manila where
glittering billboards and massive malls standing on its side is now the
playground of these children of the mist. The coined name “Children of the
Mist” comes from the residents for they are being exposed to different kinds of
weather--be it summer, rainy, and under the mist of open sky where they have no
decent house to shelter them.
At one point of my life,
I have encountered the plight of one of these children of the mist. I am Dexter,
a soccer coach, training children with the potential to play this kind of game.
I was in my free time wandering around the metropolis scouting for the best
runner in the field, when suddenly was thrilled by what I have witnessed in the
middle of traffic jam along EDSA.
That morning, where the stream of vehicles were pushing so hard to find a way
through the slow-moving cars that I spotted a little boy who succeeded in
forcing his hand through the open side of the jeepney while his other peers have
occupied the bed of one truck and snatched scrap metal they could sell to
junkshop. The little boy who snatched my attention portrays a good soccer
player, that he can run at full speed like a trained sprinter and if you run
after him you will catch your breath to grab him, as he has the endurance to
run in a long distant mile seems powered by a 4-cylinder engine inside his
body. The kyphosis form of his upper back and neck areas displayed a good
potential of an endurance athlete while not obviously of hypertrophy in his
physique is a way to be lighter in carrying his body during a swift run.
The following day, I asked the nearby vendors in the area where I
could find whom they called “children of the mist.” I wanted to meet most
especially the boy who became the icon of a juvenile violation. At the onset of
my yearning to this young boy, a compeer approached me and led me to where the
boy lived: I am Pimpoy, I used to play with Lemuel, the one you are looking
for, but when Lemuel ganged up with rebellious older teenager, I have distanced
myself to Lemuel, I don’t want to get involved into troubles. My parents would always
remind me to stay away with his group and I complied with what been told. Lemuel’s
age is 12 and dropped out of school. His parents were involved in illegal drugs,
and both were serving in jail; his older sister took care of his other siblings.
As we passed through the
locality, I felt a degree of empathy for the neighborhood, such a metaphor to
see their living condition, which betrayed a complete lack of perception, of
provision with their physical and psychological needs. The more I involved in walking
into the slum, the more picture of hardships that I could not bear. Residents
looked through garbage for anything of value and sold this to a junk shop, but
more disturbing to know was they were collecting leftover foods from bins for
recycling and later served at the table. As we proceeded, I witnessed a vigil
for the deceased; the makeshift coffin seemed undignified to fit the dead body;
biscuit and coffee to welcome their visitors, while others were busy of betting
in gambling. There I saw a drunk man and was lying down on the table. A group
of teenagers was singing and having the fun of them--flashed faces with smear
of charcoal. I tapped Pimpoy’s head: Are you always around here? Are we
still far from Lemuel’s house? Pimpoy pointed to the alleyway underneath
the bridge: That is where Lemuel and his siblings live. Alongside the
wall, there were at least four families living on their makeshift tent where
everything they need was there--from the kitchen, bathroom, bedchamber, living
quarter, and dining table were all compacted in a small space. A girl in her
teenage years was breastfeeding her newly born child, her slouched posture made
me think that she lacked nourishment and so her baby. There was no electricity while
potable water needed to fetch in the next neighboring area. Their everyday life
has become a banal existence and hardships wrapped their body while driving
them in cahoots with the nefarious. In a low voice, I told to Pimpoy: This
kind of community is only crafting the zeitgeist of these youngsters in the
hands and minds of the organized-crime syndicates. The environment seems a
didactic projector that set out behind big malls and flashing neon lights.
As soon as we stepped in the
alleyway, Pimpoy told me that Lemuel’s place dotted the riverbank-- their precarious
stilt house patched by the recycled sack of rice and canvas used as a roof. I
felt sorry and in a daze to say the least. We humbly called the attention of who
was inside the improvised shelter: Hello is somebody there. I am Dexter and
this is Pimpoy, Lemuel’s friend. A face peeked from behind the sack
curtain. I am Lemuel. What is your reason for being here? I do not know you
and my first time to see you around here.
