EXPERIENCE is the best teacher...

makemestfu:

Kagabi, After I came from an office somewhere in Ayala-Paseo De Roxas, dumaan ako sa underpass, and habang pauwi na ako, something catches my attention na talagang napalingon pa ako. I saw an old lady na naglalakad sa underpass na halos magkandakuba na and gamit ang kanyang left hand para lang masupport ang sarili sa paglalakad. I tend to ignore what I saw, then nung paliko na ako and malapit na sa may escalator (exit ng underpass), parang there’s something’s telling me to help the old lady. Nagdadalawang isip pa rin ako pero I just turn back and nilapitan ko yung old lady without thinking. I immediately asked her “lola ok lang po ba kayo?” and she firmly said na “okay lang ako iho, wag mo na ko intindihin pasensya na sa abala..” Pero I helped her instead and inassist ko sya paakyat ng hagdan. We were able to reach Jollibee. I gave her water and food. Tumatanggi yung old lady (perhaps nahihiya sya na may kumakausap at magbibigay ng food na complete stranger). Then another guy named Francois Dave Azur (can’t see you in FB) reached to me dahil nakita nya yung ginagawa ko. So he offered his discount stub sa jollibee para mas makapili ng food si lola. 

While kumakain sya, I asked info about herself. Her details are as follows:

Lola Piling Dela Cruz
Calapan, Mindoro
Age: 80+ (not certain)
Asaan ang mga kamag-anak mo: (Lola just nod - mukhang di nya mainterpret nang maigi ang tanong ko) 

Paano sya napunta sa Manila: (this is based from my interpretation kasi medyo hindi dugtong dugtong yung statements ni lola) A project daw from their community has been established and marami daw silang dinala dito sa PGH para ipagamot sa kanilang karamdaman. Nawalan daw ng pondo yung group and may nagsabi daw sa kanila na pumunta sya ng Ayala, Makati dahil dun maraming may kaya at may trabaho at maraming tutulong sa kanya pabalik.

Andito na si Lola Piling since December last year. (Imagine - She spent her Christmas and new year sa manila nang hindi nya kasama ang mahal nya sa buhay!)

A few minutes pa and kinailangan ko na ring umalis. After namin magusap, kinuhaan ko na rin sya ng photo and I asked the store manager ng Jollibee to look after her while open pa ang shop. I also gave her my remaining P425 pesos in my wallet and nagtira lang ng fare enough para makauwi ako. Mas magagamit nya ang kaunting pera na yun and I hope makatulong yun sa kanya. I also left my business card sa kanya para in case may paraan sya para macontact ako. 

Sinabi din ni Lola na “marami daw sila dito na nahiwa hiwalay sa iba’t ibang parte ng Makati” with this, ako po’y humihingi ng tulong sa mga fellow friends/acquaintances para matulungan sila Lola Piling Dela Cruz and yung iba pa nyang kasama na makabalik sa kani kanilang mga family and loved ones. Guys and girls, let us extend konting efforts in helping them. - “KWING HERRERO”

I FOUND THIS ON FACEBOOK. GUYS PLEASE LET’S HELP LOLA AUDREY :( PLEASE REBLOG. SPREAD THE WORD. :(

beben-eleben:

It was a frantic day that Saturday with the sale at SM North EDSA and all. I just went there to pick up some stuffs that I reserved for the PHR Sale and I had to run to UMAK right away for the 2pm football kick-off. Me and my friend Iyah was even arguing which path to take on our way to the MRT. I insisted we take the covered pathwalk which is at the middle of EDSA. 

We passed by an old woman who was holding a piece of carton “Konting tulong para sa pampagamot ng mata ko.” I really have a soft spot for elderly. I decided to give her P20.00 and had to run because we are already late. But I don’t have the heart to leave her just like that so I decided to come back and gave her P100.00 more. 
“Salamat! Salamat! Makakabili na ako ng gamot ko bukas,” she told me with a wide smile. 
“Lola, saan po kayo nakatira?” I asked her.
“Taga-Fairview ako.”
“At araw-araw po kayong nandito at humihingi ng tulong? Nasaan po pamilya ninyo?” 
Umiling siya. “Wala na akong pamilya. Mag-isa lang ako.”
“Ano pong pangalan ninyo, Lola?” 
“Juanita Caraga.”
I had to leave soon so I decided to take her picture and posted it online, hoping that someone with means will help her out. I believe that we should take care of our elderly. Matatanda na sila. So if you happen to pass by the pathwalk at SM North EDSA-MRT-North EDSA and see her, I hope you will also give her a hand. But I would feel better if someone will really take her out of the streets and take her somewhere where she could enjoy her old age.
-Jernalie Dumapay