Sunday afternoon. I, Bambi and Zarah Grace set out on half-day church visitation and promotion for our upcoming District Concert. After our visit to Manila Faith Assembly of God in Tondo, we set our eyes on Grace Christian Assembly of God in Sampaloc, Manila. And we hailed a cab to take us there.
On the way to our next destination, we meet a long parade of election campaign of a candidate for counselor whose surname is "Tan." He stands on a top window of a car waving to the people, preceded by a long line of more or less 30 tricycles donned with campaign paraphernalia. Then our driver beside me remarked something like this, "300 pesos daw ang ibinayad diyan sa mga tricycle drivers na yan, biruin mo nga naman ang nagagawa ng pera." Then he followed, "Dapat hindi binoboto ang mga ganyan..." With an amused chuckle I asked why. "Kasi tignan mo, 'Tan' ang apelido!" Then something like a big red siren popped on my head. "Alam niyo po, 'Tan' din ho ang apelido ko, bakit naman ho hindi dapat iboto kapag 'Tan'?" I thought unraveling this fact would somehow embarrass him but he kept on going. He was angry with foreigners, 'Intsik' and Americans alike.
Now, the term 'Intsik' is a derogatory word for the Filipino-Chinese, similar to the term 'Indio,' and a person who knows someone who is Chinese should know that. Sometimes I let it pass for benefit of the doubt and friendship
He was angry because somehow he believed that ALL foreigners are out to get all the power and money of Filipinos. He was angry at the rich because he thinks ALL of them got their wealth from evil gain. He was angry at the government, he was pro-Marcos, in good terms with Estrada, but very disappointed with Gloria because of her lack of concern with the price-hike of consumer products. As I reason with him, I told him that not all Chinese are like that. Not all rich people are like that. In fact, if a person works hard and keeps an honest hand, I believe he will prosper and his work will not be in vain. On both sides of the economic spectrum dwell both good and evil. Good bosses and good employees. But also from the rich dwell those who are corrupt and seek to take advantage of the poor. From the poor rise drug users, snatchers and prostitutes.
I asked him, "Wala ka na bang pag-asa sa bansa natin?" "Ay wala na po. Dati may business ako, bumagsak. Nagsisipag ako pero wala namang nangyari. Wala ring nangyayari." With those remarks, I was stunned with the bitter reality we're in. We arrive at our destination.
It's sad that there are millions of people like Mr. Taxi Driver who because of poverty somehow lost the sense of openness, goodwill and hope. They have become narrow-minded, paranoid and bitter with their state of life. Utak-squatter (the Proverb's "simple ones"). A proverb once said that the last one to die is hope. And what's there to life if there is no more hope? After that episode I accepted the fact that somehow we cannot blame this person for reacting to life this way. Who's fault is it? Why? Questions answered perhaps when we finally meet Him. But I believe that if we just stop blaming other people for our misery and start taking responsibility and make right decisions in our own lives, the realization of who God is and who we are in His eyes, that would be the beginning of true transformation.
On the way to our next destination, we meet a long parade of election campaign of a candidate for counselor whose surname is "Tan." He stands on a top window of a car waving to the people, preceded by a long line of more or less 30 tricycles donned with campaign paraphernalia. Then our driver beside me remarked something like this, "300 pesos daw ang ibinayad diyan sa mga tricycle drivers na yan, biruin mo nga naman ang nagagawa ng pera." Then he followed, "Dapat hindi binoboto ang mga ganyan..." With an amused chuckle I asked why. "Kasi tignan mo, 'Tan' ang apelido!" Then something like a big red siren popped on my head. "Alam niyo po, 'Tan' din ho ang apelido ko, bakit naman ho hindi dapat iboto kapag 'Tan'?" I thought unraveling this fact would somehow embarrass him but he kept on going. He was angry with foreigners, 'Intsik' and Americans alike.
Now, the term 'Intsik' is a derogatory word for the Filipino-Chinese, similar to the term 'Indio,' and a person who knows someone who is Chinese should know that. Sometimes I let it pass for benefit of the doubt and friendship
He was angry because somehow he believed that ALL foreigners are out to get all the power and money of Filipinos. He was angry at the rich because he thinks ALL of them got their wealth from evil gain. He was angry at the government, he was pro-Marcos, in good terms with Estrada, but very disappointed with Gloria because of her lack of concern with the price-hike of consumer products. As I reason with him, I told him that not all Chinese are like that. Not all rich people are like that. In fact, if a person works hard and keeps an honest hand, I believe he will prosper and his work will not be in vain. On both sides of the economic spectrum dwell both good and evil. Good bosses and good employees. But also from the rich dwell those who are corrupt and seek to take advantage of the poor. From the poor rise drug users, snatchers and prostitutes.
I asked him, "Wala ka na bang pag-asa sa bansa natin?" "Ay wala na po. Dati may business ako, bumagsak. Nagsisipag ako pero wala namang nangyari. Wala ring nangyayari." With those remarks, I was stunned with the bitter reality we're in. We arrive at our destination.
It's sad that there are millions of people like Mr. Taxi Driver who because of poverty somehow lost the sense of openness, goodwill and hope. They have become narrow-minded, paranoid and bitter with their state of life. Utak-squatter (the Proverb's "simple ones"). A proverb once said that the last one to die is hope. And what's there to life if there is no more hope? After that episode I accepted the fact that somehow we cannot blame this person for reacting to life this way. Who's fault is it? Why? Questions answered perhaps when we finally meet Him. But I believe that if we just stop blaming other people for our misery and start taking responsibility and make right decisions in our own lives, the realization of who God is and who we are in His eyes, that would be the beginning of true transformation.
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