Name: Davey Marie A.

Lerin
Grade & Section: 11 - St. Matthew

Reaction Paper about the Documentary

(Diskarteng Bata)
The documentary is interesting because of its content. The video is all about the different
stray kids’ different stories, that they stated their struggles in life on how they are surviving in a
way they make dangerous stunts on the streets of different cities in Metro Manila, Philippines.
The so-called “Diskarteng Bata” which means children that does or knows at their very young
age about how criminality works and how it can be done on their own dirty tactics. During the
interview, the stray kids namely Dodong together with Jocelyn said the only reason why they
continue doing stealing is because they have a hard life and their parents are short of income to
provide for their big family so they think the only way they can help with household expenses is
the wrong way in the eyes of the law and dangerous to the majority. It is unbearable to see this
kind of issue in our community especially minors are involved.

According to the Family Code of the Philippines; Article 220 the duty of the parent is to
provide them with moral and spiritual guidance, inculcate in them honesty, integrity, self-
discipline, self-reliance, industry and thrift, stimulate their interest in civic affairs, and inspire in
them compliance with the duties of citizenship. In simple words, parents are the first people who
teach the child with a loving and tender care until they grow up to be able live independently and
active socially as citizens of the country. While by the Merriam Webster Dictionary; parenting is
the taking care of someone in the manner of a parent. It is mostly the culture of Filipino parents
is they are having no long-term plan for the child's future so it is inevitable to have a case similar
to what Dodong and Jocelyn experienced at the very young age. It is also one of the reasons why
such this kind of mistake is rampant due to the poverty experienced by the large population of
our country that leads to the way many parents are short of supplies to provide for their
children’s needs.

The story of the interviewed stray kids is not new news but it is a worsening situation in our
community that deserves attention and time to resolve it for the youth hope of the people in the
future. “Kabataan ang pagasa ng bayan” the term that Dr. Jose Rizal left us, but how can we
overcome it if the situation of the stray kids like Dodong and Jocelyn still cannot resolve by our
past government and current government? It is important that each of us be aware of this social
issue so that our minds can be open to the reality that may have consequences in the future. That
is why it is suggested for the people that are married and wants to make a family that should
consult for family planning and have a responsibility of a parent to stay accountable when his or
her child is on the wrong path, so that stories like Dodong and Jocelyn can stop and not spread. It
is sad to think that most of the youth go astray but I believe it is not too late for them to change
and give hope to their lives again, as long as there is guidance.