badjaos

When I was a kid, docking to the port of Cebu on a ship has always been a spectacle - the badjaos in small bangkas would swarm the ship begging people for money and food. The best part is when they dive - young and old - into the water to search for a coin thrown by an alms-giver on-board.


Amusing at first glance, but their prolonged presence deserves pity.




I was on vacation last week and I took the same ship from my hometown to Cebu. And on the docks of this Queen City of the South were found the same badjaos on their small bangkas, begging for food and money as they also do.