Life, Hope and a Smokey Mountain

"Father come to me, hold me up 'cause I can barely stand, My strength is gone and my breath is short, I can't reach out my hands, But my heart is set on a pilgrimage to heaven's own bright King,So in faltering or victory I will always sing" - Charlie Hall, On The Road To Beautiful

On a journey to elsewhere, I am excited to capture great images of people and places in every step of the way. On my second week, bags are packed and bound to Manila.

Life, Hope & a Smokey Mt.

First up, big thanks to Pastor Nixon Rosales of MalayaKids for taking time off to go with me here.

Stretching forth on my second week, I could consider this the highlight of my trip. Spending almost two hours walking, stepping on the actual "things" and meeting lots of people along the way.

Looking at Smokey Mountain from the perspective of a spectator from afar would result to one giving a simple nudge on the shoulder. Going "through and inside" the actual place is a different story. It's a real different story to be near these people, they looked hopeless from all views of life but strangely, you can find the greatest smile that any person can give on this earth. One that gives all of the person wearing the smile, it's a "what you see is what you get" world in here. No pretensions, as my pastor friend explained a few things along the way, I'm stuck with life's reality, those who have enough can never have enough, while those who have nothing at all can still give all things about them, and that's what I get from being near them even for a short time.

I was hoping to capture the images as I felt it happen before me, but I have to beg off this time, these photographs can only mirror a certain percentage of the life and hope that is found in an almost forgotten place - Smokey Mountain, Tondo, Manila.