ON STREETS | crossing paths with hardworking people

One of my days that I have come to realize about life is we need to live or strive hard in order to survive. We live in novels that have created just for us, we have chapters in our lives but we need to finish the page to go on to another. This roller coaster called life sometimes strikes us nefariously without a warning, we struggle, yet we can still stand up and it is so amazing to us how we are dealing and surviving. Life’s not easy but we need to live.

I have gone to some great places but today I went to the church, the Basílica Menor del Santo Niño de Cebú, one of the oldest churches in the Philippines where a lot of devotees go and pray for Sto. Niño. Heard a mass, lit candles and pray. I went out from the back gate of the church but still It was early in the afternoon and I thought maybe I could just stroll on the streets.

While watching people passed by, going in and coming out from the church... the people that I have observed, there are vendors trying to sell some of their goods and photographers standing by, asking some church goers who want to have a photo or family picture they can have. It’s not easy. What amazes me about them is that they are very very patient. A girl selling bottles of water. Small doings/business that they have in order to earn and to survive.

Outside the Sto Niño church, there are women, devotees of Sr. Sto Niño wearing the yellow or red skirts who willingly help you pray while doing a tribal-like dance, the one we called “sinulog dance”. I saw her sitting, thought she must have had a long day, tired and wanted to lie down but couldn’t, she took a nap and I know many people she did pray. Seeing them with full admiration because I know how hard it is, working from morning until afternoon under the sun.

Approached a mango vendor near the church, let’s call her Maria, in her early 40’s and been selling some fruits and stuff for months now. Bought a mango from her for just ₱30. We chatted a little and told me that she sometimes sells near the church but most of the time in carbon market (a place where variety of local produce, dry goods and sea foods are being sold). Yes, she has been working hard to earn so she can provide her children with food and school fee. She needs to because that’s the only way she can get money. Looking at her while talking, I was just so silent wondering how she manages it.

This man was patiently waiting also for some buyers, making lots of cotton candies, colorful to look at and he was hoping a lot of people would buy it. Approached him and asked how much, it’s just ₱10, and questions came out from my mouth. You see, if he couldn’t sell those cotton candies at the end of the day, he’d go home and ask his neighbors to buy them for a smaller price or even neighbors will just pay him the next days. It’s so sad, knowing that you did a lot of work and yet only few wanted to have his cotton candies. These words strucked me when he said, “Inana gyud nang kinabuhi.”(“That’s how life is.”) I left saying thank you with the cotton candy I bought and I hoped that man will be blessed, I could see his efforts.

A man selling flowers in front of the church and hoping he could sell every stalk of the flower.

Outside the church you can see images of our child Jesus, Mary and saints displayed in small stores. Sellers I have watched were fixing, scraping to make something from a small wood and painting the images. I asked for the price, they costs about ₱200-₱1000 depending upon the image and size of those figures. They don’t have days off, it seems like they are living in the place so they can sell more.

I have found some interesting stuff while strolling down the streets. If you happen to pass by maybe you can buy one or some, a help from you to vendors who are there, selling and working from morning until the end of the day can make them smile by buying, it’s not much but it can help them.

Kwek-kwek for only P10 and Tempura (3pcs.) for P10 also with free cucumber or you can choose seagrapes if you want.

For only P5 per stick with this meat of conchs it can serve as snack for you or you can eat it with puso (hanging rice) for P2.50 , dipping it with hot vinegar with onions. A meal is solved.

Having it with salt or spicy vinegar this “Penoy”(an unfertilized duck egg without a yolk different from a “balut”) a street delicacy that you will spend only P12. On the side you can see drinks, if you are thirsty, grab some refreshments.

Filipinos’ ability to work with their hearts is a proof of our being hard working because we are motivated by our families and our inspirations we have in life. Determination is what we are going to act in order for us to accomplish something. I am amazed with these people despite the life and work hard, they remain very determined and they did not complain. I myself is guilty because sometimes I complain in some things. I just realized that we have to be thankful enough having this life. It is beautiful, we experience trials but it will pass.

Leaving you a message that I got:

“A beautiful life does not just happen. It is built daily by prayer, hard work, sacrifice and love.”

Thank you for reading my post my dear Steemians.
Till next time. ☺️