good for you and your wife for helping him.

how heart-warming to know that the little boy found the two of you...

I know you don't feel that you can do enough but I am more than certain that what you have done already is a dream come true for that little boy. And your good deeds touch not only him but those of us who hear about it.

Your right I don't feel like I can do enough for him

If someone wanted to see what a country ruled by Republicans was like,all you have to do is come visit this country.

There is no safety net here.You are on your own if you are poor and Filipino.

What you are stating FreakinDJ is played out a 100,000 times a day.Especially difficult for the poor during rainy season when there is virtually no work to be had.Those who do have jobs,don't earn enough to feed themselves.That is largely why you see multiple generations all living together.They all do what they can to contribute to the families well being.

Here in Northern Luzon,we are currently experiencing Tropical Storm after Tropical Storm.Flooding to the roofs in some ares,and water over the roadway chest deep only yesterday.

This morning,3 young brothers drowned collecting firewood by the river when the saturated bank gave way.This is the Philippines.

The best you can do is "adopt" a family or 2,or some of the local destitute kids...as you are led,and can afford of course.

edited for grammar...and edited again for grammar.Lol.Grammar seems to be my failing..well that, and being able to see a corporate suit running for office under the Democratic banner.

Yes I'm very aware of the conditions and like most Kano who fall in love with the place the people and the beauty here wish there was something we could do to help

The Street Kids way out in the provinces usually come up to a Kano who wonders into town. I joke with them calling them bandits and then ask them "Pila ice cream" and send them off to get an ice cream

Maybe this kid is coached. 3 1/2 hrs stowed away on a bus seems a bit much

He has got the crutches a few pesos and a full stomach. If he'll follow me back to Cebu I'll take him in for an Xray and a doctors visit

And I'll go from there

I pass by a "Boys Home" close to my wife's house daily

Never have I seen 1 child playing on the grounds behind those locked gates

There's always UNICEF. That's legit. They can point to someone.

The doctor should have the right connections

you really do have to be wary here,as there is a new scam born every minute as you are no doubt well aware.There were those who suggested going to the local Barangay and asking about who is most in need,but you are just as likely to get directed to a Barangay officials relatives. It's just as easy to watch people.The poor are pretty obvious..but you know that already.I do commend you on your willingness to help FDJ.Many expats do help,and just as many don't.

It's what I'd do and probably what many others here would do in your shoes. We want to help, especially the most vunerable.

The poor street child is orphaned, I assumed?

If you need advice or help, there's a U.S.Consulate at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel Bldg, Lahug. 63 32 231-1261.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Cebu_City

Good luck!! Keep us posted.

On Edit: posted before I saw Oldenuff's post above. Sounds as if you could private message Oldenuff for any general advice.

Two of the times I have been in places where I have encountered poor or homeless children asking for money. When I was in Puerto Princesa last January and walking down town near a Catholic church and there were four young Filipino children asking for money.