Banana-cue

The clouds were dark this afternoon when I decided to take a walk. I don’t know what came to me; I just felt the urge to walk. As I reached the football field near Manila Observatory it started to drizzle. Without an umbrella, I continued walking without knowing where I am going (thank God my doctor did not see me), but along the way, I cleared my mind and decided to go to National Bookstore instead. Maybe just to check out the latest Adarna Childrens Book available.

I went up the foot bridge to cross to the other side and from there I saw this kid selling banana-cue near the parking lot of the bookstore. It grabbed my attention when I saw him freezing in cold holding the tray of banana-cue that was covered in banana leaves and plastic. I saw his face, his pale lips and wet clothes as he went to one person then to another and tried to beg each person to buy the sweetened bananas that he was selling. I slowly went down the bridge, trying to get a glimpse on the boy. Do feel pity? Yes, of course but there was something more than that, then my mind went back to the past and memories began to re-appear as I went closer to him.

It started when I was six years old then, I saw myself as a little kid selling bibingka: a rice cake with sweetened galapong on top. I wasn’t born to a rich family. My parents didn’t have enough resources that time, I have three other siblings and I am the youngest. And each of us are doing its own share. So I secretly worked just to have a little allowance. I went to school, not by any means of transportation but by walking on foot. I usually spend recess time pretending I was eating, but I was only chewing a gum. I don’t want to be a burden to my family; in my own little way I tried to contribute something. From then on, I promised myself to really work hard not only for me, but also for my family.

“Kuya, bili ka na sige na…” the boy asked me as I went back to the present reality.

“Magkano ba iyan?” I asked.

“Sampung piso lang po.” The boy answered while chilling from cold. “Sige na po, para lang may pang-kain lang po, hindi pa ako kasi kumakain.”

I checked my wallet, and handed a P20 peso bill to him.

“Salamat po kuya!” as handed me the banana-cue. “Hindi ako gutom eh, gusto mo ikaw na lang ang kumain?” I asked him.

“Talaga po? Maraming salamat po!” the boy answered. Then he handed me a P10 coin. “Kuya, eto na po ang sukli ninyo.”

“Sige na lang, itago mo na yan… para kung sakaling magutom ka ulit hindi ka na kukuha sa paninda mo.” And I smiled at him. I saw amazement in his face, I don’t know if it’s the first time for him to have something like that. Then I touched his head, and in my mind I said “don’t loose hope, little boy… have faith” He smiled back at me and said “thank you” and turned around and ate the banana-cue I brought for him.

There is a certain mystery of feeling when you bring smile on people’s faces. It is some sort of happiness inside and a sense of fulfillment within. As I said goodbye to him, I did not go inside the bookstore. Instead, I rode a tricycle and went back home.