Sharing is a good thing

Never hesitate to share your riches.

The little kid I met when I was in second year highschool came across my mind today. I was the typical highschool girl that would want to make tambay at a nearby vendor’s stall outside the school. And on a certain sunny afternoon, I met a kid whom I won’t ever forget. Ok, so I did forget his name but I was certain it started with a J. I’m just not good with names, that’s why.

A lot of kids outside our school are asking for alms, most of the time even bugging you to really give them something even a single peso. Often times they would even tug my skirt, which was a distracting act. But this little guy that approached me had something special in him that made me give him a little of my attention and even had the chance to interview him and squeeze out some information out of him. He approached me, and this is what happened.

 little boy: Ate, Taga-i kog piso. (Ate, pahingi ng piso.)

me: Unsaon man nimu ang piso? (Anong gagawin mo sa piso?)

little boy: ipang-merienda naku. (Pang-merienda ko po.)

me: didto pangayo ug kwarta sa imong mama. (Dun ka humingi ng pera sa mama mo.)

little boy: masuko man siya. (magagalit siya)

me: nganong masuko man daw siya? (At bakit naman siya magagalit sayo?)

little boy: kay kung mangayo kog kwarta, wala na daw mi pangpalit ug pagkaon namu. (Kasi, kung hihingi pa raw ako ng pera sa kanya, wala na raw matitira sa pera namin na pang-bili namin ng makakain)

That conversation with him struck me. He was a four year old boy. He was cute, he was indeed very young, wore tattered clothes and his face and hands were dirty. I pity him, and I can’t deny the fact that I was touched by this sensitivity. For a young boy like him, it’s unlikely for children his age to actually understand what his family is undergoing, but this boy was different. He had such a big heart. But our convesation didn’t end up there. I still asked him a lot of questions.

My heart swelled for him and decided to give him a 5 peso coin. Not much, but I know he can buy food with it. I’m not the usual person who gives out alms to poor people. I’d rather give food than give out money. So, since I don’t have any food with me, I gave him money, but I made sure that he’ll buy food with the money I gave him, so I asked him to buy food at a vendor’s stall and he should return to me and show me that he did buy food with the money I gave him.

After a couple of minutes or so, he did return with pancakes at hand. The pancakes were sold 2 pesos each and he was able to buy 2 pancakes. I saw him heartely eating it, and sharing it with another boy, but a bit older than him. I asked him to come to me and I asked who the other boy was, and he told me it was his brother. I can’t help but be glad because somehow, this kid here knows how to share his blessings. I’ve encountered a lot of less priviledged kids and when they have something to eat, they don’t tend to share it with their siblings, often times they even fight over it on who gets the big slice or who gets the last bite. But this kid, he’s even sharing it to his brother without any hesitation at all.

They continued eating and I noticed that he left half of the other pancake, and kept it in his pocket, wrapped with the mini paper bag. I asked him why he didn’t finished eating the pancake he bought.

me: bat di mo inubos yung pancake mo?

little boy: kay hatagan pa man gud naku ang akong lain nga manghud. (bibigyan ko pa po kasi yung iba kong kapatid)

This little boy was sure hungry, but he never hesitated to share what he has with his siblings. He was poor financially, but he was rich with goodness and kindness. Riches that even billionaires have a hard time to inherit. I hope a lot of people would be like this kid I met two years ago. And how I wish that some of our major political leaders would be like the little guy I met — has the sense of sensitivity, loving and selfless. Same goes out with everyone. Be like the little boy I was able to meet. Share what you have. For sure you’ll find longlasting happiness. 🙂