G Spot
All walks of Life
By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo
WALKING back from my daily morning walk, I saw placards lined up at the entrance of Holy Family School of Quezon City (HFSQC). Apparently, some teachers had protested and left the placards there. According to the man at the gate, the labor union was protesting against unfair labor practice for not giving work to regular teachers, some of them tenured, since June 29. I thought it was because the school did not get enough enrollment due to COVID-19, but the man said that the new Directress had replaced them with new hires.
Since the heat was getting too much inside my epidermis, I decided to leave the conversation and walked faster. Along the way, I picked up a branch of red kalachuchi (plumeria) which had been laid on a heap of trash by its owners. Approaching Mahabagin Street, I saw a young man sitting near the gate, with so many pots tied together. I estimated the weight to be over fifteen kilograms and I could understand why he was sweating profusely and visibly tired.
Nagbebenta ka ba ng mga paso? (Are you selling the pots?)
Opo Ma’am. Natanggal po akong janitor sa Claret dahil wala pong mga estudyante sa school at kailangan kong maghanapbuhay. (Yes, Ma’am. I was terminated as janitor at Claret because there are no more students in the school and I have to earn a living.)
Anong pangalan mo? (What’s your name?)
Michael Mark Ortiola po, nakatira po ako sa Barangay San Isidro, Antipolo City. (I am Michael Mark Ortiola, a resident of Antipolo City.)
He handed me a certification dated 28th July 2020, certifying that he is truly from that village, and not reported as person under monitoring (PUM) or person under investigation (PUI) for COVID-19. He told me that he carried the pots from Antipolo City but he had not sold one pot since yesterday, and he had to carry the pots back home.
Buena mano ko po kayo, kaya isasagad ko po ang presyo para makabili kayo sa akin. (You are my first sale, if ever, so I will give you the lowest price.)
Sige, samahan mo ako maglakad hanggang sa bahay ko, kasi hindi ko dala pera ko. (Okay, walk me to my house because I did not bring money with me.)
He followed me with his pots hanging on both shoulders and he refused to be helped. I ended up buying Seven Hundred Pesos worth of pots, with no specific purpose for each pot. A persistent voice in the back of my mind told me, I should buy something from this man. Somehow, being a constant gardener, I know I will find use for them soon. He was so happy, he kept thanking me, and gave me an extra pot as a giveaway. I told him to come back on November 15 so he can meet my sister Emma who is also fond of plants. I mentioned that she comes to my house every now and then, and I was not sure if she will come at any day soon. That was yesterday.
Today, Emma called to have lunch with me in the house. As I opened the door, I was excited to tell her about the rectangular pots similar to the pot she used for the hoya cumingiana, and that I got them cheap.
May nag-alok sa akin sa labas, gusto mo tingnan? (Someone offered me pots outside, do you want to take a look?)
I suspected it was Michael, and it was. He said he is just taking his chance that my sister would come today. As a result, Emma bought pots worth One Thousand Pesos. She would have to buy plants to fill them up, but right now, she just wants to buy from this person, not only for the cheap price he offered, but to lighten his load. He loaded the pots in Emma’s car, and smiled up to his ears.
Thank you, Ma’am. Balik ako November 15. (Thank you, Ma’am. See you November 15.)
Then he walked away. We walked back to the house. The sun beamed, the passing clouds flashed a smile.
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