Matthew Goes Home

There are thousands of kids living on the streets of Cebu City in the Philippines, all with countless stories of the vices and vileness that they have endured. Matthew is just one of these thousands who has experienced more than his share of horrors.

I met Matthew in July of 2009 at a drop in centre in Tabunok, Cebu. He had come to Cebu with his father some years earlier who had then deserted him, leaving Matthew with his grandmother who could not afford to take care of him. Matthew soon found himself living on the streets where he developed a drug habit of sniffing glue, a common practise with street kids.

He occasionally expressed a longing to better his life, but due to his tumultuous lifestyle, he would often disappear for days on end, making his progress and healing difficult.

One day, when his situation was most dire, Matthew told a social worker at the drop in centre of his desperation to return to his mother, who lived on an island 7 hours boat ride away.

Plans were made and in a couple of days Matthew was on his way home.