family picture

the streets were crowded with buses and jeepneys again because of the 5pm traffic jam. i was stuck in a non-aircon bus waiting for it to drop me off at my destination. on my right was a view of a filipino community enjoying the breezy afternoon in a place they treated as home-- the bridge. 'twas a scene with little kids running around the streets not aware of the perils of big buses and jeepneys, with mothers tending their tinging candy and yosi stand and with men, four of them, facing each other, seated on bangkitos, playing cards, one reaching for his pocket and buying a stick of cigarette while his left hand held the set of cards. it was good enough material for documentaries showing how filipinos still manage to be happy despite the crises.

after a few minutes, despite the traffic light giving the go signal, i was still in the same bus that overlooked the same picture. funny how my thoughts changed rapidly from being envious of those who were able to do a lot of things because they did not have to work, to feeling lucky and contented with what i have despite the struggle to balance a lot of things.

that picture reminded me that the irony in this society still has not been resolved. people who have more income have a few or no children at all. on the contrary, people who have less have the most number of children. people who have more resources work their butts off to earn money while people who have less, sit out the afternoons and play cards (and smoke cigar)! ahhh, the paradox of life.