MY SHRINKING WORLD
During my not so distant past, when I still considered myself young, I had a chance to explore some interesting parts of the world. It all started when I got intrigued and curious why so many Filipinos go to other countries. With a friend I went to the Philippine Employment Agency (POEA) to inquire.
I was given an application form and after a few weeks, a call slip for interview. I was one of the few who passed the thorough interview, so with curious interest I went to Nigeria, Africa. It was an abnormal flight we had that brought our group to Paris, France for two days stop over. Those two days gave me enough interest and enough satisfaction about my expanding world.
The six months that I spent in the Country of the Black gave me the necessary experience and enough adventure to thank God for the blessing of such a wonderful chance.
My return to the Philippines was another abnormal flight that kept me in Rome, Italy for another two days. Good enough to visit the Basilica of St. Peter at the Vatican City. To see the Coliseum and the popular Coin Fountain plus time to buy small souvenir items.
My traveling escapade encouraged me to be magnetized by the lure of the world around me. When my eldest son moved to Australia, my wife and I were forced by circumstances to follow our son when we needed to meet the family of his girlfriend’s parents to discuss the details of their forthcoming wedding.
Long later a niece of mine invited me and my wife to join a month tour of Europe and the Holy Land. That was why I experienced Turkey, Greece, Italy and The Holy Land at Israel. Added to that, two of my daughters were employed with the airlines, one, with Japan Air Lines and the other with the Thai Airways. So, we also had the privilege and the opportunity to visit Japan, New Zealand and local tourist destinations.
Time came when I needed to retire and for retirement there is no place like home. Back to my hometown I felt I was in paradise that I only went to the city and other neighboring towns for social and shopping purposes. My world stated shrinking gradually.
I got so used to simple living in a very friendly and peaceful atmosphere that now I no longer want to go to the city for any reason. My area is now limited to my hometown but as I exist in my physically shrinking world I am paradoxically experiencing a more wonderful and more interesting expansion of my world.
As I scrutinize little nooks and corners of the different “Baranggays” of my town I am joyfully discovering many, many little worlds with their own unique characteristics. These little worlds that are only waiting to be explored before indulging into an excursion to the global village.
I realized that people need not go far to the vastness of the global world because visiting the tiny units of the real world in the vicinity of my own hometown is enough to offer me the peace of mind that he bigger and wilder world can never offer.. My world is shrinking physically and geographically but it is magnificently expanding heavenwards.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
WHERE ARE THE OTHER HAROLDS?
WHERE ARE THE OTHER HAROLDS?
On my way out from a visit to the Blessed Sacrament I saw a young boy seriously kneeling at the last pew of the church with his little hands clasped in prayers.
I waited for him outside then asked him how old he was
“9 years old po”.
“In what grade are you and what is your name?”, I continued.
“Grade 3 po at Harold ang pangalan ko po”
Out of curiosity I ventured to inquire, “What did you pray for?”
“Nagpasalamat po ako sa Diyos dahil tinulungan Niyang kumita si Inay”.
I was so touched seeing a nine year old boy thanking God early in the morning because his mother earned a little amount.
He said they were three siblings and his mother was selling “chichiriyas” in Tagaytay. I failed to inquire about his father and I noticed some coins in his right palm.
“What are you going to buy with those coins?”
“Pang almusal po namin”.
“Bread?”, I asked.
“Lucky me po” (soup in sachet).
“How many?” I inquired further.
“Dalawa po” (Two sachets of soup for a family of five?)
AT P8.00 each that means P16.00. I gave him P10.00 with instructions to buy bread. He was so glad to receive the money I offered. His eyes opened widely as he throw out a wide smile showing his yellowish unbrushed teeth.
I felt so good meeting a poor boy thanking God early in the morning for a little blessing received by his mother. Other children his age were already playing games at the internet that time. I wondered where the other Harolds are but for as long as there are boys like him there is hope that this country will not totally go to the dogs.
On my way out from a visit to the Blessed Sacrament I saw a young boy seriously kneeling at the last pew of the church with his little hands clasped in prayers.
I waited for him outside then asked him how old he was
“9 years old po”.
“In what grade are you and what is your name?”, I continued.
“Grade 3 po at Harold ang pangalan ko po”
Out of curiosity I ventured to inquire, “What did you pray for?”
“Nagpasalamat po ako sa Diyos dahil tinulungan Niyang kumita si Inay”.
I was so touched seeing a nine year old boy thanking God early in the morning because his mother earned a little amount.
He said they were three siblings and his mother was selling “chichiriyas” in Tagaytay. I failed to inquire about his father and I noticed some coins in his right palm.
“What are you going to buy with those coins?”
“Pang almusal po namin”.
“Bread?”, I asked.
“Lucky me po” (soup in sachet).
“How many?” I inquired further.
“Dalawa po” (Two sachets of soup for a family of five?)
AT P8.00 each that means P16.00. I gave him P10.00 with instructions to buy bread. He was so glad to receive the money I offered. His eyes opened widely as he throw out a wide smile showing his yellowish unbrushed teeth.
I felt so good meeting a poor boy thanking God early in the morning for a little blessing received by his mother. Other children his age were already playing games at the internet that time. I wondered where the other Harolds are but for as long as there are boys like him there is hope that this country will not totally go to the dogs.
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