Kindness as an inheritance

By Glaiza Bernadeth Pinto

IS chivalry, or being a gentleman, dead?

For a while, I have been convinced that it is.

On most occasions, for example, I see young people – both male and female – crossing the street alongside an old man or woman and the youth hardly pay any attention to the aged. And more often than not, the old tradition of men offering their seats to a ladies standing in a full bus is no longer observed. And getting on board a jeepney, especially during rush hour, hardly anyone seems to give way to our senior citizens.

But I have not lost all hope in the Filipino virtue of being maginoo (and I mean that to apply to both men and women) because in spite of them, I still find some remain thoughtful.

On my way home one Friday night, around 10:00 PM, I took a bus from Baguio to Dagupan and transferred to a bus heading out to Manila so I could get off in Carmen to meet my uncle who would fetch me on his motorcycle.

Not too long after we started to move out of Dagupan, three women got on the already full bus. And so they had to stand.

Seconds passed. Minutes passed. Then suddenly, a man at the back said, “Dito na lamang po kayo umupo tutal sa Urdaneta lang naman ang aking baba,” addressing the oldest woman among the three.

The woman gratefully accepted the offer.

Seconds passed. Minutes passed. Then suddenly, another two young men offered their seats to the two other young women.

The act of one man obviously rubbed on the others.

I couldn’t help but smile.

Small deed but truly impressive because it shows a character of kindness and the willingness to make a little sacrifice for a stranger.

Being maginoo, I believe, also is a reflection of our sense of community. Wouldn’t we offer a seat to an elderly relative or perhaps to someone we know from our barangay? I am sure we would. So offering it to a stranger somehow shows a feeling of connection to someone unfamiliar.

And for a little moment in our lives, inside that bus during those unholy hours, I knew we all felt some kinship, thanks to the three maginoos.

Or maybe, we can see it as simply doing a ‘nice’ gesture even if ‘nice’ is somehow too cliché a word.

My mother always says, “Hanggat mayroong gumagawa at nagpapakita ng mga mabubuting gawi nating mga Pilipino, hinding-hindi iyon mawawala.”

When an opportunity comes, I hope to do a similar favor to someone, if only to keep the virtue alive, a pamana ng ating lahi.

And of course I would always be pleased and thankful if I were offered a seat.

(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.)

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