This does not make for pleasant reading. Children CAGED to keep the streets clean for the Pope: Police round up orphans and chain them in filth during pontiff's visit to Philippines.
According to family contacts, it most certainly is true and there's a similar 'operation' in Tacloban which the Pope visits briefly.
Children caged???? I am a filipina..and this sounds negative to us! Our country was so blessed to choosed by the pope to visit. I think Markham you misunderstood what you heard and saw. Pls. be sensitive on things ......I can say that we are disciplined and well manner people (but of course there are few who are not, but for sure not all) I can assure to you, that our government authorities doing all methods and their best to be peaceful,sacred and smoothly.
I apologized to you Markham....I just found out just now, what you read was true...so sorry if I reacted that way....its a big lesson learned today, that I need to know things before I reacted. So sorry I'm just human, and have mistakes. Anyway, as what I understand it's a center, and not just a cage and make them like birds. I'm so sure the government people in-charge in it will give them food and good shelter.And I think it's for their own good than roam around.
There's no need to apologise, roaming-on . This event barely made it to the Philippine press which has down-played it for obvious reasons. The story I linked to in my opener was written by a British journalist in Manila with photography by a Hong Kong-based news agency (Red Door News), founded by two former Fleet Street journalists, Hazel and Simon Parry; Red Door News specialises in investigative and human rights stories. The article includes an interview with Father Shay Cullen, an Irish Catholic missionary priest who is the founder of PREDA, a charity whose principal purposes include the promotion and protection of the dignity and the Human Rights of the Filipino people, especially of women and children. Father Shay has rescued some of the children that had been arrested and incarcerated by the Philippine auythorities in preparation for the Pope's visit. This is a story the Philippine government would prefer remains untold just as it does not want His Holiness, his entourage and the world's press to see these children.
Yes it is despicable. These children probably have little if any education or understanding of the church apart from basic superstitions, I can imagine someone would be sitting there in government thinking about the papal carriage being approached by kids begging, and it has become pretty aggressive begging in the Philippines, thinking we can't have that would be a terrible loss of face. The kids on the other hand probably would just think he was another rich tourist. I suspect this pope would rather see the place warts and all.
The Pope arrived about half-an-hour late onboard a Sri Lankan Airlines plane from Columbo and was welcomed at Vilamor Air Base (at NAIA) by President Aquino. His motorcade from the airport sped along the streets that were lined 4 or 5 deep by Police and armed forces personnel, behind them were ordinary citizens. Those who had turned-out to see him pass must have been somewhat disappointed for he barely saw them and if they blinked they'd have missed seeing him as well. The best views were, as usual, on TV - ABS-CBN had cameras at strategic locations plus a video feed from the Popemobile. PAL is providing the Pope's aircraft for his trip to Leyte on Saturday as well as his flight back to Rome.
I bet his flight to Tacloban won't be delayed as most of mine have been in the past. Wonder how much money has been wasted on this visit that could have been used to provide aid to those that need it?
We heard from Elsa's family in Tacloban that all public transport has been suspended in the city in advance of the visit.
I'm not sure if this is new information or not, but it appears that he's not visiting Tacloban after all although he will fly to Tacloban's airport. They are taking him to Palo (instead) where he'll celebrate Mass. Likely reason for the change is that the powers that be don't want him to see just how little has been achieved to restore Tacloban.
The Daily Mail's coverage of the round-up of Manila's street children was featured in an ABS-CBN news piece earlier this evening. The Mail seems to have caused some upset in official circles by letting the proverbial cat out of the bag. Cue frantic interviews with local DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development - ie social workers) manager who categorically denied the story. But she rather obviously failed to notice the interview with Shay Cullen contained within the Mail's article!
