I finished my work at 9pm today and I was so eager to get home and have some decent dinner. As I was rushing towards the door, our office security guard smiled at me and said "Ingat, Ma'am".
I slowed my pace as I smiled back at him. I asked how he and his family are in lieu of typhoon Ondoy. At that, his disposition changed and it seemed that his big built shrank. He was close to tears but I could sense his effort to maintain his composure as he told me about their house that was totally ruined because of flood. They were not able to save anything! Back to zero.
I could only feel sorry for him. I know that the income of a security guard is very modest. It must be really hard for him to start from scratch. And it must be equally hard for him to leave his family in their wrecked house in Fairview so he could attend to his duty in Bonifacio Global City.
But there he was. Diligently tending to his duty as one of the security guards in our building… He could have taken an emergency leave so he could be with his family, re-building their house. Then it made me wonder whether their agency gives them a privilege of taking emergency leave with pay, just like HSBC.
It's as if my heart was pierced as I was talking to Mamang Security Guard. Part of me said that I should have been more careful with my questions as I wouldn't want to put him on the spot.
To lighten up the conversation, I smiled and I asked questions with obvious answers. “At least po, okay kayo ng family nyo? Safe po kayo? To my delight, he answered in the affirmative. And that’s how our conversation ended. I left him with a smile that he initially gave me. Yes, we always have a choice to look at the brighter side of things.
As I was walking towards my newly repaired car which also stalled during the typhoon, I wished that I could do something to help Mamang Security Guard. If I had millions, I would have given him a significant amount so that he and his family could have a start-up fund. And I would have done the same to all those affected. I may not have millions but I sure have something to give. So is everyone. I revisited my closet and packed some clothes that could be donated. I also scheduled a trip to the nearby mall to buy some groceries to buy groceries for Mamang Security Guard's family and for donation to Go Negosyo's Walang Iwanan Drive.
The disaster that struck the Philippines on that fateful Saturday has sparked or rekindled love and generosityamong Filipinos. Love is in the air. Bayanihan is everywhere.
The show must go on. Ondoy might have taken a significant part of our or our kababayan’s lives but there are still beautiful things in store for each of us. Let’s keep the spirit of love and bayanihan alive.
Proud to be Pinoy!
written by Sha last 30Sep09
