These poor guys are mechones, freshman.
As a welcome to their new life as university students, upperclassmen dress them in dirty clothes and paint them colors–only to make them go beg for money on the street. Once they have enough money, I think they have to do something else that is just as humiliating!
I gave each of them 50 pesos for the photo, about a dime each.
They asked me where I was from using Usted–the first time I think I have ever been addressed with Usted by a native speaker. I’m sure I’ll never use Ud. with anyone again, It made me feel so old! I immediately corrected them; “Ud. no, tratame de tú!”.
ha- great photo!