MAGANDANG BATA
Beautiful Child

Children: ". . . of such is the kingdom of God" (Luke 18:16). The Filipino children portrayed in this collection all come from a similar background – one in which wealth, as defined by the world, is nonexistent. Several are from an area in which over three thousand families lost their homes in a blazing fire and whom are now forced to share already-too-small living spaces with their neighbors. Disease is rampant, education is limited, food is scarce. Most of these children are required to work to help support their families – more difficult labor than you or I will ever do. One would expect to find heartache and sadness, but in these children's eyes I found love, hope and
beauty. They have a grasp on something much more meaningful – something that seems to slip away with age as we come to recognize our state in comparison to the world around us. They are happy with who they are: they are innocent and selfless. They freely offered gifts – seashells, food, anything they could possibly find. I was often surprised and overwhelmed when little hands quietly slipped into mine as we walked along. Little do they know, they gave me much more than a few photographs. They possess the thing we all strive to gain in this life and shared a little with me: happiness. This work is dedicated to them, the beautiful children of the Philippines.