STRANGERS - Ulan, Salamat at dinalaw mo kami

Quezon Ave -- Habang ako ay nag aabang ng FX na masasakyan papuntang SM North, nagsimula ang patak patak na ulan...

Ang mga taong-kalye natutulog sa isang abandonadong gusali ay masayang ginising ng ulan

Tinawag nya ang iba pa nyang kaibigan sa kabilang stall, 

....sa nakapark na kariton

....sa mga nanglilimos sa daan

....mga nakaabang

....at mga anak na nagsisimula ng magtanggal ng damit upang maligo sa ulan.

Masaya silang pumagitna sa kalye, pasayaw sayaw at napapasigaw sa ulan.

Pakanta kanta habang nagsasabon ng sarili, nagbabanlaw sa daan.

Di alintana ang mga jeepney, malalaking bus at iba pang sasakyang matulin.

Oo nga naman, anu ang dapat ikatakot...anak sila at ina nila ang kalye.

At tiwala silang walang sinumang naghahangad na sila'y sagasaan.

Andito ako, sa isang tabi at nakikisilong..

kasama ng iba pang nag aabang, naaaliw na lamang sa aming napagmamasdan.

Maya maya pa, si ate..naglabas na ng pansahod 

at nagsimulang magkusot ng mga dapat labhan.

Sinasamantala ang dami ng tubig dulot ng malakas na buhos ng ulan.

Narinig ko ang aking katabi, 

"Anu ba yan, lakas na naman ang ulan..baha na naman

,basang basa na tayo dito. wala pa rin tayong masakyan."

Napangiti ako kasi halos kalahating oras na nga ang paghihintay ko,

Di ko magawang magreklamo, dahil natuon naman ang pansin ko,

sa mga taong masaya sa tanaw ko.

Bumulong ulit ang aking katabi, "hay,kawawa naman sila anu?"

Tahimik ulit akong sumagot ng ngiti,

Mas naaawa ako sa aming mga sarili kasi di magawang maglaro sa kalye,

at magpakabasa sa ulan.gaya ng ginagawa nila.

dahil siguro...tanggap nila ang kanilang kapalaran.

At sa ilang linggo ko ng pag aabang dito, di ko ni minsan narinig at kanilang ipinabatid na

"Ale, kaawaan mo kami."

At mapalad silang di kinakaawaan ang kalagayan nila.

Bagkos pinapahalagahan ang bawat biyaya

Kahit konting limos....

Kahit ang malakas na buhos ng ulan, bagyo na nga sa iilan.

Mapapalad ang mga taong, sa unos nagpapakabasa.  

Di nawawalan ng pag-asa.

Sa Diyos nagtitiwala.

Naghihintay ng pagpapala.

Unos man ay may nakaakibat na biyaya.

=)

STRANGERS on a TAXI RIDE

This week is our CG's Stranger Series... 

I would like to share to you series of experiences, reflections, learnings I had with Strangers...

1st, Let me share to you a short story about judging others and judging strangers

This happened two years ago when I was on my way to the airport going Iloilo for my grandmother's funeral.

Since I travel often, I could estimate the time I need to travel from office to the airport, traffic included. My goal is not to be too early, but not late...just be on the perfect time for my flight. Because, I hate waiting sitting,sleeping at the airport for an hour or so, especially during a working day unproductive.

I still finished one lab analysis before leaving for the airport. It was 3:00pm when I time out, my scheduled flight is 5:30pm Philippine Airlines.  Kuya Ruel, my officemate offered to get a taxi for me straight to NAIA terminal 2. But I replied, "No. Its best to ride the MRT. Get a taxi at Taft Station, or even ride a bus from there. Twenty (20) minutes MRT ride and 10-15 minutes on my way to the airport " since the trip was also unexpected and out of budget.

 I had a jeepney ride going MRT- North Station. I arrived at the station almost 3:30pm (traffic at North Ave. waiting time included). Alas, the lady guard holding a megaphone announces that MRT TEMPORARILY CLOSED.  I couldnt believe it and I'm in a rush! EDSA is so crowded, it would take  at least one and a half hour to get Taft. I had no choice but to ride a taxi. And everyone was rushing toward a taxi. And worse, it started to rain. 

On the shed, a batch of guys...in their teens are waiting for taxi also. I felt uncomfortable towards them because based on their appearance, parang mga adik, out of school youth, mga loko loko. REALLY NOT TRUSTWORTHY. Pero ilang taxi na ang dumaan, No taxi driver would agree to a P300 airport ride, they want P400 up, and they said the traffic could go worse. I might miss my flight. Oh my, what an unfortunate event!

They hailed a taxi and said that they're heading Guadalupe area.  I gathered up my courage, left my pride and asked if I could share a taxi with them. They agreed. I talked to the taxi driver, im in a hurry. He was kind enough and looked for ways to avoid traffic or at least find a less traffic area. Oh, they cared for me but I feel I still couldn't trust them. 

 I left aside my 'what ifs' prayed silently and started humming...

 'God Will make a way...when there seems to be no way....

He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me' 

and started trusting through that song. 

As I have learned from Bro. Bo's talk about the power of Words, I transmitted to each of my companion, 'Mabuti kang tao (you're a good person.)' till I felt peace and started to join their conversation. I even slept along the way because of the traffic. I woke up, we are almost at Guadalupe area. The driver dropped them off, they paid and even told the driver to send me off safely to the airport and hoped I make it still on time.  I thanked them and whispered words of blessings for them in my heart. 

The driver told me on the way to the airport, 'Ma'am, di ba kayo natakot? Mukhang mga loko mga yun a. At mabuti din, di kayo pinagbayad. Ang swerte nyo.' I smiled and told him, ' Malakas kasi ako kay Lord, I know He will make a way. At saka, basta maniwala ka na mabuti silang tao. Mabuti talaga sila.'  Recalling the insights from Bro. Bo about "What you focuses on, GROWS. If you focus on the goodness of a person, it shows. If you focus on how bad he/she is, he/she surely is based on perspective." 

I also learned  through their conversation that the guys are actually on their way to their training school. 

 I arrived 5:00pm at the airport. The taxi meter read, P120.  I gave the driver, P200 and my supposed to be simple pasalubong for my family. Knowing that it was not even enough to show him how grateful I was for his kindness. The airport staff greeted me and told me not to worry, they know about the traffic situation and the flight was delayed due to heavy rainfall in Iloilo. 

While waiting, I recounted the experience and the many blessings I had on my way to the airport. I felt ashamed of my thoughts on how I judged them based on their appearances. There's an old saying that goes. 'Don't judge the book, by its cover'

Not all strangers are bad. If they are, at least not totally. I learned from the experience to think of good thoughts and blessings for a stranger when tempted to judge them or thinking about negative thoughts. Of course, never make them uncomfortable through our actions and thoughts. Who knows, they are actually good samaritan of modern times. =)