i needed to have my laundry done today. i always ride a taxi to and from since 1.) it's very hot 2.) my laundry bag is so heavy already and 3.) there's no jeepney en route to the laundry shop in Banilad. it's my routine twice a month. so this was just one of those days until i met someone.
after i dropped off my stuff, as usual, i waited for a taxi. An elderly man approached me and asked where the NorthGen Hospital was. I told him it was really far from where we were and that he should ride a jeepney. He said he has been walking from Mambaling (which was like an hour drive from Banilad); his son is in the hospital because his head was cracked for reasons i did not ask. they've been in the hospital for 3 months now. he was told to go to a place within the NorthGen hospital to ask for assistance with his son's medicines. he also mentioned he asked help from his "millionaire" brother but was given nothing. i told him again that it was really far and that he would need to get into a jeepney. he said it was ok and that he'll just walk. he continued walking, but a few meters away, he stopped to massage his knees and legs. i knew they were sore from all his walking. i felt really sorry for him. so i approached him and asked if he had any money to pay for the fare. he must have understood what i was about to do because he said: "ayaw lang, maulaw ko" (don't, im ashamed). this time, i insisted that he needed to get into a jeepney and handed him a small amount. he thanked me and said to take care of myself. i felt sad while watching him get inside the jeep. imagine walking from Mambaling to the hospital, because i can't! it's like almost a 2hour drive. on the way home, i was thinking i should have given him more money. but it was too late now. i just hope he would be able to get what he needed and go back to his son without walking from one destination to next. and i really pray his son would get better soon.
most of the time i complain about mundane things. like how i NEEDED to ride a taxi because it was hot. but some were willing to walk miles and miles just to reach where they needed to be. im just thankful that i have a job, i have money to buy food and clothes, and i can afford to pay the fare for the taxi or jeepney. sometimes we take things for granted when in fact we should all learn to be thankful for everything that we have and be contented.
