Just be kind.
Some people would want to but reluctant to openly show any act of kindness for fear that others may call them "epal" or "pabida". And yes, indeed, certain personalities perform the act for publicity and "pogi points".
I salute actress Angel Locsin. For a long time — long before the pandemic — she had been doing her personal outreach projects where and when needed sans klieg lights. None of these were posted by her camp. There were a few onlookers who did, though.
Lately, together with hubby Niel Arce, Angel went to Norzagaray in Bulacan to help complete and repair a school that benefits of Dumagats, indigenous community in the Sierra Madre.
Angel is just one of the many personalities who silently offer assistance to those affected by calamity and to the disadvantaged.
Doesn't it feel good to be kind?
Random Act
The other day, after visiting a sick friend in Quezon City, I decided to take a bite by my lonesome at the Jollibee outlet in Cubao. I was buying time for my next meeting in the area.
While enjoying the longganiza breakfast meal that I missed, I saw a blind man and a very young girl enter. They looked familiar, I told myself.
The duo occupied the seats next to me.
When the man — in his 60s, I presumed — started counting one-peso coins and stacked each to total P20, I recalled where I saw them. They were begging on P. Tuazon while the traffic light was on red.
I then asked the girl what they intended to get. "Isang burger po. Hati po kami ni Lolo." My heart was bleeding with the thought of enjoying a full meal while they will share a small sandwich.
Handing the girl P250, I said, "huwag nyo na bilangin 'yan (referring to the coins). Bumili kayo ng rice meal."
The blind man was silent for a second, perhaps not knowing what to say. Then, he couldn't stop thanking me while the young girl was almost in tears.
Striking a conversation with him, I learned his name is "Mang Nick" who used to be a masseur until his hands could not tolerate the pressure anymore. He knew my two blind masseurs in Greenhills Shopping Center, "Brownie" and "Mang Boy" and their leader "Lando".
When the girl came back with one-piece chicken joy with rice and drinks, I gave her one of the two longgas I ordered and 3/4 of my rice. "Malinis 'yan."
Before they started to dig in, I handed them a couple of wet wipes and told them to eat well, leaving P150 — the only "barya" I had in my purse — and reminded them to get something for lunch later.
This is not to boast but I felt really good in this random act. That day, I made the "mag-lolo" happy.
A Better Place
It is very inspiring to witness and do natural and sincere acts of kindness that could come in many forms.
Aside from material goods, perhaps just a warm smile or nod, assistance for a heavy load, opening door for you, letting you go in first in an elevator or a bus, offering a seat, saying "how are you today" to someone you know, among others.
The world will be a better place if we show appreciation and respect for others, especially for women and the elderly.
There are no rules or strictures attached to being consciously kind.
Starting from us, with acts of kindness, we could change our community and then the world follows.
Kindness itself will pay it forward.
(email opinyon.luchie@gmail.com, luchiearguelles@yahoo.com)
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