there they were again standing and waiting on the side walk. bearing the harsh and scorching summer heat. the woman was already wearing a different floral blouse from the one she wore yesterday. but the aging stretch and faded spots could not hide the fact that she have already outgrown it.
tagging along with her was the same girl. she still have the same tired eyes and thin lips that seemed not to know what a smile is.
yesterday, i was on my way to the train station when the two popped up from nowhere. they immediately gave me that look and asked for help.
the old woman was asking for spare cash. they claimed that they don't have any money left to go back home. seriously, suspicions was the only thing that didn't came up on my mind. but aside from the fact that i don't usually give alms, i don't really have any coins to spare. so i told them, sorry and proceeded to my destination.
i was already inside the train but the image of the two still haunted me. i was thinking how could they possibly go back home? would they dare walk under this heat? in a way, i felt guilt eating me. i should have atleast gave them the money left me inside my wallet and skip lunch. but i just didn't. was i apathetic and selfish?
the image still remained until i reached office. but while as i walking along the street were my building is located, i saw another woman with a kid. it seemed like they were walking towards me. the chill inside overcame the heat of the day. i was literally telling myself, "please, they're not going to do it. they're not going to do it."
then they stopped infront, opened their palm and gave me a familiar line: please help us we ran out of money to go back home.
i was surprisingly disgusted for coincidence is out of the question. if there is one thing that really pisses me off, that is using children on these. people should start to understand that innocence should not be corrupted. we owe this to the kids. people should start working their asses out and stop using minors on such scheme.
poverty is the queen of overratedness, next to love and sex.
i took something out of my bag and hand a cookie to the child and then walk away from them. then i thought, atleast a cookie will save the humanity from the remaining of innocence of that kid.
15 comments:
this is like the same with the experience of grammath.(http://grammath.blogspot.com/).
children have been such a props to ask for alms and i indeed pity them...
but at least you did what is best to do, instead of money, just give them food.
hindi rin ako nagbibigay ng limos sa mga nanghihingi nito sa daan. iniisip ko kasi, bukod sa bawal ito ayon sa batas e, baka sindikato pa yung mga nanlilimos. pero isang txt message ng isang kaibigan ko yung nagpabago sa akin. sabi niya, bakit pa kailangan nating malaman yung rason sa likod ng panghihingi niya ng limos. Kung nanghihingi siya, bakit hindi natin bigyan kung meron naman tayo. As much as possible, kung may pagkain naman ako, yun na lang ang ibibigay ko, kung wala barya na lang. kung wala talaga, wala talaga.
http://fjordz-hiraya.blogspot.com
taft corner UN avenue, may healthy looking lady (30's or 40's na) with a kid at lagi siya andun... lagi hingi ng pang-uwi.
mendicancy is a crime pa rin yata sa Pinas, tama ba?
i encountered the same somewhere near podium in ortigas last year. weekly ko silang nadadaanang mag-ina using the same kind of line. kung mag-ina nga sila. then nakita ko din sila sa ibang mrt station naman. i seriously think sindikato ito. tsk, tsk.. and to use kids as you've just stated.. haayyy.
Studying in PGH I've once encountered this old lady with a kid asking for money for her kid's hospitalization and medication. Being a naive freshman, I gave her some money. But every year, her face became an unusual fixture in the PGH grounds.
Two years after the first, she asked me again, and as an intern, I could already help out with showing her how to get that white card for free hospitalization and free medications from the charity pharmacy. But as she doesn't want to go through the process, it confirmed that she was just telling a fabricated story. No one's sick.
Sad. Reminds me of slumdog milloinaire where they used kids to ask for money(hehe napanuod ko na, di ko na naintay CD mo! hmp!)
sad but i have become numb.
Organized crime sila itich.
Kung probinsyano silang tulad ko, lagi nilang maiisip ang pamasahe pabalik, di bale ng di makakain basta makauwi; sino ba namang magulang (ina for that matter, since wala atang mag-amang nanglilimos ng pamasahe) ang maaatim ang ganung sitwasyon.
Hay buhay, basta kumita lang.
di rin ako nagbibigay ng limos. Don't give to one, don't give to all. I just do not believe in dole oyuts.
that's why it's better to just give them food than money, at least you're sure that what you'll give them will go their stomachs.
i'm more fascinated by how the alms process transforms those of whom alms are asked. a lot of discussion by those that are in the position to give alms seems to reflect an inflationary sense -- in which case, like you, i think its better not to participate in direct alms giving. its so much better to keep one's humanity than to turn into a megalomaniac because of someone else's humility in seeking alms!
of course. cookies are like the coolest thing ever! they can even go you to Paris and London with just a cookie.
I remember being way too nice with people like them back then-but after giving them too much-they'd just grow dependent with alms and free stuffs
and yes, DOCTOR is right-you somewhat have the same post with grammath.
i remembered a classmate of mine, naglalakad kami somewhere whena kid approached her and asked for money.. eh medjo mataray yon in a way..
instead of giving money or food, hhiniritan nya ng..
"asan ang nanay mo? bakit ka sakin nanghihingi? dun ka sa nanay mo manghing!"
ang we just walked away...
last friday, nasa taxi stand kami ng megamall strip, side ng building A.... may humingi ng limos sa amin, babae in her early 40's may dalang bata na wala pang dalawang taon.....
ayaw sana naming magbigay pero makulit siya... pandagdag lang daw ng pambili ng gamot. Kaya naman binigyan ng friend ko.... bago sila tumalikod, akmang isusubo ng bata ang isang kamay niya.... sabi ng babae...
"NO! baby.... THAT'S DIRTY!!!"
gusto kong tumambling.... lumilipad pa ang british accent ng potah!!!
hindi ako nagbibigay kpag may nanlilimos. di ba bawal yun? ahehe! but everytime na hindi ako nagbibigay, hindi ko mapigilang ma-guilty...hays...lalo na sa mga matatanda...
Post a Comment