• FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF ITALY (posted Dec. 2007)
   By Hanna and Franstel

Translated from Filipino text, this is a 2-part interview between Hanna Dumagsa, 14 years old, and Franstel Garcia, 13 years old, highlighting their impressions and experiences on their trip to Italy to participate in the "Un Cuore si Scioglie", a 7-year old campaign for the children of the Third World organized by UNICOOP and ARCI Toscana.

Hanna is a member of the Association of Children in Veterans Village (Samahan ng mga Bata sa Veterans), an urban poor community in Batasan Hills, Quezon City. Through funds collected from the Un Cuore si Scioglie campaign, a mutli-purpose learning center is being built at Veterans village. Franstel is a member of the Children's Collective. With support from the Attivarci affidi campaign, members of the Children's Collective participated in a theater and music training program. Increased capacity for theater helped the Children's Collective educate many of their peers on the various plight and issues Filipino children face such as the impact of political repression and poverty on children.

Part 1, Hanna interviews Franstel:

Hanna: What was your reaction on our arrival here in Italy, first in Rome and then in Florence?
Franstel: It is quite peaceful here. There are not too many noisy vehicles, and a big number of people go around in their bicycles. Most of the people here are organized.
Hanna: What can you say about their lifestyle and culture, compared to ours?
Franstel: Their place is developed because the government plays a big role in responding to the needs of its citizens, even to the extent of hanging Christmas lights along the streets. But their cost of living is expensive. Too expensive. Maybe because they are a developed country.
Hanna: What did you feel when we were on stage at the Saschall Theater during the main event of Un Cuore si Scioglie?
Fanstel: I felt happy that I was able to say what I came here to say… especially about the situation children in our country are in.

Part 2, Franstel interviews Hanna:

Franstel: What can you say about their government here?
Hanna: I don't think they are corrupt. Their government has succeeded in developing very disciplined citizens and they support the citizens like the farmers, such that they export rather than import agricultural produce.
Franstel: Can you compare Florence to the Philippines?
Hanna: You seldom see garbage thrown around. No street children crowd the streets like garbage. Even the stores are so organized that they sell only one line of products. In Manila, you find a small store trying to sell almost everything in an attempt to survive and stay in business.