I warily looked to Pimpoy
and replied: Allow me to introduce myself, I am Dexter, a soccer trainer, I
used to train youth with the potential to be a good soccer player. I would be
glad to have you as part of our team to participate in any football
tournaments. I have already trained much less fortunate youth across the
country and maybe this is your best shot to consider.
A short silence occupied
Lemuel’s appearance. I could hear Lemuel was sighing, and I sensed a mix of
hope and despair enveloped his mind. Lemuel, at 12 had a life that had more
than its share of valleys between mountains.
Sometimes life offers us
unpolished things and it is up for us to mold it into what we desire. We really
do not know every turn of events unless we try, and in every step in our way,
we will encounter people who are dismissive, superficial and impediments can come
our way while we struggle to get up. I
explained to Lemuel.
As soon as the rain slowly
drizzled down, I bade goodbye while Pimpoy stayed with Lemuel. I handed over a small
amount of money enough to help satiate their hunger. I did not receive an
answer to my proposal to Lemuel, but hoping that Pimpoy will do a little help
to persuade Lemuel to agree. As I walked back the trail we passed by, I saw
more children outside their house waiting for a heavy downpour, while I hurriedly
skipped and splashed through shallow puddles. With area covered with water,
kids merrily played with paper boats. The heavy rainfall quickly suffused the
tall buildings and billboards. The children having the bliss of their lives
while enjoying the cold rain shower. I wondered how they managed to stay in
this kind of environment surrounded by rubbish and were deprived of
necessities. I saw vibrant smiles among children but the smiles introduced by
the adults have faded, maybe because of the tedious and fatigue life in the
slums. I could still see interesting stories when I looked into their eyes that
made me think: just like living into the
wilderness where prey is the poor even if they wanted to escape—the unbearable
situation is their predator. It put life into perspective.
I decided to go inside a
restaurant just to fritter away time and waited until the rain subsided. I
looked through the glass window and from the view of the busy highway and slowly
progressed of vehicles; I spotted again the children of the mist doing their
bad errands, the police managed to capture three of their companions. In my
mind, I just hope it was another group and not Lemuel’s group. As the rain
stopped, I decided to go home. Early in the morning, as my instinct was
stronger than denial, that I decided to go to the precinct where the children
were taken. In my dismay, behind bars was Lemuel. While Lemuel was just 12
years old, that under the law, he will be regarded as a child in conflict, he
will undergo rehabilitation, counseling, and intervention. The authority should
immediately release him to the custody of his/her parents or guardian, or in
the absence thereof, to the child’s nearest relative. In the absence of those
mentioned, Lemuel might be released to a duly registered nongovernmental
or religious organization, a barangay official or a member of the Barangay
Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC), LSWDO, or the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It was timely for me to be the other
suitable person to take Lemuel out of jail and bring him home. I promised the
authority that I will take care of Lemuel and exposed him to more family welfare
services including exposing him to soccer training. The authority granted my
wish and Lemuel was released under my custody.
Part II: Acceptance for a change.
I thanked you, Dexter, sorry that I neglected your
advice. My parents were both in jail; only my sister is in charge of looking at
my siblings and me. My sister unable to make both ends in the city, I was forced
to do the sinful jobs. My life has evolved in the squatter and stopped
attending the classroom. In my encounter with the gang, I let someone put a
tattoo on my left forearm: run Lemuel run. One can bear to know my first name
through my forearm and the word run means a bad mission to make a living. This
time I will change my mission by accepting your proposal. I will join your team
and will train hard to be a good soccer player.
Lemuel’s confident smile and terse answered “yes” was
enough to make me believe that he was willing to change. We dropped by to the
mall and bought some clothes and groceries to share with his siblings and we
proceeded to Lemuel’s house. I dismissed my beating around the bush and told
exactly what was on my mind: If you will agree, I want you and your siblings
to come to my house and live there for good. Only my mother and I live there
and sure my mother will welcome you. It is no more safe living in this house,
anytime if bad weather comes; your house is not strong enough to withstand the
storm. Let me take you, as my own family and we will visit your parents to talk
about my offer.
