Whenever I met Thomas (@miocade), he would tell me stories about the children he sheltered in Aroma, Tondo, Manila. Despite living in conditions that would be unimaginable for most, he spoke of their strength and happiness. Intrigued, I asked him what it was like to live on the other end of the spectrum. His response was simple: “Why not come and experience it yourself?” That was all the invitation I needed.

I spent a weekend in 2019 at the shelter centre Thomas helped establish in Aroma. From the moment I arrived, I was warmly welcomed by the boys who lived there, and I was given the opportunity to explore the neighborhood. Life here was simple, and yet everywhere I looked, people wore smiles on their faces.

I couldn’t help but joke with Thomas, observing the irony of it all: “The people here have so little, yet they are happy. In Singapore, we have so much, yet we are unhappy”

Just across the road from the shelter, the slums consisted of numerous dump sites where people scavenged, reused, and recycled whatever they could find from the city’s refuse. It was a stark contrast to anything I had ever witnessed. Despite the extreme poverty, the resilience of the people was remarkable.

“Happyland”, ironically named, is derived from the Bisaya word Hapilan, which translates to “dump site.”

For my safety, I was accompanied by one of the boys from the shelter as we explored. He shared stories of how much worse conditions had been in the past. It wasn’t uncommon to see children and adults sniffing glue, a temporary escape from their constant hunger. As we walked, I realized I could easily capture dozens of sensational photos, highlighting the dire conditions. But I chose not to. Instead, I focused on the positive, the warmth, and the hope I saw.

During my weekend stay, I was introduced to The Young Warrior Initiative, a program started by Thomas and his friends. It was designed to empower the children through education and teach them values like honesty, integrity, and loyalty. The goal was to transform their lives and give them a future beyond the boundaries of poverty. This was achieved through a sponsorship program that provided the children with the resources they needed to dream big.

I spoke to the teens at the center, and their dreams were inspiring. Some wanted to be nurses, others engineers or software developers. Their eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, and they all shared a common goal: to help as many kids as they could; to break free from the cycle of poverty.

The weekend left me thinking of the familiar saying: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” The Young Warrior Initiative was the embodiment of this philosophy. It didn’t just provide temporary relief; it laid the foundation for a lifetime of change.

As I prepared to leave, I knew this wouldn’t be my last visit. The boys, the community, and their stories had left a lasting impact on me. In their resilience and optimism, I found a deeper understanding of what it means to live and thrive, even in the most challenging circumstances. I’m certain I’ll be back, eager to witness the next chapter of their journey.

If you’re interested in learning more about the incredible work Thomas and his team are doing through <Empowering Lives Asia>, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ELA.CIP/.

“Happiness is a direction, not a place.” – Sydney J. Harris