Because I have been having difficulty in breathing since weekend and the medications given to me by the Company doctor did not work after 4 days, she referred me to a Pulmonologist. Since the need was urgent, I visited the specialist on a Saturday. Along with my promise to Keziah that I will bring her to Baclaran, I just brought her with me to the hospital, i.e. just 1 tricycle ride away from my office.
It was a rainy, gloomy Saturday morning. Keziah and I rode the bus going to Lawton. Getting off at U.N. Avenue, we went straight to the Manila Doctors Hospital and went straight to the Radiology Department. I need to get my x-ray results. Not checking the film and the radiologist's evaluation, we hurriedly went up the third floor by stairs. (We can't afford to wait for the elevator anymore for I am afraid that the pulmonologist has lots of patient already.) After the complete examination procedure and testing, the doctor confirmed that there is nothing serious about my condition. My x-ray results are clear. It is just a recurring asthma, triggerred by my allergic rhinitis due to the sudden changes in weather and allergens I capture from my everyday routine.
After consulting the doctor, I decided to drop by my office to get rid off the x-ray plate, report the results to our Company clinic and purchase medicines from our Company drugstore as well. Keziah and I stayed at the office for more than an hour, for I need to check the BOM migration (Unforunately I still needed to work) and I need to charge my phone as well. We then left to office for lunch, ate at Jollibee (as per Keziah's request) and went straight to Baclaran by train. The rainshower has worsened by that time.
As we reached the Baclaran station, Keziah and I still needed to walk for 15 minutes before we can reach the Baclaran Church. However, the rain had became heavy so we needed to stop by McDonald's first. After finishing her French fries and Mc Flurry on a rainy afternoon, and after the rain had lighten a bit, Keziah and I headed towards Baclaran Church. We prayed, lightened candles and headed to the nearest drugstore for my medicines. (Unfortunately, the medicines prescribed to me are not available in the company drugstore.)
It was still raining when we went out of the church. As we walked along the road, I found a few items for Kaira and Keziah. I bought some and the seller packed them in a suitably-sized plastic bag. It was very easy to handle it and so we continued walking. However, knowing Baclaran, there are lots of people, usually children, selling plastic bags to impulse shoppers. Holding my umbrella with my right hand while taking care not to let Keziah be wet by the rainshower, holding the plastic bag with my left wrist, while hugging my shoulder bag in front (beware of pick pocketers and snatchers!) and grabbing Keziah with my right arms, a boy, around 10 years old, selling plastic bag forcefully tried to sell his plastic bag to me. I told him I won't buy. Since I have no free hands then, he put the pack of things I purchased in the plastic bag he was selling and tried to ask for payment. I was strong in my stand that I will not buy the plastic bag. I don't need it anyway and it just does not help in global warming. One plastic bag is enough! But the boy kept on saying that my things are already in the bag. I even told him that I will inform the police for he keeps on imposing. To make the long story short, we argued. Besides, I did not like the way he imposed his item. Maybe Keziah was annoyed as well so she took off the boy's plastic bag and dropped it. The boy took the bag and left.
Walking further, the rain became heavy. Luckily, Watsons is almost there. We purchased my medicines and as we went out of the establishment, the rain and wind had worsened. May people, dropbyers, shoppers and sellers are gathered in the small covered front, protecting themselves from the rain. I decided that we stay first and wait for the rain and wind to subside.
While waiting, a small girl, aroung 5 years old approached me saying, "Ate, bili ka naman ng plastic. Limang piso lang." Again, thinking that I don't need it and that I wanted to contribute saving Mother Earth, I said no to her. After hearing that, she just stood in front of me and did not say anything at all.
I tried to observe the girl. She is small, quite thin, round face with round cheeks and her cute dimples made me more interested about her. Looking at the girl and having Keziah on my right side, I tried to talk to the girl. I asked her, "Ilang taon ka na?" And then she answered, "Eight years old" with a slight Visayan diction. Surprised with what I heard, I looked at Keziah and tried to compare the girl to her. The little girl's height is only up to Keziah's lips! She's so small for her age. Keziah is just 6 and will be turning 7 in January.
I then asked the girl if she goes to school. She said no and continued, "dati po, sa Mindanao." Getting curious, I asked further, "Sa Mindanao? Kailan ka pa sa Maynila?" This time, I noticed that the girl tried to recall everything, looking at the ceiling, trying to think hard when she went to Manila. Giving up, she answered, "Hindi ko po alam e!"
This time, I pitied the little girl. I was thinking of buying her plastic bag but I suddenly realized that she needs food better. I tried to reach from my bag a pack of biscuit, Keziah's baon, and handed it to the little girl. She was so happy! She smiled, as if too shy to say thanks, and went off.
We waited for a few minutes until the weather allowed us to leave. It was still drizzling. On our way up the overpass to cross on the other side of the road to get a bus home, 2 young boys, around 5 years of age (maybe), were opening their palms to us, asking for money. Thinking about the banana bread I had in my bag, still a part of Keziah's baon which she did not finish, I tried to reach the 1 and a half pack of pastry from my bag's outside pocket. (Keziah was not able to finish one.) I saw one boy aggressively taking the 2 packs of pastries and making a good distance from the other boy, as if not wanting to share anything. With that scene, we left the two boys for we were rushing towards the other side of the road to quickly get a bus ride home.
That was Saturday afternoon... a gloomy, rainy but experience-rich Saturday for me and Keziah. It was a typical experience for me but I was very lucky to get the oppportunity to let my daughter experience and witness such.
I kept on reminding them, Kaira and Keziah, that life is not easy, that money is not easy to earn, and they are very lucky enough that at their age, they do not need to earn for a living, unlike other kids that need to work to eat at least one meal per day.
My kids are growing and they are starting to learn and understand better what the real world is. Exposures as such make them aware and realize the sense of all words they hear from me.
I am thankful and I feel so blessed that my children do not experience things that those less fortunate kids do. I can't imagine my kids missing a school year. I never wanted to see my kids asking for money in order to eat one meal a day. And I can't bear that my kids are walking on the streets, approaching people and selling plastic bags for a living...
-maron-
started: 02august2009
bedroom using my mobile phone
08:30hrs
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ended: 03august2009
on a bus along Airport Road
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