Sometimes we take the things we have for granted that we forget how many others have less.
That was the case with Diane P., until she met a homeless boy at a convenience store in Cainta, Rizal.
She shared her experience on Facebook and since posting, has received 66,535 likes and 79,614 shares.
According to Diane:
Pangalawang gabi ko na siyang nakikita tuwing dumadaan ako sa Mini Stop. Unang gabi, nilapitan niya ako. Humingi siya ng pera at sinabing hindi pa siya kumakain. Unang kita pa lang, naisip ko na kagad na tulad lang siya ng ibang batang nanghihingi sa kalye. Ngayong gabi, nakita ko na naman siya but this time, hindi na siya ang lumapit. Agad ko siyang namukhaan kaya tinawag namin siya ng mga pinsan ko. Tinanong kung kumain na pero diretso niyang sinabi na hindi pa. Maghapon daw siyang tulog sa gilid ng Mini Stop (kung saan may mga karton na nagsisilbing tirahan niya) kaya naman wala siyang nahinging pera o pagkain sa maghapon. I asked him to pick whatever he wants to eat at pina-share sa table namin. Nakakagulat lang sa pag uusap namin na may mga bata pa palang ganito.. Salat sa kayamanan pero mayaman naman sa pagmamahal at pangarap. Na kung iisipin, batang walang wala pero puno ng pasensya at pag intindi ang nangingibabaw sa kanya.
(This is my second night to meet him every time I go to Mini Stop. The first night, he approached me and asked for money, saying he hasn’t eaten yet. When I first saw him, I thought he was one of the many kids asking for money in the streets. I saw him again tonight but this time, he didn’t approach me. I immediately recognized him, so my cousins and I called him. I asked him if he ate already, and he said he hasn’t. He was asleep the whole afternoon beside Mini Stop – where some boxes served as his home – so he wasn’t able to ask for money or eat all afternoon. I asked him to pick whatever he want and asked him to join our table. It’s so surprising that kids like him exist. Kids who don’t have anything but are rich in terms of love and hope. Kids who have nothing but are full of patience and understanding of other people.)
Diane interviewed the boy and found out his name is Vincent, is 12 years old, and is the eldest of four children. He’s the only one studying, and helps his carpenter father support the family. His next sibling is 10 years old, but can’t go to school because of the lack of money. Vincent also revealed that this is the second year he’s living in a “broken family.” His mother left her husband and her children and currently lives in Davao.
Sa kalagitnaan ng pag uusap namin, bigla kong natanong sa kanya.. “Nagdadasal ka ba lagi?” Nagulat ako sa sagot niyang “Nagsimba po ako kanina. Dalawang beses po. Tinapos ko pa po pareho.” Nakakatuwang isipin na sa hirap ng buhay, hindi pa rin niya nakakalimutang lumapit kay Lord God. Then I asked him again, “Ano namang pinagdadasal mo?” Halatang biglang namula ang mga mata niya, nanggigilid ang mga luha sabay sagot na, “Na makita ko na po si Mama.”
(During our conversation, I asked him, “Do you always pray?” I was surprised when he answered, “I went to church earlier. I went twice and I finished both masses.” It’s nice to hear that despite his difficulties, he doesn’t forget to pray. Then I asked him again, “What do you pray for?” He teared up and said, “To see my mom.”)
The topic then turned to his education:
D: Nag aaral ka naman ba mabuti?
V: Opo. Section 1 po ako.
D: Wow. Tama yan.. May mga gamit ka na ba para sa school?
V: Meron na po. Sapatos na lang po ang wala..My cousin asked him: “Ano bang pangarap mo sa buhay?” He answered, “Maging sundalo po.”
Then napansin ng mga pinsan ko na nakapaa lang siya. They asked him kung bakit wala siyang tsinelas, ang sagot niya, “Meron po akong tsinelas sa bahay, pero ginagamit ko lang po pang aral.”
(D: Are you studying hard?
V: Yes, I’m in the first section.
D: That’s good. Do you have school supplies already?
V: I do, I’m only missing shoes.
My cousin asked him: “What’s your ambition?” He answered, “To become a soldier.”
Then my cousin noticed that he was barefoot. They asked him why he doesn’t have any slippers, and he answered, “I have slippers at home but I only use them for school.”)
This conversation opened Diane’s and her cousins eyes to the reality of life: that while there are those who live the good life and who complain about what they don’t have, there are others who pray to have what they have.
She also encouraged Vincent’s mother, who he identified as Avis Macandog, to get back with Vincent and help raise him.
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