Lemuel and his siblings agreed. I told them to pack up
all things and from there and then we left the place. Lemuel and his siblings
were happy to leave behind the real nightmare and stepped in a new door of
hope. My mother greeted them and hugged them as like her own children. You
may stay here as long as you want and do not be shy to ask what you need. My
mother told them.
I have nothing to worry now as Lemuel and his siblings
were under my care. Tomorrow we will visit your parents to seek advice for
allowing you to come under my care. Lemuel and his siblings have a few
visits on their parents’ prison cell. The children have rested and that night I
saw them in the state of very deep sleep for tomorrow will be more excited as
they will visit their parents. In the morning, we prepared food to bring to
their parents. Their parents’ prison cell were located separately, their father
was in the New Bilibid Prison located at Muntinlupa City while their mother was
in the Correctional Institute for Women located in Mandaluyong. We headed first
to their mother. As the siblings
approached their mother, their rendezvous was so emotional that they embraced
each other with tears in their eyes, no words as everybody broke down and
sobbed at full of their heart. I am happy
to see all of you, sorry for I was not with you all the times. I promised that
I would patch things up when I come out in this place. It is like a hell in
this place that you will curse the first day of coming in this place. We need
to compress ourselves into the small bed to lie down. It bothered me most to be separated from you,
not knowing what is happening to all of you. I can only see your father during the
time of court hearing and this hearing is slowly dragging us to uncertainty.
Your father will be happy to see you all.
Their mother said.
It is a lonely
house without you and father; it hurts a lot to spend days and nights without
both of you. We are locked-up in misery. I have no one else to turn to when I
have a problem that is why I run to my friend. We are lucky that Mr. Dexter
found us and would like to offer his home for us; would you agree to his offer.
Lemuel asked.
I have to suffer
the consequences of my sins. I am not sure when we will be reunited again, forgive
me but I have to entrust you to Mr. Dexter, I can feel that he has good
intention to your welfare, that I am allowing you Mr. Dexter to take care of my
children. Their mother replied.
I promised that
I will take care of them and will provide for their welfare. I replied to their mother.
The next thing we did was go to his father’s cell. The
same poor provision that we heard from his father: each taking turns to fit
their body on small space whether it be on the floor, staircase steps, or
hammocks made out of old blankets. His guilt-ridden father has promised making
up for the lost time for his children. The most painful of all was to be
away from you and every single day it stripped my sanity how to live another
day without seeing you all. Their father sadly said.
The children while scarcely sobbing bade goodbye to
their father. Their father agreed that their children be under my care. As we
arrived home, my mother handed me a letter informing me of the start of the new
season for registration of new aspiring football player. This is your big
chance now Lemuel, this is your chance to prove your guts and it is happening
this season. Your exposure inside the academy will give you chance to be
spotted by dedicated scouts operating in local, national and even international
level. You must go through many challenges along with your training sessions so
the first thing you need to do is to pass their tough trials. Tomorrow, we will
be at the playing field/pitch at least 30 minutes before the actual training. I
will help you fill-up the application form and submit the accomplished training
card. This is the way to hone your skill and keep track of your development. I
explained to Lemuel.
As a football trainer, I need to stoke interest to my
player, my whole knowledge and skills I need to share with them to start with
the basic skills like dribbling, passing, shielding, trapping, tackling,
shooting and goalkeeping must be practiced. More time to spend inside the playing
field to determine which player I need to put in a certain position by
observing where their skills put to best playing. I am more impressed for the
central midfielders; they hold most of the playing field running back and forth
to secure and recovering the team’s position. The game played in rhythm with
the ones carrying the ball and among his teammates. Close to perfection means
carefully handling the ball from passing and switching to the other side to
achieve their goal. What I saw to Lemuel was a good potential to become a
central midfielder because he can run up and down in the whole field. He could
be everywhere. I have to teach the children the importance of the
responsibility of their position in the game that they need to be on their own
spot to realize the importance of teamwork. The most important mindset that I
need to teach was how they can lift themselves up when things went wrong and
that the opposing team was better that day for winning and getting back to the field
to play again was the spirit of recovering from the heartbreak of losing.
