2012 Book Award Finalist
Lisa Wiltse
USA

 

Charcoal Kids of Ulingan

 

A project that documents Ulingan, a small impoverished squatter community in Vitas, Tondo, Manila, the Phillipines, who rely on the charcoal industry for their daily bread, working as wood burners and charcoal packers.

Sisters Christina and Crissa head to work in the charcoal pits. The impoverished community of Ulingan, a small squatter community in Vitas, Tondo, Manila, Philippines relies on the charcoal industry to survive.
Sisters Christina and Crissa head to work in the charcoal pits. The impoverished community of Ulingan, a small squatter community in Vitas, Tondo, Manila, Philippines relies on the charcoal industry to survive.
Enrique and his friend collect wood for charcoal production in the heavy, toxic fumes in Ulingan, in the slums of a squatter community in the North Harbor of Manila, where families work as Ulingeros, or charcoal workers. Many of the workers in Ulingan are small children. Some are teenagers and a few were even as young as six or seven, unable to attend school because of poverty.
Enrique and his friend collect wood for charcoal production in the heavy, toxic fumes in Ulingan, in the slums of a squatter community in the North Harbor of Manila, where families work as Ulingeros, or charcoal workers. Many of the workers in Ulingan are small children. Some are teenagers and a few were even as young as six or seven, unable to attend school because of poverty.
Precious and Valerie resting after working in the charcoal pits collecting small bits of wood to sell to the corner shop.
Precious and Valerie resting after working in the charcoal pits collecting small bits of wood to sell to the corner shop.
A child rests her hand on freshly made charcoal after searching for leftover scraps of wood and nails to sell.
A child rests her hand on freshly made charcoal after searching for leftover scraps of wood and nails to sell.
Ulingeros Crissa and Christine carrying up to 12 kg of scraps and charcoal to sell for a few pesos.
Ulingeros Crissa and Christine carrying up to 12 kg of scraps and charcoal to sell for a few pesos.
Portrait of Enrique in the Charcoal burning camp of Ulingan, in Vitas, Tondo, Manila.
Portrait of Enrique in the Charcoal burning camp of Ulingan, in Vitas, Tondo, Manila.
Children play in empty houses that were heavily damaged by Typhoon Pedring in Ulingan.
Children play in empty houses that were heavily damaged by Typhoon Pedring in Ulingan.
Christine washes the soot and charcoal off her body after a days work in the charcoal pits. Christine and her sister do not attend school and must work everyday to provide for their family.
Christine washes the soot and charcoal off her body after a days work in the charcoal pits. Christine and her sister do not attend school and must work everyday to provide for their family.
Ate stands in the charcoal pits of Ulingan.
Ate stands in the charcoal pits of Ulingan.
A young girl at work searching for nails in the toxic charcoal pits to earn a few pesos in the slums of a squatter community in the North Harbour of Manila, where families work as Ulingeros, or charcoal workers.
A young girl at work searching for nails in the toxic charcoal pits to earn a few pesos in the slums of a squatter community in the North Harbour of Manila, where families work as Ulingeros, or charcoal workers.
Shanty homes destroyed after heavy winds and floods brought by Typhoon Nesat, locally known as Pedring, in the impoverished squatter community of Vitas, in Tondo, Manila, Philippines September 27, 2011.
Shanty homes destroyed after heavy winds and floods brought by Typhoon Nesat, locally known as Pedring, in the impoverished squatter community of Vitas, in Tondo, Manila, Philippines September 27, 2011.
Children of Ulingan receiving their free weekly meal provided by the non profit group Project Pearl, dedicated to helping the impoverished charcoal community of Ulingan.
Children of Ulingan receiving their free weekly meal provided by the non profit group Project Pearl, dedicated to helping the impoverished charcoal community of Ulingan.
The slums of a squatter community in the North Harbour of Manila, where families work as Ulingeros, or charcoal workers.
The slums of a squatter community in the North Harbour of Manila, where families work as Ulingeros, or charcoal workers.
Boys from the squatter community of Ulingan swimming in effluent waters of the Pasig river in Manila Bay, Philppines.
Boys from the squatter community of Ulingan swimming in effluent waters of the Pasig river in Manila Bay, Philppines.
Young Filipinos pass the time playing volleyball in the slums of Ulingan.
Young Filipinos pass the time playing volleyball in the slums of Ulingan.