were the exact words of my Facebook status last March 1, 2012, twenty-six minutes after seven in the evening.
To exercise your imagination, let me delineate the scene. My brown sling bag, where my wallet and pens were, was sandwiched between us. Lyndon had a backpack bag inside of which his books, memory aids, and photocopied cases were kept. My right hand was burdened by my book, my left by my cellular phone. Thirty minutes before I posted my status, we were standing side by side, talking to each other about this school year's QPI (It is the total average we need to maintain in Law school per year). The street was busy, noisy, and crowded. From across the street you would see a crooked line composed of numerous students, to which we belong, and bystanders, both group waiting for the street to clear and cross it.
The street cleared. People marched toward the other end, including us. Out of nowhere, there was this man, clad in shorts, a sando, and slippers, shouting like crazy; he was holding a long stick--all of these creating the threatening stance of a mad man. But he, later on, turned out to be our good Samaritan. As we all reached the end of the street, he summoned three girls who were hurrying to ride a jeep which momentarily halted just right beside where we stood. My instinct was to check my bag and assuage myself that I had not lost any valuables. My hand refused to stop searching within my bag because I already had the feeling that someone stole something from me. Seconds after, I declared that my wallet was missing. Looking as if he was to collect something from the passengers, good Samaritan was at the edge of the jeep. All the while, the man was insisting that the three girls stole my wallet and at the same time reprimanding me for being clueless that I was being pick pocketed.
Ultimately, one of the girls succumbed to the man and handed me my pink wallet. She was scared as she was caught red-handed, every one was watching and staring, and the good Samaritan showed no reservations. He was ready to strike. I thanked the hero of the day and in exchange, he repeated what he said, "Ninanakawan na kayo hindi niyo pa alam." This lingers until today. This constrained me to think so deeply I almost drowned in the pool of my own thoughts. And here are my insights:
Note that what I have written below should not be taken literally but wisely and upon proper contemplation.
The Pick Pocketing Event
Nothing is permanent. I had to be criminally violated to be enlightened. Memory falters. People change. Things get lost. Even paint fades. You gotta keep your valuables, living or non-living, close to you. But not way too close that you do not function in a manner appropriate to the situation anymore. Balance is the key. You can lose them by being too much. The lesson is: If he/she/it is important, give it a good, balanced care.
The Pick Pocket
There are people who are so focused on stealing from people it becomes their happiness to gain something or someone at the expense of another. Most of the time they are conscious of their ill-doings. There are times they seem to be oblivious or immune to what they do that they do not realize that their one-sided happiness is not healthy but dangerous. They forget that people get hurt. They forget that one worked hard for what was stolen. They forget that their sole happiness is not the only criterion. The lesson is: Do not be selfish and greedy. Consider people's feelings. The world or, to make it simpler, the people around you do not automatically get happy just because you are happy.
The Good Samaritan
Sometimes the issue of obliviousness is on us. What triggers people to rob us is that we lose sight of the importance of the people and things we have in our lives. We neglect them. People claim their valuables as significant but act as if the same are the last ones they will consider. So God interferes and sends good Samaritans. Many times they come in the form of our loved ones and friends who are dear and familiar to us. There are times they do not look the part and are unknown to us. Both groups have one aim though--to awaken and make us aware. And for our part, our aim is to take heed of the their warning. Our response to them usually leads us to our situation. For instance, I gave attention to my good Samaritan's warning, hence the recovered wallet. If I had not listened to him, I would have reached home penniless and walletless. I do not guarantee that every similar situation has its good Samaritan. Sometimes, there is no one to get your attention. This connects us back to what we learned in the "The Pick Pocketing Event." The lesson is: Take each warning seriously. The world is not a big joke. It will be one if you do not listen to your good Samaritans.
To exercise your imagination, let me delineate the scene. My brown sling bag, where my wallet and pens were, was sandwiched between us. Lyndon had a backpack bag inside of which his books, memory aids, and photocopied cases were kept. My right hand was burdened by my book, my left by my cellular phone. Thirty minutes before I posted my status, we were standing side by side, talking to each other about this school year's QPI (It is the total average we need to maintain in Law school per year). The street was busy, noisy, and crowded. From across the street you would see a crooked line composed of numerous students, to which we belong, and bystanders, both group waiting for the street to clear and cross it.
The street cleared. People marched toward the other end, including us. Out of nowhere, there was this man, clad in shorts, a sando, and slippers, shouting like crazy; he was holding a long stick--all of these creating the threatening stance of a mad man. But he, later on, turned out to be our good Samaritan. As we all reached the end of the street, he summoned three girls who were hurrying to ride a jeep which momentarily halted just right beside where we stood. My instinct was to check my bag and assuage myself that I had not lost any valuables. My hand refused to stop searching within my bag because I already had the feeling that someone stole something from me. Seconds after, I declared that my wallet was missing. Looking as if he was to collect something from the passengers, good Samaritan was at the edge of the jeep. All the while, the man was insisting that the three girls stole my wallet and at the same time reprimanding me for being clueless that I was being pick pocketed.
Ultimately, one of the girls succumbed to the man and handed me my pink wallet. She was scared as she was caught red-handed, every one was watching and staring, and the good Samaritan showed no reservations. He was ready to strike. I thanked the hero of the day and in exchange, he repeated what he said, "Ninanakawan na kayo hindi niyo pa alam." This lingers until today. This constrained me to think so deeply I almost drowned in the pool of my own thoughts. And here are my insights:
Note that what I have written below should not be taken literally but wisely and upon proper contemplation.
The Pick Pocketing Event
Nothing is permanent. I had to be criminally violated to be enlightened. Memory falters. People change. Things get lost. Even paint fades. You gotta keep your valuables, living or non-living, close to you. But not way too close that you do not function in a manner appropriate to the situation anymore. Balance is the key. You can lose them by being too much. The lesson is: If he/she/it is important, give it a good, balanced care.
The Pick Pocket
There are people who are so focused on stealing from people it becomes their happiness to gain something or someone at the expense of another. Most of the time they are conscious of their ill-doings. There are times they seem to be oblivious or immune to what they do that they do not realize that their one-sided happiness is not healthy but dangerous. They forget that people get hurt. They forget that one worked hard for what was stolen. They forget that their sole happiness is not the only criterion. The lesson is: Do not be selfish and greedy. Consider people's feelings. The world or, to make it simpler, the people around you do not automatically get happy just because you are happy.
The Good Samaritan
Sometimes the issue of obliviousness is on us. What triggers people to rob us is that we lose sight of the importance of the people and things we have in our lives. We neglect them. People claim their valuables as significant but act as if the same are the last ones they will consider. So God interferes and sends good Samaritans. Many times they come in the form of our loved ones and friends who are dear and familiar to us. There are times they do not look the part and are unknown to us. Both groups have one aim though--to awaken and make us aware. And for our part, our aim is to take heed of the their warning. Our response to them usually leads us to our situation. For instance, I gave attention to my good Samaritan's warning, hence the recovered wallet. If I had not listened to him, I would have reached home penniless and walletless. I do not guarantee that every similar situation has its good Samaritan. Sometimes, there is no one to get your attention. This connects us back to what we learned in the "The Pick Pocketing Event." The lesson is: Take each warning seriously. The world is not a big joke. It will be one if you do not listen to your good Samaritans.
Have a great week!
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