I am poor.
I eat three times a day. I can buy my needs. We have househelp. I live in a big house. I eat in a restaurant every week. I have a camera cell-phone. I have regular facial. I am poor ….poorer. Ironic!
Lalay (our househelp) came to our house at 1:00 p.m. I was irritated for she should have come 7:30 a.m. I was ready to belt out harsh words of irritation. I am paying him enough and I don’t deduct her past absences. But that moment was getting my ire. I had enough. I gathered all courage so I could tell her what I wanted her to know. I would tell her to decide if she was giving up her job because she couln’t cope with her responsibilities. I looked at her sternly. I was ready to give her the painful blow of my words when suddenly she cried.
She got my weakness. Her crying has brought me pity in an instance. My emotion took a 180 degree turn. I asked her the reason for such tears. She gloomily told me that she came late for she just came from a meeting. A news about her stabbed my heart. Their two-week house will be demolihed to give way for a construction of a school.
I couldn’t move. My tongue got tied. I would not know what to say. It seemed I was zapped. I felt what she felt. I didn’t cry for I didn’t want her to know that I pity her. The pain in my heart crushed my internal organs. I was very hungry for no apparent reason. The fact is that I had just finished my lunch. What happened to me was a situation that I feel everytime I feel helpless. I wanted to help Lalay but I didn’t have the power. I had the reason but I didn’t know how.
I just told her to pray. I told her to just take it lightly. Things will be okey. I said it uneasily. I was uneasy because I am telling her of something unsure. I then asked her to go to the kitchen and to get her food to eat. I did such to get out of the situation. I was so sad that Lalay is poor and that her house will be demolished soon. But I am sadder because I couldn’t help her.
So, Filipinos are poor. I couldn’t claim that I feel okey for I can eat three times a day and I can sustain my needs.I may not be classified poor .I may not be poor because I am earning enough. But, the truth is I am poorer because I can’t help my brethren.
I hate to be poorer. I will help.
