12-year-old boy in Negros Oriental risks life climbing coconut trees, harvesting tuba as family breadwinner

A 12-year-old boy in Negros Oriental risks his life climbing coconut trees and harvesting tuba to provide for his mother and siblings.

According to a "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho" episode, "Allan" is the youngest tuba or coconut wine gatherer in Bais City, Negros Oriental.

The breadwinner of his family and eldest of three siblings, Allan would tie a knife to his waist and climb trees as tall as 40 feet. He would then carefully get the sap from the tree and place it in a jug.

After collecting the sap, he would walk one to two hours to reach the town and sell his wine for P50.

At times, Allan would drink tuba just to get rid of his thirst and dip biscuits in it.

He admitted that he was scared doing his job and would even get wounded, but he needed the money to feed his family.

"Para magkapera pambili ng bigas dahil wala kaming makain," Allan said.

["So we can have money to buy rice because we don't have anything to eat."]

According to his mother "Lina," she left her partner in 2018.

"Nag-away kami dahil sa pinansyal. Umabot sa punto na nagkapisikalan na kami. Natakot ako kasi limang buwan akong buntis," Lina said. "Sinabihan niya kami na papatayin niya kami kung hindi kami lalayas. Kaya lumayas na lang kami."

["We would often fight because of financial reasons. It even got to the point where he would hurt me. I got scared because I was five months pregnant. He told us that he'll kill us if we didn't leave. That's why we left."]

"Nagalit ako dahil sinuntok niya si Mama," Allan said, crying.

["I was furious because he hit my mom."]

After giving birth, she asked her former partner for financial support but he didn't have money. She had to work at a food chain restaurant to provide for her family so Allan, only nine years old then, was the one left to take care of his siblings.

Things got worse when their youngest, who was then six months old, suddenly had seizures. After bringing him to the hospital, the doctors found out he had cerebral ischemia.

"Ang aking suweldo na dalawang libo ang lingguhan kinulang na pambayad sa ospital. Hindi po siya kumakain, kung hindi namin siya pipilitin. Tagilid siyang naglalakad. Ang kanyang paningin, parang meron ding deperensya," Lina said.

["My weekly salary of P2,000 wasn't enough for his hospital bills. He won't eat if we don't convince him. He would walk sideways and there's also something wrong with his eyesight."]

It was Allan who took care of their youngest while she was in the field with her other child.

"Lina" said she couldn't leave the youngest one alone so she decided to plant and sell sweet potato. In a week, she earned P250-P300. As life got even more difficult for them, in March 2019, she sought the help of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

"Mahirap talaga. Pero pinagsikapan ko lang talaga na mapakain ko sila sa tatlong beses sa isang araw kahit hindi man bigas at least meron mapasok sa kanilang sikmura," Lina said.

["It's hard. But I work hard to feed them three times a day. Even if it's not rice, at least they had something to fill their stomachs."]

That was when Allan offered to help his mom by becoming a coconut wine gatherer or magtutuba. According to Lina, her son offered to work so she can stay at home and take care of his siblings.

"Gusto kong tumulong sa kanya dahil mahal namin siya. Wala nang ibang tutulong. Iniwan kami ng aming Papa... para na akong Papa dahil aking binubuhay si Mama at si Dodong," Allan said.

["I want to help my mom because we love her. No one else is going to help us. Our father left us... I feel like I'm the father now because I'm the one supporting my mom and Dodong."]

Although Lina was thankful to her son Allan, she expressed her guilt and sadness for how his life turned out.

"Nag-mature siya nang maaga. Naaawa po ako sa anak ko," she said. "Nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos na kahit ang aking asawa noon kung gaano siya ka-salbahe sa amin, binigyan talaga ako ng mga anak na mga mababait. Hindi ko talaga inutusan ang aking anak. Kung gagaling ang bunso kong anak, hindi ko na siya papatrabahuin dahil kaya ko namang magtrabaho. Pero sa ngayon, mahirap pa talaga iwan."

["He matured early. I feel sad for him. I'm thankful to God that even though my husband was terrible to us, I was blessed with these children. I didn't ask Allan to do this. If my youngest child's condition gets better, I won't let him work anymore because I can go back to work. But for now, it's really hard to leave my youngest."]

According to a non-government organization, children in far-flung provinces have long been suffering from these problems, and they are increasing in number with face-to-face classes still on hold.

To help out, the KMJS team gave "Allan" and his family a small fund to start their own sari-sari store so he won't have to climb coconut trees anymore. They also brought a doctor to Allan’s place to have his brother checked up. The local government unit, meanwhile, gave them some grocery items.

"Kung papapiliin ako kung magtatrabaho o maglalaro, magtrabaho ang akin. Mahal ko talaga sila. Gagawin ko ang lahat para makakain din sila," Allan said.

["If I were given the choice to work or play, I would still work. I really love my family. I would do anything so they could eat."]

For those who wish to help, please deposit to:

LANDBANK OF THE PHILIPPINES
ACCOUNT NAME: MARICRIS S. LARANJO
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 2586 1684 55

—Kaela Malig/RC/MGP, GMA News