At one point of being a trainer was to see how to
identify different skills of whom among them has the caliber to run fast as
with the one who can do endurance run and the one with an accurate pass. Yet
behind my mind, as much as the training was concern, it was still the right
choice of the kids to know what they are capable.
The next morning, I have seen all the players; I began
teaching them the philosophy of winning. I usually offered the first week for
conditioning, evaluation of player and installing the playing field. They need
to know each other and the team rules and expectations. It was my duty to
evaluate the participants of what position they will serve well. To execute a
victorious pacing practice means assessing the player’s physical ability along
with mental ability.
Lemuel’s capability for sprint and endurance run was
something to watch for. Lemuel needed
the proper way of handling the ball, correct balance of arms harmonizing with
the body. The Dedication was the sensible effective approach to improve player
skills. It was normal for a child to be curious about what he sees around;
inside the registrar’s office was a picture of the first batch of the team
“Dingal,” which means elegance. Maybe someday I will see your own picture
paralleled with these pioneers. I said.
Who is this? (Pointing to the little boy of his age seated in the
middle). Lemuel asked. His name is Rommel. I found him on the street, abandoned
by his parents. I took him here and taught him how to play football. His
passion to this game has improved his skills which led him to compete
internationally, now he was at Davao city working as a trainer in one of the
football club there, once in a while we talked about our lives. This boy in the
wheelchair is Junjun, he suffered from polio in his teenage years, rather feel
miserable, he joined our team and volunteered to assist with the players need.
Junjun now became a dedicated volunteer for a charity program. He usually
travels to places from which cannot be reached by government assistance. And
this one is Meshari a half Filipina a half India, she was the one who enjoyed
making lots of friends that when his father from India will take her back home,
she decided to stay and finish the last football season. This picture has so
much to tell a story about friendship, hardship, and success. I recounted.
On the first day that Lemuel stepped on the football
pitch, his bare feet felt the difference of a tread on the dirty ground of
their place and on the artificial turf made to look like natural grass. Lemuel excitedly
lay down flat on the ground with both hands on the side. I knew that Lemuel was
building his composure and trying to get up from the failure in life. Lemuel
tried to run back and forth across the pitch to gauge his stamina. This time he
was no longer running, snatching, and stealing along the highway, preferred
instead to run for true greatness. Lemuel knew that this would be a tough game,
running out of breath, and have to prolong his capacity inside the game.
Part III: Challenges and unity.
On the following day, Lemuel and I arrived early on
the playing field. I have set up the training session and checked the safety of
the equipment. I gave clear and brief guidelines for relays. I prepared lane of
cones for players to follow through. One player will go far line touches the
second player to run back to the start line and to touch the 3rd
player and will go to the far end. It was a relay done repeatedly until
everyone was back to the start line. After sometime, I needed to change cones
positioning, I put three cones apart at the far line with three balls in the
gap of each cone, each player needed to run beyond far line to get the ball with
their feet and dribbled the ball back to the start line with the rest of the
player taking turns to do the relay. I also trained the children in chasing and
dodging, as these techniques will develop their skill of faking then moving in
the opposite direction. As I wanted to have a little fun along with the
practice, I made up lively exercises where players in pairs will run around
into the positioned cones as gates to pass through with each player dribbling
the ball and pass it through the gates to each other until they have passed
through each gate. Until they get used of this drill, we switched to another
exercise, where each team can start stealing balls from the other team’s safe,
the stealer will take the ball and passes it to another teammate then passes it
to the team’s collector, who puts the ball in their safe. Their opponents will
be doing the same to steal and put most balls in their safe. The children also
practiced the receiving and controlling of the ball from the air using the
head, shoulders, chest, legs, and feet. I told them also to practice to
dribble, pass, and shoot the ball with their non-dominant foot. The ability of
a player to switch from dominant to the non-dominant foot will be a great
