It’s 7 in the morning.

11-year-old Nico (not his real name) takes his routine walk to the sari-sari store, his pockets clinking with spare change. He asks for the regular number of 5 sticks of cigarettes and pauses. Realizing he has an extra peso, he looks up and adds, “Anim nalang po [Make it 6 sticks instead].”

He walks away with a lit cigarette between his lips.

There are many young children like Nico who can afford to buy cigarettes for themselves as often as every day if they wish. Health experts warn that they are getting younger and younger.

(CONTINUE AT https://aer.ph/?p=5212)

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