A Sanctuary from the Streets

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Worldwide | Saturday, October 16, 2010 | flickr photos

I visited this community called Virlanie Foundation, a group that provided the sanctuary of homes for children who were either orphaned, abandoned, exploited, abused, poor, or living in the streets of Manila. A lot of the children lived in poverty, and a lot were abandoned because of their disabilities or special biological conditions. They live as a community and are raised to be independent and self-sufficient. Though I have photos of exotic and colourful places, I chose to submit this series of photos, because I feel as if their story needs to be told. These children have been given a new chance, and that place to them became the home they didn’t have before. In that little community, though the children were shy, I saw so much life and so much wonder, even if some of them were still learning to get up on their own feet.

As for me, I am Hannah. I love my fragile earth and the beautiful people I meet. I believe I should be chosen because I love exploring. I love life, and through photography, I am seeing marvels beyond the four corners of a photograph. Photography inspires me to see things differently, and in a new light. Photography shows me new things to marvel about everyday. Photography shows me that in this world, I can never stop learning, and I like that fact. Someday, with fingers crossed and lots of bravery, I will go places with my camera.