Brosas urges compassion for 'Sampaguita Girl,' similar cases

Gabriela Party-list Representative Arlene Brosas urged the public to show compassion toward the "Sampaguita Girl," a young student selling flowers to support her education, as well as others in similar circumstances.

A recent viral video showed a security guard kicking the Sampaguita Girl and destroying her garlands. The guard has since been dismissed from his position.

“We have to take a deep look at why these situations keep happening. What we need is the understanding and the compassion for our fellow Filipinos, not only for the Sampaguita vendor, but even for the security guard who should be trained well enough to respond to such situations,” Brosas said at the sidelines of the briefing on Department of Social Welfare and Development programs.

“Iyong kalagayan na napakahirap. Mataas ‘yung presyo ng mga bilihin. Tapos kapag nag-aaral ka, kailangan mo ng pera, pamasahe, kung anu-ano pa. At sa tingin ko, kailangan din natin tingnan na hindi dapat i-villify ‘yung mga tao na gumagawa ng paraan para mabuhay. Kaya [bigyan sana natin ng] compassion ang bata, ang kanyang pamilya. Huwag na ungkatin pa iyong kanyang buhay. Dapat tulungan natin iyong mga taong ganito,” Brosas added.

(The situation is extremely challenging. Prices of basic goods are high, and for students, expenses like transportation and school needs add to the burden. We must avoid vilifying those who are merely trying to survive. Let’s extend compassion to the young woman and her family and refrain from prying into their personal lives. Instead, we should focus on helping individuals like them.)

Police have confirmed that the Sampaguita Girl is a legitimate student and not part of any syndicate.

Brosas added that the student/flower vendor needed to be supported because she was already facing challenges, including being subjected to doxing and public scrutiny. This has made it difficult for her to appear in public.

The representative also emphasized that security guards must avoid maltreatment, especially of children, and refrain from destroying others' property.

“Doon po sa usapin nung nagpaalis na security guard, hindi dapat minamaltrato ang mga tao. Hindi po tayo dapat nananakit ng kapwa at hindi rin tayo dapat nangingialam ng mga bagay na hindi sa atin. Basic po yun,” Brosas said.

She further stated that the security guard’s employer should also be held accountable. 

“Of course, kailangan managot doon hindi lang po yung security guard, dapat pati ‘yung nag-hire sa kanya. Kasi dapat nasa tamang katinuan siya para gawin ‘yung kanyang trabaho, at hindi tama na nasaktan yung mga tao dahil dito. We should be very compassionate sa ating kapwa Pilipino, lalo ngayon matindi ang krisis ng ekonomiya,” Brosas added.

(If the guard fails to act appropriately, then those who hired him should take responsibility. Employers must ensure their personnel are competent and capable of fulfilling their duties. Compassion is especially crucial in today’s economy.)

Brosas underscored the importance of systemic solutions, including providing parents with decent jobs to support their children.

“We need the parents to have decent jobs to earn a keep for their children, and in our country, there are so many cases of informal work, and DSWD should be compassionate so they can extend the assistance to address these needs," Brosas concluded. — DVM, GMA Integrated News