Written : March 29, 2013
A few days before Holy week, I already planned things to do
on a holy week. A 4-day vacation from Maundy
Thursday to Easter Sunday has been one of the factors why I am so excited about
summer. Sounds as a sinner indeed, but being excited about having tons of time
to do things without having to think of work is really something precious to
look forward to
Maundy Thursday − Our first stop is to do the Station of the
Cross at Padre Pio of Pietrelcina. It
was 3 in the afternoon and just being under the heat of the sun has been one of
the sacrifices you can do as penance. It was a nice rueful experience and it
was not the usual station of the cross where you have to stop every station to
pray and contemplate. As a matter of fact, you have to do it while carrying a real cross. And yes at some point, by experiencing carrying a cross I
also contributed to some of the hardship of Jesus.
Evening of that same day, we did the traditional ALAY-LAKAD going
to Antipolo from Sta. Mesa. We started around 6 pm. The walk goes well. I can
see different kinds of people. People who really take this as their “panata” (tradition) for years now.
Some just want to join and become a part of this annual famous event during
holy week, while some took this opportunity to earn money.
While walking I always noticed hundreds of beggars, well, not
actually beggars because as exchange for a piece of coin, they will sing and
play guitar. Most of them are blind. They are scattered everywhere all throughout
our stride from Sta. Mesa to Antipolo (anyone who already tried Alay-Lakad at
Antipolo surely knows this). Every time we pass by them, I always stop and
extend coins to their cans as my way of appreciating them. Though blind and not
being able to see us or who’s openhanded enough to give them a part of
something from their purse, I know deep inside they’re thanking us. I think it
was on that area called Tikling (the higher part near Antipolo) when I saw a
heart-breaking scene. For others, it may just be an ordinary vista but for me
it hit me so hard I even stopped and asked what happened. I saw a blind old
man, in his 50’s I supposed with a man fixing his guitar sitting beside him. I
saw how sad and worried the blind man was while waiting for his guitar to be
fixed by a good man. I believed this poor blind man was also singing while
playing the guitar, just like other blinds we came across that night. But
unfortunately, his guitar suddenly stopped playing which according to the man
who was helping him, a string was unattached. Worse, there are no open stores
selling strings that time to replace what’s that part of the guitar that was broken.
I was really moved and devastated picturing the old man’s scenario of needing
to earn money that time while there’s still a lot of people passing by during
Alay-Lakad. I was thinking his earnings that day can reach ten times larger than
he earns on a usual daily basis. And unconsciously my tears began to kiss my
face. My words here may not be enough to touch you but as I saw that blind old
man that night, I was really disturbed. A lot of emotions overpowered me. I
felt guilty seeing how some people strive just to survive, taking every
opportunity they have to make money when all I did that holy week and the week
before that was just planning where to go which of course means spending money.
I felt ashamed of myself knowing I can’t aid or help him more if only I know
how to fix his guitar. I wanted to stay longer there until I made sure his
guitar’s ok so he can continue with his craft and take home significant amount
of money for his family, but people joining the Alay-Lakad kept pouring
everywhere giving us a hard time to stop longer. One more thing, my heart says
I can’t stand to see that pitiful man anymore. It breaks me. Tears were
overflowing that time but I tried my very damn best to hide it even to my partner.
They probably think I’m nearly insane when in reality, I was no less than a
vulnerable individual, in deep pain knowing I was so helpless just seeing him
suffer and I can’t do anything about it. Maybe all I can offer him is prayer. What
I just saw became an eye-opener for me.
As I ponder while ambling all throughout the church of Our
Lady of Good Voyage (Antipolo), I also was in a different journey, a deeper and
more meaningful expedition of searching myself and how I can be more helpful of
people who needs me, just like that humble earner I had a glimpse of that life-changing
moving night.
No comments:
Post a Comment