A poor teenager living in the streets of Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal revealed he eats “karton” in order to survive the past week.
Ienstien Hortal, shared in a viral post, while he was having a snack in a 711 convenience store, he saw the homeless kid eating but got saddened when he found out the poor boy’s meal was a “karton/carton”. He then approached the boy and they had conversations. He discovered that the kid’s name is John Mark Sta. Ana (JM). He is a 16 years old graduating elementary student but stopped because his older brother gave his school materials to other people. He said still wants to study. Ienstien learned that JM has six siblings, their separated parents abandoned them and each has new families. His mother is in Montalban and his father is in Manila. He spent his night sleeping beside the dimsum food cart.
Netizens are alarmed and urged to send the kid to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Some vouches they could give him a job.
Below is the caption from Ienstien Hortal‘s post:
I share ko lang po experience ko tonight.
Around 10:20-11:00 PM . Galing akong Morong Nung pauwi na ako Dumaan muna ako sa 7/11 sa Sampaloc Tanay para kumain .
Habang nakain ako Nalungkot ako nung may makita akong isang bata na kumakain din ngunit ang kanyang kinakain ay Karton/Kahon.
Naglakas loob akong lapitan sya at sabay tanong na “Bakit yan ang kinakain mo?” sumagot sya “Eto na kinakain ko sa isang buong linggo”
Nag karoon kami ngmarami pang convo.
(Matino syang Sumagot kung iyong kakausapin at marunong bumasa)
ME: Ano panagalan mo ?
jm: John Mark Sta Ana po pero tawagin nyo nlang po akong JM .
Me: ilan taon kna ?
jm:16 po
Me: nag aaral ka pa ba ?
jm: di na po. Graduating na ngapo sana ako ng grade 6 i kaya lang po pinamigay ng kuya ko ung gamit ko .
Me: Gusto mo pa ba mag aral?
Jm: Opo Gustong Gusto ko po sana
Me: dito ka ba natutulog ?
jm: hindi po . sa gilid po ng dimsum . 7:30 lang po ako lagi ng gabi napunta dito .
At marami pa akong itinanong sa kanya in short ininterview ko sya about sa buhay nya.
Pito po silang magkakapatid ang kanila pong magulang ay iniwan sila, nag hiwalay at nagkaroon daw ulit ng bagong pamilya. Nasa Montalban daw ang kanyang ina at ang Ama nya ay manila naman .
May natutunan ako sa kanya at sa Bawat nakukuha kong aral sa kanya Mas ninanais kong sya ay aking matulungan . IPANALANGIN NATIN SI JM AT KANYANG PAMILYA. pwede nyo din syang abutan ng food pag makikita nyo sya . Salamat po.
Sorry po pinicturN ko sya .
God Bless You.
Read: Working student buys a bicycle from his own hard-earned money