advantage. I told them also not to chase the ball in a pack rather they should
know that each has to play a different spot on the game. A player with the best
position to kick the ball for a goal should not waste time to take that
opportunity and the other should be on his or her own spot to play their
position. The kids’ anticipatory or perceptive thinking will help develop their
spatial awareness of where his teammates and his opponents are. I told them
also where scored goals most often went into the goal. They have a better
chance of scoring if they shoot low into the corner but the most important
thing to remember was just shooting if they saw an opportunity. I taught the
children how to handle different situations, how to quickly assess and to
choose the right decision. As training escalated, the children became more
passionate to hone their craft. The event did not only open a new hope for
these children but created new intimacy with the teammates. As a way to relieve
fatigue from long training, we decided to go out of town to establish strong
bonding and rapport to help reinforce trust. That in every competition, it was nice
to feel unruffled that you know someone was at your back to keep you going
forward. It was vigorous for players to
bond off the field to get to know each other. We traveled to the theme park as
well as to recreational park. The children have a wonderful day, eating
together, walking and tramping no matter how far as long as they get in touch
with nature. On one spot, Lemuel found a well, bending head down into the water
well to make an echo sound of this phrase: I am fine, are you well? He
did this just for fun, expecting the well will conversely echo what he said. Inspired
of what Lemuel did, I gave him a coin to toss to make a wish. It was more
exciting to travel by bus. They have a chance to talk, escaped boredom while experiencing
a breathtaking ride of going through narrow roads and were sloping uphill,
while dew covered our path. Moreover, after long hours of ride, we arrived at
our destination. The place was entirely an idyllic hideaway, with hills
descending into lush green valleys, while everyone wants to be tucked away from
the noisy city even for a few days. The place we have come to has many
interesting cultural beliefs; one thing that intrigued the children was the strange
tradition of burying the dead by suspending coffins on the cliff. Was it
safe to put the dead hanging on the cliff’s wall? Why are they doing this? Lemuel
asked. The indigenous tribe believed that it is a way to get their deceased
loved ones closer to the gods. It is also believed that it is to safeguard the
dead bodies from headhunting, as it was a rampant custom to take home human
heads as their claim for victory. I explained. We posed for a team photo at
the Kiltepan peak where trekkers got the best view of the sunrise and the
famous Kiltepan Rice Terraces. We wrapped up our journey sitting around by the
campfire, listening to others telling crazy stories, while one teenager played
Beatles song on his guitar which attracted Lemuel to ask if he knew the song
“In my life.” Both collaborated well to sing that beautiful song which the
group enjoyed listening. Lemuel felt on singing it like his personal life reminiscing
places and people that he met. At daybreak, we left the place and headed back
home.
Team bonding is bridging the expanse of brotherhood and
getting out from a wrong mindset of “all by myself” into “us” mindset. The
outdoor event resulted in strong trust and unity, which will later transform
into good performance in the field. Remember our motto “make it happen today
for tomorrow will be a bigger day to face.” I shared with the team.
Lemuel voluntarily enrolled in an evening class to
continue his study, this gave him time to study and a chance to train football.
Lemuel has the mindset that anything is possible and truly in the development
of his ways that went smoothly. In between school session and training, he
conquered his tough decision to combine playing and study.
Part IV: The glory and grief.
The most awaited time had come when Lemuel’s team faced
off against a formidable opponent. Early
in the game, our team had good chances on goal but the opponent’s goalkeeper
had intercepted our attempts but in spite of the pressure, our team remained
upbeat about what looms. In the
beginning, everyone was unstable because of the foe’s strong successive
attempts for a goal. Our team did not
succumb to pressure and instead managed a strong counterattack to figure out a
way for a first goal.
On the second half, was an equally shared strength between
the two teams. Both teams have to run back and forth trying to grab a chance
for a goal. As the game reached the 55th minute mark, Lemuel got
face to face with the goalkeeper, he first observed a clear shot, when closed
enough, then he used the technique to chip the ball over the keeper and scored
a goal.
