Weekly Report II

We began this week with a tour in the former American navy base. The knowledge of Olongapo’s history is necessary for an understanding of its inhabitants; the occupation resulted in more prostitution, abandoned children and infectious diseases.

I spent the afternoon with CFC. We were playing in the main hall, singing karaoke and doing origami. Doing things together with the girls is a great way to get to know them. I was a bit surprised that PREDA is available for mentally retarded children and the fact that they are in the same activities as the other kids. It’s a very good thing not to split the group because of mental or physical disorder, to teach the children the equal value of them all. However, those with any kind of disorder often need extra support, so I asked the staff about it. I was told that the children sometimes have special activities, both to satisfy the need for complementary support and to better organize activities that the mentally retarded can’t be a part of. Another outlook of the issue is how the other children treat those with a disorder. Based on my observations so far, is that the normal functioned children are very aware of the difference and find it annoying when a retarded child asks for a lot of attention. Still, all the children play together and try to communicate. I didn’t notice that any child was left out, only alone for a while when it was by her own choice.

I joined the trip to Manila for jail visits and hearings on Tuesday. Three boys came with us, two of them for their hearings and one for going to Haven, another foundation. I had met him before, not in PREDA, but on the streets when I went downtown to pick up my laundry. The staff told us that he’s been in PREDA several times but escaped. The arrangement in Manila didn’t turn out well either. He didn’t want to stay, he cried, tear and swallowed the documents about him, whereupon the woman in the foundation said that they didn’t want him there anyway. Such unprofessional behavior makes me very upset. The boy came back with us again as there was no other solution.

After that we went to the prison. Unfortunately they wouldn’t let us in, but I went inside the office to talk to the staff, which was very interesting. I asked about the environment inside and a woman told me that some people complain about too little space, but not the prisoners themselves, they often grew up in small houses and are used to the closeness. We could see the children behind the bars from a distance as they waved and tried to get in contact with us, it looked very dark and cramped. It’s hard to describe the atmosphere – rough and childish at the same time. One boy could be released. He seemed, as you would expect, a bit dazed on the many hours that was left on our trip.

Before going home, we made a home visit as the aunt of one of the boys recently died. It seemed like a very poor area, but he looked so proud to show it to us. The family let us in to look at the deceased woman in her coffin. It seemed like they really appreciated our visit. It was despite the circumstances a joyful setting. The backyard was crowded, people playing cards to bring in money for the funeral.

I spent Wednesday and Thursday with CFC. Yesterday we went to the park, where we played volleyball and had our lunch. Today I joined the indoor activities. I have also asked the staff in CFC about absconders and they told me that no one escaped since May. I won’t go with the girls tomorrow, as us volunteers will leave Olongapo for celebrations in Cabangan. More about this in the next report.

On Tuesday, after spending some time with the 11-year-old boy who repeatedly returns to the streets, I came to think about an approach that I find very interesting for my research. It contains of two parts: Why do some clients run away from PREDA and primarily, which are the reasons for coming back after a while. Which are the motivating factors behind escaping? What happened during the time outside PREDA that made them return? Or was it actually a part of the plan for those who came back? Which are the influences from other clients, friends and family in this matter? I am going to organize all my questions in an interview guide in the end of this week. Francis in CICL will assign me to a social worker and send me the statistics about absconders, so I’m hoping to get started with selection, interviews and observations of the boys next week. I therefore wish for time with CICL on the schedule as the main focus will be on boys, since the girls here hardly ever run away nowadays. It will hopefully be time to look into why fewer girls run away now than before; it is important as an illustration of this may contribute to a reduction of the absconders among boys too.