The SM Sequel

A week ago the urge to go to SM was great that I had to sit down and think a 100 times if I should give in. It was a beautiful evening so I opted to go. It seems SM is beckoning me to its folds. I thought why not? Anyway the following day is a non-working day. So off I went and strolled from one store to the other without buying anything.

When I got tired walking around, I decided to go home but found myself in a very long queue for a cab. It was raining heavily that people wanted to get a cab from there.There were about a hundred people waiting for their turn to get a cab. I joined the line and waited for half an hour before I finally found myself about to ride a cab. 

Suddenly, a woman in her late 20s approached me requesting if I can allow her go before me explaining that she has a visitor at home and she needed to go home immediately. I looked at her and said “I do not think I can do that, look at the long queue of people who have patiently waited for almost an hour. I do not think it is fair to them. If you like, you can take the cab with me, drop me at my place and direct the cab to where you are going. That is the only way I can help you”

She looked at me like I said a bad word and left. I smiled to myself and the man behind me said “what does she think she is? Everybody is hurrying to go home. She should have taken your offer” I didn’t know the man next to me in the line was listening to the whole conversation.

Lesson? There are always choices…
My Lesson? Do not talk to strangers  hehehe…

The SM Experience...

Our SM in Baguio is one of the few SMs in the country with a unique built. Nowhere can you see an SM designed like ours. People flock to SM for many reasons. I know some will disagree I am pretty sure some do also nod their heads to what I am going to say. For one, SM is one-stop-shop. Two, it is the biggest shopping mall in the city. Three, it is at the heart of Baguio and lastly, you do not get wet even with heavy rains when you decide to go home from your shopping spree.

The reason I am telling you this is I want to relate to you an experience I had in SM just two days ago. I went to SM to buy myself a cooling pad. The one I currently have has not been functioning for days and I thought it was time I got a replacement. After buying the most needed gadget and roaming around SM I decided to go home. It was around 6:00 in the afternoon and raining heavily so I went to find the end of the long queue which is a normal setting in SM especially when it is raining. I realized that the end of the line was at BDO which means that there are about almost 200 people on the line and still increasing in number.

When I was near the taxi stand I noticed a guy with a number of luggage standing at the entrance fidgeting and seemed bored. I noticed him becoz he was in a printed polo of yellow and green with a matching hat and shorts that seem too large for him. I have nothing against punks though. I surmised they must be visitors because Baguio people do not dress that way. At last, after an hour I was 3rd on the line for a cab when the woman behind me called the guy to hurry up with their luggage. She was grumbling “Ano ba naman yan. Kokonti pala ang taxi dito. Maghihintay ka pa ng isang oras bago makasakay” while arranging their luggage in front of them on the line.

“I should not have come to Baguio had I known it is like this”. She continued talking to herself.
I turned to her and said “Lady, this is rush hour. Add to it the heavy rains. I am sure wherever you come from, when it rains, people get stuck in many places to keep dry and transportation becomes difficult”. Do you want me to tell you how many taxi cabs are roaming the city right now? There are thousands of them in a very small space.

“I suggest that you do not make conclusions of what Baguio is with just this incident. It is not fair. If you just arrived in Baguio, try to keep your mind open until you have seen it all before you make your judgment not before that”.

She looked at me tongue-tied. I do not know why and what was running in her mind that very moment and I didn’t care. It is enough that I have said my piece. I turned my back to her and took the next cab coz I was the next to go.

I love Baguio and I would not trade it for any other place…..

Lesson learned? Do not be judgmental.
My Lesson? Put on your headset hehehe…

The Friend...

Sleepless again....

Instead of worrying why I cannot sleep, I would like to share a beautiful experience I had in the city of pines. One rainy afternoon, a few years ago, I was leaving the store of a gasoline station in Baguio when I slipped and pitched forward nearly bumping my head on a car parked in front of the establishment had it not been for an alert gentleman standing nearby.

He caught me in time before I smashed my head on the side of the car. I twisted my ankle though and had to lean on him coz my feet can no longer support me. The pain was too much and he had to help me to a seat and told me to just relax and let him handle it.

I was so embarrassed. There were a number of people enjoying late afternoon coffee with their buddies and friends. I felt I was so stupid but mind you, the floor made of tiles was truly slippery.
The gentleman was indeed gentle as he massaged my ankle and treat it with warm compress. I have no idea where he got a towel and warm water. I closed my eyes as I felt the excruciating pain making it difficult for me to move my legs. I lost track of time as the pain bothered me until he spoke and asked if I wanted to be brought to the hospital but I refused.

He continued to help me ease the pain with the warm compress. As the pain lessened I looked at him intently and saw compassion and sincerity in his eyes. I said "I don't know you but thanks so much for taking time to help me. There are still good people in this world. I truly appreciate your help." He looked at me and said "I know that you would have done the same for me if I were in your place" I reflected on his statement and a lot of thoughts crowded my mind like would I have done the same? Or would I have walked away? My answer that very moment was yes, cause I am a recipient of a good deed but if I was not, would I have?

He hailed a cab and offered to bring me home but I told him he has already done so much. Before the cab left, I gave him my card and told him "I hope I can return the favor in some other way" I went home still thinking how good people can be if they wanted to.

A year after, I went to visit a friend at the hospital and as I was leaving, I saw a familiar face on a wheelchair and stared knowing in my heart that I knew him - the gentleman who helped me a year earlier. As I was walking towards him, I was rewarded with a smile - a sad smile. He lifted his hands ready for a handshake and when I caught his hands I felt coldness envelope me. He was very sick.
I looked at him and took the wheelchair from the lady pushing it while asking the room number. I started moving the wheelchair while telling him how my ankle healed and he was chuckling happily listening. At that moment, I felt as if I knew him for a very long time. He told me about his life after we met the first time – the parties he attended with friends, the experiences he had when he was looking for work in Manila and how he wind up knowing he is ill and so on.

I stayed with him in the hospital for eight hours that day talking to him and watching him while he rested. Went to visit him daily for 60 days and during those times, we shared a moment I know I will never forget. He was happy most of the time I was there together with his family and friends. The only thing I can do for him is to be with him and that was what I did. He did a good fight but I believe, it was time for him to go.

To make the story short, he died two months later..... I didn't tell you he was just 28, at the prime of his life. Today is his death anniversary.

Lesson? Be compassionate
My lesson? Do not walk, buy a car hehehe.....