Behind the Glass Window

It had been a busy day and while inside a bus on my way home, all I could think about was reaching our house, eating a delicious meal, watching TV, and sleeping comfortably.  Then, as the bus made a turn on a bend, I glanced towards the window and saw this little girl.  Still clad in her worned-down elementary school uniform, the girl was sitting right in front of a KIA Motors display center, sipping what appears to be a plastic of "sago", and staring at all the vehicles passing her way, probably wondering what it feels like to be sitting inside one.  Looking at her, I can't help but feel pity for the girl - innocent and still unaware of the hardships of the real world.  True, she may be studying today, but for how long?  With the current situation of this country, the government being oblivious to the plight of its less fortunate citizens, and with the prevalence of greed and selfishness among most of those with money and power, it would be a miracle if the little girl would finish elementary.

That incident inside the bus that day had just been one of many, wherein on the spot I'd thank God for what I have, wish that in some way I'd be able to help most of our unfortunate brothers and sisters, and feel angry to those people who can do something but doesn't.  But what made that experience different from the others, was that it sort of reflected the perfect image of the reality of our so-called modern society - the girl representing majority of Filipinos who are victims of poverty; the cars inside the display center, the people in power, bigtime businessmen, and the minority of rich people; and the glass, the apathy, the unmindfulness, and complete disregard of the latter types of people to the former.

Power, money, leisure, earthly pleasures - eversince, these have been the things that controlled the minds of most people, and I'm not an exception.  But haven't we had too much of them to think of sharing them once in a while?  I guess not.  Our current government leaders are still fighting over petty  things instead of formulating ways to improve the lives of many of our countrymen; socialites and the elite still spends millions of pesos in casinos for leisure; and big businessmen are still converting ricefields into country clubs and exclusive theme parks.

Still watching the little girl from behind the glass window, I ended my thought of her by wishing her good luck and hoping that she doesn't end up to be just another faceless soul devoid of hope and scarred with marks of abuse and cruelty.

It had always been my goal, and wish, to make a difference.  Maybe not to the world, but even to just a few people.  But time has its way of making people forget.  Fortunately, fate has its way of reminding, and for me, that little girl had been one.


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