Monday, January 15, 2007
#20: ON PHILANTROPHY (AND STUFF)
I was riding this jeepney from Rotanda to Manila Science, our school, some days before Christmas. This was the time when Post #13 happened (just refer 'round this blog.). I vaguely remember it to be a tiring day, what with all that walking in Makati, to Glorietta and back, and subsequently buying that cat from Gift Gate *ack*. I was sooo tired . I must've looked like some dog beggin' for cookies. Well anyway I was sort of like half-sleeping and half-awake, lest we'll miss our stop(I was with a friend). Then this man from the street just rode the jeepney and sat at the floor. Well surely everyone was surprised. Who wouldn't? The jeep was not full, why sit on the floor?
Our queries were answered when he spoke.
"Manghihingi lang po kami ng konting donasyon para sa mga kapuspalad.." et al.
Okay, how may times have I been in this scenario? For the umpteenth time, I guess. Whilst I was evaluating the intricacies of poverty I was awoken from my reverie with an envelope placed before my lap, by who else but the man. I guess this is where I would place the money. The envelope has a letter inside, explaining how the handicapped needs money for Christmas, or something like that. Then there's this box with enlisted amounts that we need to check:
We are pleased with your donation: (Check one)
___1000 __ 500 php __ 200 ___100 __50 ___20 ____ others
Ohkaay, that was some culture shock. While I was deliberating upon the authenticity of this letter, and the weirdness of it all, the man suddenly belted out some Christmas Carol, all the while shaking some sort of improvised castanet. Not exactly inspiring, I might say. But then again, that's what people do for charity.
This is the hard part: should I give donations to this man and his so-called organization? Well my mother always taught me not to give alms. "Mahirap na. Masasanay ang mga yan." Even my friend who was with me never gave alms. Heck, everybody didn't. They just returned the envelopes. But poor me, always a sucker for these. Everytime I encounter these kinds of things, I just shrug and give. Sabi nga ng kasama ko, "Habon, uto-uto ka talaga!" Nevertheless, I gave alms still.
After the man left toting his stuff, castanets and all, I was thinking of why I give so freely to charity, even to the point of being gullible. Yeah. There was a time in my life when I encountered this Sisa-like woman, ten-year-old-me ago. The woman was, like, just walking round in circles without direction at all. She's clutching this plastic bag like it was some sort of prized possession.My palpitating heart was so moved that I gave her my 50- peso baon. I was so surprised when she wept! She stared at me, bleary-eyed as she was, in a sort of mental expression of gratitude. It was a shock. Now, I realized that that 50 pesos means so much to her, whilst I just skipped dessert to get over it. That's probably my defining moment.
So there, stupid as I seem, I gave in to my philantrophy and thought, To hell with it. After all, it's Christmas.
it got me home
8:45 PM
