Batang Kalabaw

Earlier, I was complaining to Erbe about how bored I am with my job. I was complaining until I saw the documentary featured in GMA 7. The documentary focused on 13 children ages ranging from 6 to 13.

In the mountains of Agusan del Sur, entire communities make a living off illegal
logging. The adults cut down trees while some of their children carry the logs
down the mountainside. Some as young as six years old do this back-breaking
work, trekking up to four hours a day to bring logs down to the valley, where
eager buyers await.

Jay Taruc documents these children as they carry logs
even in the rain. Jay takes a fall along with them down the mountainside during
one rainy day of work.

Richard, Carlo, and Randy make up the group of young
boys he follows as they transport logs on their backs, attempting to balance
their heavy responsibilities with their need for play. There is one child among
them, however, who is all business, working faster than all the rest.

Cherilyn, at 14, acts as both father and mother to her five younger
siblings. She is the family's sole breadwinner. as her father was imprisoned for
murder and her mother suffers from a mental illness. She carries her burden
without complaint, no matter how heavy the logs get.

It's heartbreaking. Watching it was like having a cold water poured over my head.