The first time my first son saw the silver-painted beggars in Jakarta, he immediately looked them up on the internet. They are apparently all over the streets in Jakarta. Well, we see them mostly in South Jakarta.
My son was intrigued and felt pity for them. It is the toxic paint that they cover their body with and the health risk on them that tripled my son’s concern.
From then on, I try to capture them in video clips and compiled some of these clips in this video:
There are women and children silver-painted beggars on the streets, too. I just have not captured any of them. But, they exist. They put this silver paint on their body to stand out. While there are others who don costumes, the painting of silver from head to foot does come out differently. It is more eye-catching. And this is exactly what they hope to achieve. The more they stand out, the more they assume to earn more.
One silver man I asked said he would take home a hundred thousand rupiahs (US $6-7) on a good day. But when do good days happen?
The uncertainty of how much they would earn is also coupled with the uncertainty of security while on the streets. Police and social service would sometimes crack down on them. But this, too, is unclear. They are seen daily in different streets where you would think they are free to beg. Crackdowns are unpredictable so they have to be wary always.
What do you think of this way of earning a living?
When you see silver-painted beggars in Jakarta, would you give them your spare?
Hoping for their safety 🙏
Isa sa mga paraan para mabili nila ang pangangailangan araw araw
Ok lang yan atleast wala sila inaapakan ng ibang tao!
Salute sa knila ms. Wendy 🫡 nkakatuwa kse marangal ang gngwa nila at nkakapag pasaya din sila lalo na kapg naiipit sa traffic ang mga motorista ❤️ gngwa nila para saknila at para sa family nila . ❤️
Safety and health! Nakataya dito ang kakainin Ng kanilang pamilya
Too risky but they are taking the possible risk ,for their families and survival
Hopefully they don’t need to do this in the future. I applaud the creativity but not their current state.
This is the first tim that I read about Silver Painted Beggars in Jakarta. I’m not sure thou if I will gove them a spare if I saw one.
Unang una po delikado ang kanilang ginagawa dahil araw-araw silang nasa street ,what if mabundol sila ng sasakyan, yung kikitain naman nilang $6-7 dollor hindi sure na makukuha nila sa isang araw hindi sa lahat ng panahon swertihin ka.. napaisip din ako mukhang capable naman silang magtrabaho mommy wendy ,mas okay siguro kong mag hanap ng ibang pagkakitaan yung stable ang kita sa araw-araw at hindi na kaylangang makipag bangayan sa mga pulis,that’s my opinion po ,pero i dont know naman baka may ibang reason sila,sana lang safe sila sa araw-araw.
Thank you for reading. I agree with your outlook. But the pandemic has made it harder for people to survive especially those with no skills or who has not discovered that they have other skills.
I hope makahanap sila ng opportunity to earn kahit simple work as long as safe and kaya nila.
Oh, we have silver (and gold) street performers here, too! I don’t know how they originated, or where, but they started showing up when Manila had a row of open restos open up by the bay. Now, we see them in BGC, too. Never occurred to me that they’re beggars or that the paint is toxic, oh my. I think here, they were invited to do what they do.
grabe 🙁 thats too little even if thats a good day. i feel sad because of this. i wish a lot more people would share.
while at that, there are a lot of like this in costumes where you donate loose change as well around venice grand canal mall or eastwood. i wonder if they pattered it here.
I guess they’re different from the painted street performers we have in the philippines right? This just seems really dangerous!
My concern is their safety the silver paint is also not good for the skin and their health. Is there no other way to beg? Cause if they earn 6$~7$ dollars only on good days how much do they spend on the silver paint?
They’re like mimes. I’m sparing a dime if I have extra, why not? Although the idea is unsafe, privileged people would not understand how difficult it is to risk safety just to earn for their family. If it’s the only way to survive, be it – give the help that you can give.