Life in the busy streets of City of Manila can be unforgiving for a person with nothing, but a single glimmer of hope can completely turn lives around.
Khalid Puasa used to till the land before the rising costs of agricultural supplies pushed the farmer to seek better opportunities in the nation’s capital.
“Farmer lang po ako. Noong di ko na makayanan yung (pambili) mga gamit ng bilang farmer, mga planter saka abono, doon pumunta ako ng Maynila,” Khalid recalled.
Khalid eventually landed a job as a construction worker, dedicating more than six months of hard work until an unexpected contract termination left the entire crew jobless.
“Then yung foreman namin doon, natanggal siya sa contract, natanggal din kami. Napunta ako sa lansangan kasi wala akong source, wala na akong pera. May bayad sa may upahan sa bahay kaya nakikipagsapalaran lang ako sa lansangan kung saan-saan man matulog sakali,” Khalid said as he narrated his sad plight.
Without a regular source of income to pay for his rented space, Khalid was forced to face the harsh realities of wandering and surviving on the mean streets of Manila.
“Napakahirap talaga magpalabuy- laboy sa lansangan. E kung minsan din naman, maghahanap ng extrang trabaho. Eh kung saan ka maabutan ng gabi o kaya maabutan ng ulan, problema mo kung saan ka makasilong. Problema mo kung saan ka makakain,” Khalid said.
A spark of hope arrived during an event in Rizal Park where the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was conducting outreach activities for the Pag-abot Program.
DSWD Social workers informed the crowd that help was readily available for individuals willing to accept their assistance.
“Nakita ko sa Pag-abot Program na maganda naman ang gagawin nila sa mga naano (nareach-out) nila sa lansangan. Nagkusang loob akong lumapit sa kanila,” Khalid said.
Stepping inside the temporary shelter felt like an immense burden lifting off his chest as it offered a safe haven with free meals and a comfortable place to sleep.
“Kasi isipin mo, wala ka nang aalalahanin doon, libre ang bahay, libre ang pagkain, masayang masaya ako..,” Khalid said.
Dedicated social workers from the DSWD organized activities and guided the beneficiaries in planning a better future beyond the facility.
Khalid felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and peace after escaping the daily struggle of looking for shelter from the rain.
“Wala kang problema doon, libre lahat. Nanalamat na nga ako kay Allah noong umabot sa akin ang Pag-abot Processing kasi nakita ko na ang daan para makaahon sa ganong sistema ng buhay, yung umuulan hahanap ka kung saan ka sisilong. Pinakita niya sa akin ang daan para sa kapayapaan, tulad ng sa Pag-abot Program din, kaya masayang masaya ako,” a now beaming Khali happily said.
There is simply no comparison between the constant anxiety of street survival and the absolute joy of finally returning to his family, when the Pag-abot Team brought Khalid home in Banisilan, North Cotabato.
“Kayo ang daan para makauwi ako. Malaki pala ang maitulong ng Pag-abot Program sa kanila kasi nakita ko naman doon sa loob. Saka nakita ko papunta at pauwi po na wala kayong ibang hangad yung kaligtasan ng mga beneficiary para makapamuhay ng maayos,” Khalid said.
“Di na makakumpara po yun pamumuhay ka sa lansangan kaysa mamumuhay ka ng ano sa pamilya mo. Kasi wala hindi mo na problema kung saan ka matutulog o kaya yung pag-ulang tulad ngayon uulan na naman, o kaya sisilaw o kaya yung mga alulong sa kalye,” Khalid added.
The DSWD’s intervention eventually paved the way for Khalid to have a fresh start and a renewed determination to earn a living with dignity.
Khalid now envisions a brighter future and hopes that other homeless individuals discover the life-changing support waiting to be found through the Pag-abot Program.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa Pag-abot Program. Sana yung mga kasama ko sa lansangan ay makapunta din sila sa Pag-abot Program para makauwi sila sa lahat ng mga pamilya nila. Kasi kung tutuosin marami ka na madaanan na naggagala gala diyan sa kalye,” Khalid said. (KI)