Dinky denies DSWD locking up street kids for papal visit Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman on Thursday denied that her agency is rounding up and locking away street children in Metro Manila to prevent them from being seen by Pope Francis. Soliman made the clarification following the British tabloid The Daily Mail’s publication of a report alleging that Filipino social workers have been picking up street children off the streets and keeping them in detention to make Metro Manila more presentable for the papal visit. “The accusation we’re hiding street children so they can’t be seen by the Pope isn’t true. We actually insisted that they be part of the papal activities,” she told GMA News Online in a phone interview. According to Soliman, a total of 440 children who have been turned over to DSWD will be part of the send-off for Pope Francis on Jan. 19. The children have been rehearsing a song to present to the pontiff for several days, she said. Soliman said she has sent DSWD personnel to Bahay Pag-asa in Pasig City and House of Hope in Parañaque City— which were some of the shelters mentioned in the tabloid article— to check if they are keeping street children in detention, as the report claimed. Dated photos The Daily Mail showed photos of street kids behind bars, which it claimed were proof that they were indeed being detained at the shelters. Soliman, however, said the photos— including one showing a malnourished child lying on the floor of a shelter— are old. The malnourished child, which she identified as “Frederico,” was already transferred to a non-government organization after news about his maltreatment at the Reception and Action Center (RAC) in Manila broke out in October last year. “I confirm that some of the photos used in that article were that of RAC but they are pictures from the past. Si Frederico, October pa naibalita ‘yung kalagayan niya. He is already being taken cared of at an NGO facility,” she said. DSWD is currently in the process of transferring children out of RAC so the center can be closed by end of January, Soliman added. Years-long program While Soliman confirmed that DSWD has been rescuing children found begging on the streets during the holiday season, she said the initiative, known as the Comprehensive Program for Street Children, Families and Indigenous Peoples, has been existing since 2011. The Daily Mail report quoted Pasay City Social Welfare Development head Rosalinda Orobia as telling the Manila Standard, a Philippine broadsheet, that local social workers have been rounding up street children for weeks because they might be targeted by syndicates for the papal visit. Referring to Orobia’s statement, Soliman said: “I don’t know why she says this is for the papal visit. We’ve been doing this long before the Pope even announced he is coming and it will continue even after the papal visit.” Under the program, children who are found caroling, asking for alms or dwelling on the streets are returned to their families, who receive counseling, medical assistance, and are subsequently included in the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for Homeless Street Families (MCCT-HSF) program. In case rescued children have no relatives, they are turned over to DSWD centers and shelter facilities for proper intervention. Christmas party For the holiday season last year, DSWD held a Christmas party for 1,000 rescued children on Malacañang grounds, with no less than President Benigno Aquino III as the special guest. Soliman expressed surprise the report about the alleged detention of street children in shelter facilities was released in time for the start of Pope Francis’ five-day state and pastoral visit. “I’m not saying there are no problems with our program, but it’s not as if it’s the first time we’re doing this. It’s unfortunate we have to explain the program in this context,” she said. —KBK, GMA News
Perhaps he should be. "Fr. Cullen was not only a priest but a caucasian who believed he had his own White Man's burden of saving the poor Filipinos living in Sin City Olongapo from the clutches of the evil Americans. He was a good communicator and exploited media by exposing victims of prostitution, drug trafficking at his own expense with no regard for the outcome of the case much less the plight of the victims. One such case was a little girl named Rosario Baluyot who died when an Australian doctor left a vibrator in her. Mayor Gordon had ordered the police and even tapped the US Navy criminal investigators to pursue the case. Unmindful of the consequences, Fr. Cullen released details of the case to media that nearly jeopardized the capture, investigation and the conviction of the culprit all for the sake of a publicity stunt. Gordon, the police and fiscal had to double their efforts and Gordon even had to personally go to Hawaii and testify to convict the guy. The list of Fr. Cullen's publicity antics goes on until even when the Americans finally left and Olongapo was heralding the success of the conversion from base to freeport of Subic in November 1996 when it hosted the 4th APEC Leaders Summit with Clinton, Jiang Zemin and 18 other presidents and prime ministers. Fr. Shay Cullen tied himself up to an electric post during the day when media was present but got down at night when nobody was around to protest the global abuse of Subic by foreigners and the undue effects of electrodes on his children at PREDA. In all these, Gordon and the people of Olongapo just let Fr. Shay Cullen be as obviously he was after the attention. He even goes to the extent of accusing Gordon of having him followed and watched. However, in some twist of fate a little girl was discovered by the DSWD to have been abused sexually while under the care of PREDA. An internal investigation by the Bishop and clergy of Zambales found evidence against Fr. Cullen and as in any Roman Catholic institution meted out their own disciplinary action and censure. Today since mainstream media realized who Fr. Shay Cullen is they do not give him attention. His news columns were taken out and of course again he blames Gordon for this and thus he now uses the internet as his tool to spread his lies to the West of being a savior of poor brown Filipinos. Of course he also accepts foreign contributions to support his crusade. Again in another twist of fate the City of Davao filed charges against him and for his extradition for unsavory and damaging remarks against their people and community. But once again, powerful hands in the Church seem to be slowing the resolution of the case. I hope this enlightens you. You may opt not to believe but please in the same critical manner do not accept hook line and sinker what Fr. Cullen says and writes about against Dick Gordon and the people of Olongapo." Full article; https://www.facebook...on/285100121134 People in glass houses.....
Never been a fan of any political figures in the philippines but I do have a bit of time for Dick Gordon. Olongapo was cleaned up under his time and certainly seemed to have done a better job than the present chap. He also seems quiet effective in his role of redcross chairman. Dick Gordon for president?
I am not a catholic, but when I saw Pope Francis...I can't deny that I felt happiness inside my heart...a feeling that is priceless.Its overwhelming joy and I felt inner peace. Specially when I saw his smiles and the way he waived his hands from left to right side, so he can glimpsed everyone,even for few seconds Maybe to others it's non sense why he is here,but for us filipinos. In a way, it boosted our spiritual aspects and pride to ourselves! Just one thing, we should not adore and praise him,he is only human that represents catholism. There should be only God to be the center of our faith...it's my personal belief and faith.
