went home late on september 1st. i've been at the office for more than 30 hours already. doing some 'clean up' work, doing nothing, surfing, chatting with my niece and more surfing. i went home past 10pm.
it was a warm night. no rain. there were few people on the street. i passed through paseo de roxas again. as i neared the AIM, there at the corner, were the same two kids i passed by one rainy night. i did ask for a second chance. i got it. i was sad, disgusted and perhaps a little mad...
if you were a decent parent would you let your kids beg on the street? at this time of the night? as i neared them, i noticed the backpack. they were not dressed grubbily. the girl approached me, she asked for pamasahe (fare) again. she was lucky i had more change this time. i gave her two five peso coins. i don't know if they recall seeing me from a few nights before. it's sad knowing some people use kids for mendicancy. it's sad that this story must end like this...
i recall a short story that we discussed way back in fourth year highschool. it's actually one of the reasons why i don't usually give money to street kids. i forgot who the writer was. someone named francisco. i could not recall exactly. he said something like, "For every penny you drop onto a beggar's palm, you degrade him of his dignity."
counting the amount i have already dropped onto those kids pocket...thirteen. what a (un)lucky number. for a mere thirteen pesos, i have sunk them lower into the pit they are currently in. i have robbed them of their dignity. i have encouraged them to continue begging and maybe to never rise from their current state. i might have bound them to that fate.
life sucks. what is wrong? what is really right? maybe i will see them again. i hope not...wo hen lei...
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