Yesterday was a holiday in celebration of the EDSA 1 revolution. It was a free day and i did not report myself to work. Instead, woke up early, had my usual coffee, egg and bread, packed my guitar with my pick and extra set of strings and drove straight to a cousin's house in Marikina. We had this scheduled practice with my band for a forthcoming "small-small" gig at a friend's birthday. Syempre, we have to be prepared para hindi naman kami magmukhang lata.
But that was not the story is all about. While i was on a traffic stop at the intersection of Masinag and Marcos Hi-way, a barely 8-year-old skinny boy, in his soiled clothes and smudge on his face knocked on my side seat with his palm open. Without a word, it is understood he was begging for some alms. I just picked up a five-peso coin and hand it over to him while i kept my eyes on the traffic lights. He ran across the street and handed the coin to a woman with a small girl seating right at a corner looking dejected. I thought, it could be his mother and younger sister. The woman was more skinny, with clothes that could have been a thousand times worn without a wash. Her sad face had all these wrinkles formed, weary eyes were so evident and the soiled feet that were only covered by an old "tsinelas". They were the common beggars of the society.
A few kilometers after the Go signal, the thought of the boy's and my younger son's faces flashed and i cannot believe myself giving an alms of five pesos. While driving, i had some questions in my head: " ano mabibili nung limang peso, kendi, tig-iisa para sa kanilang tatlo?! kung anak ko yung namamalimos, bibigyan ko rin ng lima?". what was i thinking?...i felt i was so insensible, kuripot, manhid, walang-paki. Tangna...the guilt struck me right at that moment. Noon lang ako nakaramdam ng ganun.
During the practice, Bosyo, our bass dude approached me then asked, "brod, mukhang out of this world ka 'ata ngayun. Matamlay ka ah...me problema ba?". I had to narrate what happened and what i just did. He smiled, tapped my shoulders then said:" brod, kung bibigyan kita ng limang piso, ano kaya mararamdaman mo ngayon". That answered all my questions that even affirmed my guilt i had been inducing a few hours back. After the practice, Bosyo tapped me at the back of my head (binatukan ako) and suggested, "bro, samahan kita, balikan natin yung biktima mo at gawan mo ng paraan, pagkatapos nun hatid mo ako sa bahay". We drove ahead, stopped by a convenient store and bought a few goods and bread then went straight to that intersection. The boy was nowhere in sight but the woman and the young girl were still at their old post. I handed the plastic bag to the woman and gave her a nod, a retired smile was her reply and uttered in a silent tone..."salamat po".
Right at that moment, i felt a big relief. Di ko ma-eksplika ang sarili ko but it was great...a prized redemption for a wicked man. Bosyo, who was left sitting at the car was smiling then flashed a thumbs up in affirmation. He is one of the simplest, nicest, kind-hearted, crazy guy, i've known and i really admire him for that. When i reached home, i've told my wife about what happened. She pinched my left ear lobe and said:" Tama yang ginawa mo". Sure, the government discourages giving to street beggars...by our gifts, we give them a reason to be on the street rather than in an environment where they could be helped. But it is difficult to turn our backs to people in distress.
But that was not the story is all about. While i was on a traffic stop at the intersection of Masinag and Marcos Hi-way, a barely 8-year-old skinny boy, in his soiled clothes and smudge on his face knocked on my side seat with his palm open. Without a word, it is understood he was begging for some alms. I just picked up a five-peso coin and hand it over to him while i kept my eyes on the traffic lights. He ran across the street and handed the coin to a woman with a small girl seating right at a corner looking dejected. I thought, it could be his mother and younger sister. The woman was more skinny, with clothes that could have been a thousand times worn without a wash. Her sad face had all these wrinkles formed, weary eyes were so evident and the soiled feet that were only covered by an old "tsinelas". They were the common beggars of the society.
A few kilometers after the Go signal, the thought of the boy's and my younger son's faces flashed and i cannot believe myself giving an alms of five pesos. While driving, i had some questions in my head: " ano mabibili nung limang peso, kendi, tig-iisa para sa kanilang tatlo?! kung anak ko yung namamalimos, bibigyan ko rin ng lima?". what was i thinking?...i felt i was so insensible, kuripot, manhid, walang-paki. Tangna...the guilt struck me right at that moment. Noon lang ako nakaramdam ng ganun.
During the practice, Bosyo, our bass dude approached me then asked, "brod, mukhang out of this world ka 'ata ngayun. Matamlay ka ah...me problema ba?". I had to narrate what happened and what i just did. He smiled, tapped my shoulders then said:" brod, kung bibigyan kita ng limang piso, ano kaya mararamdaman mo ngayon". That answered all my questions that even affirmed my guilt i had been inducing a few hours back. After the practice, Bosyo tapped me at the back of my head (binatukan ako) and suggested, "bro, samahan kita, balikan natin yung biktima mo at gawan mo ng paraan, pagkatapos nun hatid mo ako sa bahay". We drove ahead, stopped by a convenient store and bought a few goods and bread then went straight to that intersection. The boy was nowhere in sight but the woman and the young girl were still at their old post. I handed the plastic bag to the woman and gave her a nod, a retired smile was her reply and uttered in a silent tone..."salamat po".
Right at that moment, i felt a big relief. Di ko ma-eksplika ang sarili ko but it was great...a prized redemption for a wicked man. Bosyo, who was left sitting at the car was smiling then flashed a thumbs up in affirmation. He is one of the simplest, nicest, kind-hearted, crazy guy, i've known and i really admire him for that. When i reached home, i've told my wife about what happened. She pinched my left ear lobe and said:" Tama yang ginawa mo". Sure, the government discourages giving to street beggars...by our gifts, we give them a reason to be on the street rather than in an environment where they could be helped. But it is difficult to turn our backs to people in distress.
I had a good sleep last night. I've relialized that we shouldn't wait for the next Tsunami to see less fortunate, distressed and tormented people. There are a lot of them around us.