Overall, the team’s effort got through and took the
opportunity to win that game with a final score of 2-0. I congratulated the team members. We still
have a long way; I hope the grit spirit you showed will go all the way to
international competition. In
celebration of our winning, I arranged for a full-throttle party, I just want
to see a big smile on their face. I hosted a cookout party at our favorite
hangout park to run around and jump for joy, some brought food enough to share
with the team. Everyone was eager to blow the first candle of victory in our
first celebratory cake. Each player honored each other by lifting each member
in unison, and then tossed him high into the air, and shouted for joy. Moreover,
before we parted ways, each had posed a picture with me. That night, we felt we
were one big family; it was nothing short of magical, the nearby falls at the
park vaporized a fine mist, which reminded me of the first day I met Lemuel, been
called the “children of the mist.”
How wrong for people would say that a child raised in a
disarray environment would justify his/her misfortune in life, but Lemuel
proved them wrong, as he trained hard and continued his study. He made many
nights into a lively session, spending time reading and writing. For Lemuel, it
was not enough just to believe, it was also behaving to be good for that
special night in building his future a special contour.
In taking action every way we can, God is overlooking
our journey and always flipping through the journal of our life, weighing them
with perfect composure. Some are saying
that the righteous and the merciful are said to perish early and the wicked to
live long. Although that belief appears with
no justification, the reason why that happens is that He wants to protect the
righteous from falling to doing evil things. While the wicked one to live long,
and given a chance to repent of their sins, to pray more and able to share the
gospel for their salvation. As some would feel worthy, some would feel puzzled of
God’s patience extended on us.
While on that evening, the mist was gathering slowly
near the shores. Lemuel had stood outside the school to wait for my arrival as
I always did since the first day of his night schooling. On my way to fetch him
up, I returned to the house for I forgot to bring the book which I would bring
to Lemuel as a gift, it took me long to find where I have put it. Lemuel might
have become little impatient of his waiting that he decided to leave and walk
home. Along the way in a narrow street, he encountered the group of what they
called “children of the mist,” looking for someone to victimize and diverted their
attention to Lemuel annoying and pushing him which caused anger to Lemuel. Lemuel
fought back, while being hit by a large cobblestone to the head, and been
stabbed in his chest. When I arrived at the school’s waiting shed, I found no
Lemuel; I searched around the vicinity, walked farther into the cobblestone
road, and beneath the only street lamppost, I found him lying on the ground who
labored for his breathing, and at no time, I hurriedly rushed him to a nearby
hospital. The hospital did everything to revive Lemuel but his wounds were
severe that caused his immediate death. Lemuel seemed at peace when I touched
his face. At anytime from anywhere, we might all fall prey to catastrophic
events. For I can no longer control my emotions, I just burst into tears that
displeased and blamed myself for the sad tragedy. My heart screamed in pain and
in silence because the absence of communication was not a usual thing between
Lemuel and me. I left and walked outside at the sheen of haze. I arranged for
his funeral and burial site which all of his team attended with deep sorrow. In the eulogy, my words were comprised of
three storylines. I started with his struggles. The secondary storylines remembered
his challenges, and the last tale had to tread carefully around his feelings
over success. After the wake, his body rested to his final burial place.
The
next morning, I went to the football registrar’s office, I collected all his
things inside his locker and found our selfie picture. I took it and have
posted it in the bulletin board as what I have promised seeing his picture
along with the pioneers. As I was leaving the office, someone played the
Beatles song “In My Life,” which was Lemuel’s favorite song. I walked on the
trail of that song, and all about Lemuel. The lyrics of the song were so
powerful, which left me a feeling of belongingness.
The song slowly faded out as I walked away from the
place. I returned to Lemuel’s graveyard, soon the sun had grown weaker, means
another day soon to complete and it started to get misty again associated with
fog. I could somehow see a vision from the mist that suspended in the air while
the fog converged, it was difficult to discern but I knew there was someone out
there in the gloomy fog.
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