BANKING AND CURIOSITY

Was at BDO bank to do some transactions when a woman in her mid-50's who's seated beside me started talking to me. She's wearing a white blouse, a blue denim shorts and a slip on. She's holding a class A Coach shoulder bag, a gold ring on her left 4th finger and a white Guess wrist watch on her left arm. With her were 3 young girls and 2 teenage boys. I believe she's opening a bank account. Bank staff busy with paperworks. She said that her previous transactions are done at Cebuana Lhuillier branches but when the ---refused to let her do transactions of withdrawing more than 50,000pesos, she then decided to open a bank account. I smiled at her but said nothing. When the staff checked on her application, she must have missed out some info and was asked several questions like who's sending the money, what was the occupation of the sender, where did the money come from, how many times will she receive money. According to the woman, her daughter, a domestic helper in Singapore is sending her money once a month and that she prefer to receive it here because they can dispense any amount sent to her. The staff asked if how much will she withdraw. She said, "well, I want to withdraw everything today because my family will go to Pampanga tonight". The staff said she need to have at least a thousand pesos in her account to keep it active. The woman agreed. The staff then removed 6 1000 pesos from a bundle of 20 1000's and gave it to the woman together with 2 thick bundles of 500 pesos amounting to 50,000 each. The woman concluded that she's taking home 114,000 pesos. The staff gave a positive affirmation. She then left the counter and did my own transaction. There were questions in my mind when I left the bank. I was an ICU nurse who've worked in a government hospital in Saudi Arabia. Most of my colleagues get a minimum salary of 42k to a maximum of 90k from the ministry. I was wondering if domestic helpers working in Singapore are getting much more than a nurse who work in Saudi Arabia. 

"MAIS......MAIS....."

This little compound we live in is composed of less than 20 houses, mostly bungalows, duplexes and 2-story buildings. The compound, 'tho private has an access to the public who might want a short cut from the Diversion Road to the street at the back going to the National Highway. Most of those who use this "secret passage" are the vendors who sell fish, vegetables, mais (corn) and pandesal. Everyday, at 6am I can hear the pandesal vendor shouting "pandesal" in his bicycle, and between 8-9am and 1-2pm, men and women or even teenage kids with a basket they carry on their head or arms shout "mais....mais...". Mais is sold for 5 pieces for 25 pesos, 5pesos more expensive than that in the market. It's the season for corn so there's more than one in the area who do sell the native, sticky mais everyday. At times that I crave for mais, I would wait for someone who would come to my doorstep to sell me the best corn on the cob for either snacks or breakfast. Knycole has preference over those sellers. She knew who sells the best mais while I buy from the first available vendor who would come to the compound. 

Most of the time, I pity these vendors. It's summer time and the heat under the sun all throughout the day plus the heavy load they carry to sell their products were such a challenge for a business like this. As I look at them, a thought came to my mind: maybe if they've finished college, they won't be on the streets selling mais. Or if they were born to a rich family, they would never experience such a difficult life. And there's more "ors" and "ifs" in my mind as I ponder their situation. On the other side, I admire the hard work they do. I knew it isn't easy and I also knew that given the chance, they wouldn't be on the streets walking and enduring the heat of the sun carrying a basketful of mais everyday. But then again, no matter how hard it is for them to do their work, these vendor deserve one thing- respect! They maybe doing an odd job and earning a meager income but the job they do is, in Filipino, MARANGAL NA TRABAHO! 

RESPECT, DEAR, RESPECT!

Went home from a dinner hosted by my friend at one of the villas in Thunderbird Resort. When my oldest daughter opened the door for me, she immediately told me that a friend, Kassan is staying for the night because they'll go for an early morning jog tomorrow. Kassan is a member of our Church. Her parents are both leaders in the church. She live a few meters from our apartment. I saw her sitting on the couch as I entered the house. She didn't say anything, as if I didn't exist when I arrived. Kids were all sitting on the sofa, including my nephew Kirby as they watched "How to train your Dragon'. I started telling stories of the dinner I had. Only Kryztl gave me feedbacks. After few minutes, I had my shower and prepared the bedroom for our sleep. Knycole insisted they will take the foam outside so they could sleep in the living room. I contested. I can take the foam on the floor with Kirby and them-  kryztl, knycole and kassan on our 60x75 bed inside the room. Knycole said kassan is so shy she might want to sleep in the living room rather than staying with us in the bedroom. I said it's ok no problem. Knycole insisted and started to raise her voice and told me i cannot understand. Should they have told me, I should have understood! But nobody told me what's going on so what is it that i should understand? She got more irritated with my questions and tried to defend her friend in my expense. I then raised my voiced and told them whatever it is she's going through, tho it's not my right to know, they should at least have told me so I can extend more understanding and compassion. But the kids were so protective of their friends that I have to be dealt with as if I owe them something, i have to tell them then, that  between their friend and me, I deserve more honor and respect than protecting the interest of their friends. I have to tell them i need to talk to them  in the morning. They then took the foam and pillows to the living room. I instructed further that they should prepare their things they needed so they will not disturb me early tomorrow. I locked the door for them to know I am serious. How that. I wanted to tell the kids the importance of respecting their mothers first before protecting their friends. After all, I DESERVE IT!