about Me

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Metro Manila, NCR, Philippines
I am not necessarily like a Bull in a ring with a toreador. I am more of a peace-loving Ferdinand, seeking the gentle meadows filled with flowers, sunshine and natural beauty. It's only my STUBBORNNESS that can make you angry enough to charge at someone who is disturbing your peace. I am noted for my determination. I get to where I am going, not because I am exceptionally fast or clever, but because I will not be distracted from my goals. My need for stability and simplicity motivates me to create a life for myself that is quite functional, though it might seem boring to someone else. I am not interested in taking unnecessary risks that can put my solid footing in jeopardy.

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

flat iron

It was Monday morning (last week-April 18), about 6 AM. There was no water supply in my new place so I decided not to go to work (summer job). I planned to get up late since I won't be reporting for work but that had been spoiled by some noise created by the neighborhood. I was really frustrated and it somewhat ruined my day… I got up, folded my blanket and went down to the ground floor. I joined my dorm mates in the porch. They were looking at something down the street and as I saw their expressions and heard their comments, I realized that something was not going well. I looked down and I was really astonished. A man lying on the street with hands and feet tied!!! That was quite alarming!!! I stayed in the porch trying to figure out what was wrong…

Around the man were some other men (teenagers, some old and some more are fathers of households). I was shocked and a bit frightened when a teenager approached the man and kicked him on his face, then another one followed and hit him on the same part. I was hurt as if I were the one lying there, receiving all the blows and kicks. Some women joined and threw insulting words at the man’s face… Then an old man (I think, aging 50-55) with a sack full of clay approached and raised the sack higher then brought it down to the man’s face. I can’t help it anymore, my tear flowed down and I felt so useless. I was just standing there, doing nothing but watched them. I wanted to call the police but I do not know what numbers to dial. I want to shout “STOP” but fear defeated me…

Do you know why they did that to that helpless man? It was all because of a flat iron that he was trying to steal from one of our neighbors. I was really surprised when I knew that from one of my dorm mates. At some point, it is certain that the man had a mistake, however does that justify all that they had done… for me, not at all… They could have brought him to the police station or the barangay hall, right?


Right now, I am still reflecting how mean people can get, like giving more importance to possessions over lives and dignity of their fellows... so heartbreaking... sometimes, i ask, do man really has innate goodness? if so, why are there situations like this? what do you think???

3 comments:

ai said...

people have their innate goodness, but they could also be mean, intentionally or not.

sometimes, i do or say something i didn't really mean to, and regret later on.

they really shouldn't have hit or kicked the robber anymore, with him being all tied up and defenseless. they were probably shocked and scared, and instinctively lashed out at the culprit. those people would probably realize their mistakes later, when they have cooled down.

mad_sanity said...

yeah, i guess so...

adiana said...

i guess they were lashing out at the people and things that anger them, yet they couldn't do anything about it...

like "fate" or corrupt officials, or opportunistic, money hungry "businessmen"..

so when they had the chance to retaliate against something that's weaker than they are, they make the best of it..

i admit i don't like bloody situations but i kinda understand the people...

i mean, everyone's already out to get them.. the least they expect is something like that situation...

the robber is considered "one of them".. he is also poor, he is also one of the "common tao", but look at what he did..

he also did harm to his comrades...

and the betrayal is the most painful thing that the people experienced...

and that is the reason why they did what they did..

again, i'm not absolving the people from their sins.. i'm just simply relating things in their own point of view...

i'm not siding with anyone here...

for me, i'm just a random observer trying to go behind the scene and into the "truth"..

whatever "truth" is...