Open Letter to Amelia Kent, American Peace Corps Volunteer, who started Shepherd's Heart Cafe in Cebu City's Historic District
Dear Mimi,
Finally I had the chance to stop by the Shepherd's Heart Cafe with my sister-in-law.
We had coffee and sandwiches and chatted with the young women who were serving. Despite the sudden death of the sister in charge, the place is operating well. The place is tidy; they are now selling souvenir items, cookies. clothes and so on. I am delighted that the air condition I donated does a good job cooling the place.
The problem as I see it lies in the surrounding area, which is the heart of Cebu's Historic district. The grounds of the Heritage Monument and the area in front of the Cafe and the Jesuit House, are overran with homeless people, whom I understand come from the Balay Samaritano in nearby Mabini Street near USP. The Balay Samaritano feeds the homeless, and the end result is that the homeless sleep in nearby places, and continue to go back to the Balay Samaritano for food. Balay Samaritano is creating dependent people instead of self-sufficient citizens. Balay Samaritano is also encouraging homeless people to hang around the area.
I have heard that some of the clients of Balay Samaritano are at times drunk and threatening. They lay around even during the daytime, and more of them show up at night. Despite the fact that the Barangay folk try to move them away from the area, they come right back.
The situation of having many homeless people living in the tourist area right next to the Heritage Monument, the Yap-Sandiego Museum, and Jesuit House is not good for Cebu's tourism, nor is it good for the residents of the area.
As you know, there are some heritage folk who have been trying hard to improve the Historic District, knowing precisely that millions of tourists visit the area in a year. Even while Terry and I had coffee, we could see tour buses and tourists walking to the Heritage Monument or making their way to the Jesuit House and Yap-Sandiego Museum. But we also noted that they walked past the Cafe because of the homeless people ensconsed in the area.
I am posting my letter to you in hopes that people like Mayor Mike Rama, Sister Ewa Lidia Mazur and others who run Balay Samaritano or JPIC Inc, and others who care about the development of Historic Cebu (or who ought to care) will take note and do something about the problem.
I feel sympathetic to those who lack, but it is a great disservice to Cebu to attract homeless people to the tourist area of Cebu.
In fact, what we need are vigilant Tourist Police to reassure the tourists that the place is safe.
Hoping you are well,
Cecilia
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Tags: Cebu, Sugbo, Historic District, Philippines, tourism, tourists
This is all for now,
Cecilia
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