Streetbuzz Interview
July 20, 2006
Aniline M. Jaron: Nursing student and resident of Paradise Island, Mandaue City, Philippines.
A STREETBUZZ INTERVIEW
 |
STREETBUZZ: Aniline, how old are you and where were you born?
ANILINE: I'm 21 years old. I was born in Cebu City at the Maternity Hospital, there in Fuente. Then we moved to Paradise Island a few months later.
STREETBUZZ: How many in your family?
ANILINE: We are 14, my siblings: seven boys and seven girls. I'm number nine, and my sister Juliet there is number seven.
STREETBUZZ: How's your childhood? What's it like growing up in Paradise Island?
ANILINE: Well, I'm happy then. You know, swimming, play with friends, volleyball. No, it's not dangerous here. Oh...well, yes, my brother fell in the water when he's two, he's drowned. But then he's saved, its a miracle! He's sitting over there now.
STREETBUZZ: How about school? How many in your family finished school?
ANILINE: We all finished elementary. Some finished high school. There's four of us who went to college; two are already graduated. Me, I'm fourth year nursing student at here in Mandaue. Hope I can finish next year.
STREETBUZZ: Aniline, what’s your plan?
ANILINE: My plan? Any abroad, as long as there’s a job there. My auntie is in Toronto, Canada. She invited me there.
Do I enjoy nursing? Enjoy. I learn to love children. You have to be flexible, patient…
Below: Anile's father Cresencio, sister Juliet (with baby), cousin _____, Aniline.
 |
STREETBUZZ: How about getting married?
ANILINE: I will wait. First, I want to go abroad to help my family. You know, my tata is old enough, he is 63. He has high blood.
STREETBUZZ: What can you say about Paradise Island? (squatter community where her family lives.)
ANILINE: Hugaw (dirty.) The environment is good; the people is the problem. What comes in the water, and the youth... you know, out of school; use drugs, smoking. It’s the social environment. Also: pobre (poverty) the problem of Paradise Island.
STREETBUZZ: What about the city of Mandaue? They have announced a plan to relocate the residents here ahead of the ASEAN summit next December. (STREETBUZ note: Paradise Island is just west of the first Mandaue-LapuLapu Bridge and is considered by some TO BE an eyesore that would presumably be seen by attendees of the ASEAN summit.)
ANILINE: We heard about it. But our neighbor works at city hall and she said we’re OK here at Paradise Island. Before, in 2000, they said there’s a relocation site in Canduman. But now no humor, no discussion of that. Because we believe we are safe. Because we keep on hearing that news, but since 2006, until now, nothing. Anyway, Mandaue has no budget for that (relocation.)
 |
STREETBUZZ: What can you say about the Philippines?
ANILINE: If we talk about resources: OK kaayo (very OK.) But the people: corrupt. Economic is no good. For the future in the Philippines, hopefully there’s an improvement, for a change.
My family likes a change, to the parliamentary system. We want the money from Cebu to stay in Cebu, not go to Manila. Grow the economy so that we have a job. (STREETBUZZ note: There is currently a great deal of discussion in the Philippines about switching to a parliamentary system from the present US-based system of an elected president and two houses of Congress.)
CRESCENCIO B. JARON (Aniline’s father): If the people (already) in the position will win the election: no change in the Philippines. So we need different people. Lito Osmena he is one. Until 1969 the Philippines is high than Japan. After 1970, the Philippines is low than Japan. Because corrupt. Corruption is the biggest problem in Philippines.
 |
*****
A STREETBUZZ INTERVIEW
Aniline Jaron can be reached at aniline21@yahoo.com
Return to Chris in the Philippines 5