Some realities of life are hard to understand until we know
them.
Every time I'm in the province, I always find time to roam
around. Most of the time, stories and
encounters happen in remote and unexpected places.
Take for example the kids who are carrying a sack of
charcoal on their head and walk several kilometers, passing several mountains
and rivers until they get to the market place.
Imagine the weight of a sack full
of charcoal on top of your head, the scorching heat of the sun along the way,
the effort that they exerted just to get to the marketplace, and selling the
merchandise for almost 200 pesos only.
At times, the townfolks would try to get a good bargain by asking for a
much lower selling price of the charcoal.
When the sellers are in great need, they simply give in rather than
going home empty handed and carrying the charcoal back to the mountains.
I can't help but to admire these kids, that in their early
age, they are forced by circumstance to do an adult's job to help their parents
make both ends meet. Much as they want
to enjoy the privilege of being kids, they are driven to work and do their
share for the survival of their family.
And when I see them around, I no longer ask for a bargain of their
merchandise because I know the kind of hardship they are constantly facing in
order to bring home some decent food to their waiting family.
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