Sad but true

By Charmaine Dizon

On my way home from Baguio where I am studying, I preoccupied myself watching Christmas lights and lanterns displayed in front of the houses along the road.

I felt   an unexplainable happiness within me. It’s exhilarating to know that a lot of people are celebrating Christmas and are excited for the coming of a new year. Yet, I also felt sad because I know that there are people out there who can not celebrate Christmas and  New Year all because they do not have the money.

Sad but true.

While many are enjoying the cold breeze of December comfortably lying in their bed with their thick blanket, there are those who sleep in the street, covering their bodies only with newspapers, sacks, or used cartons.

While many are busy planning for the Noche Buena and Medya Noche, there are those who scavenge to fill their hungry stomachs.

When the more affluent many are excited with their new gifts, I see people out there who are envy and can only wish to have the same, too. Sad but true.

I remembered a man I saw when I once visited the Urdaneta City Church. It was the second Sunday of December. Unlike most of the people there, including me, who were in their best dresses, this man was different. He was in typical pambahay clothes, and if I was not mistaken, I thought I saw three small holes on his shirt. In his right arm was a pail ofnuts that he was most probably selling. He stood near me and I could not but watch him cry silently, with tears slowly flowing from his eyes. I wondered what could be his problem. I also wondered  if someone bothered to ask him what bothered him.

Maybe he was asking God to give his family something to share for the Noche Buena and Medya Noche. Then, I thought maybe, he did not have a decent home, and he was wishing for one. Maybe, one of his children was sick and he could not bring him to the hospital. Maybe, he wanted to give his children presents for the holidays but he did not have the means. Maybe. Only maybe, because I did not bother to ask.

So sad but true.

Now, we are awaiting another new year. Many are excited, including me. But I believe that people like the man I saw in Church are even more eager for that day to come.

It will be a new start for them, to build again on new  hopes, new  wishes, and new dreams. And  hopefully, people like us who are more fortunate will not only  give glances, instead an ear willing to listen and a hand  willing to help.

Hopefully, next year will be different when I come home again for the Christmas vacation. This time, just sheer happiness watching the Christmas lights and lanterns, and hopefully more faces of people like the man I saw in the church, this time smiling.

(Readers may reach columnist at marifijara@gmail.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/roots/
For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments