There is this private road which had become a common road to motorists, in search for easy routes, and to avoid traffic. I usually traverse this road to get to work. The area has a part where factories were built side by side. In between are small areas for residence. This is probably where most of the workers in these factories reside or lodge. There is also a part that is mostly and unlawfully residential.
Most of the journeys along the road are spent in a tricycle or in a car and from it you can see people trekking the road to their respective work, forklift trucks hauling up raw materials for these factories, ten-wheeler (most of them) trucks parked alongside the road, and carts pushed by individuals selling fruits and vegetables, and the like. Along the residential area, children (as young as one year old) and adults swarm the streets. One can observe that they are not afraid of the vehicles. It is the other way around.
What is also observable in this part of the road is the number of mentally ill individuals hovering. One of them, at one time, raced with a car while chattering indistinct sounds. You can see him hopping, running, or walking without direction, clad in oversized shorts or pants fastened with a string, or pulled up with one of his hands. There is also this girl, about 18-20 years old, who had a bloated belly when I first saw her (at present the bloat's gone), walking along the road, with no footwear. You can see her holding a piece of bread, or playing with the kids. An adult, on the other hand, can be seen talking to herself, or silently watching people pass by. She has this big-beaded rosary on her neck. At first glance, you would not know that she is mentally ill.
There was this scrawny man in this part of the road that caught my attention one morning. His wheelchair is parked alongside the road and waves to passers-by every now and then, saying "Good morning, ma'am (sir)! He does this with a salute and a (innocent) grin. It was this last Mother's Day when I saw him again. To my surprise, he greeted me, "Happy mother's day, 'te!" Smiling, I said thank you. I thought that was sweet. For some stranger (who obviously looks older than me) to greet , though he seems to be a happy, mentally ill man, that was really surprising and touching. I know that being emotional is uncalled-for but I was really moved. Some people I know did not even care greeting me on that special day.
This morning, I saw him parked again on the usual location. I nearly burst laughing when he said, "'Te, baka naman me barya ka d'yan ('Te, you must have some coins)." So I gave him a coin and he willingly said thank you with that small amount I gave him. But what boggles me is why he was left alone in that part of the road unattended. Since the time I first saw him, I had never seen anyone with him. Where are the relatives? Where is everybody who should have been taking care of him? He could be accidentally sideswiped by a car. He could even be a prey to raucous individuals.
My thoughts will be interrupted afterwards by the sour-and-pungent-smelling new street food that is becoming a trend nowadays on the roads and streets. The squid rings (the main ingredients) are dipped into a basin of flour before dip-fried. Customers pick one by one the squid rings with a (wooden) stick then dip them into a concoction of vinegar, soy sauce, diced onions, garlic and siling labuyo. The aroma is quite annoying. I cannot stand it even with the sight of those seemingly satisfied customers.
The road ends where the main road lies, which is currently under construction, and which is causing very, very heavy traffic (Thanks to them, 'good' and 'venerable' government officials for the timing!). This is the portion of my everyday affair on my way to work that I hate most. Can you imagine how I cross the main road and jump into the excavated portion and then jump out again to finally get over the other end of the road? And I am dressed in uniform. :-( Pretty sight, eh?
Nexus: Sa Araw-araw Bago Pumasok
It looks like a scene from a russian novel; so full of realism and reality if often harsh and disturbing. Somehow, I can imagine how people in the streets faces everyday existence and then pondered and shivered if I myself could face it.
ReplyDeleteJust lamentable the urban madness this nation had seemed to have gotten embroiled into. I hope things would change in the future.
well... survival of the fittest? i think we all live in chaos in one form or the other. as to the changes in the government, it is a long process to heal. hope i would still be alive when that happens, major tom. :-D
ReplyDeleteYes, it's a sad reality that many homeless people are also mentally ill. Should the gov't just step in and put them in an asylum? If they pose a danger to themselves or others, then perhaps the gov't should.
ReplyDelete"There is this private road which had become a common road to motorists, in search for easy routes, and to avoid traffic." - Hmmm, lemme guess... Kaingin road? :-)
ReplyDeleteYep, I see a lot of those wandering the city streets in my daily travels. I managed to capture two of them on my phone cam a few days ago. Thinking of blogging about them too...
Ganiton gaito yung scene sa sakayan ko ng bus...
ReplyDeletewhat is more sad, wil, is those mentally ill people have families. and because some of the homes are just beside the road, you can see who their relatives are. maybe they wanted them to be well, but how can they do that when money is not available even for their everyday needs?
ReplyDeleteNot Kaingin Road, single. though it had become a common road, too, and factories are many, too, i don't think it is a private road.
para ngang parami nang parami ang mga nagkalat na deranged sa kalye. actually, wil is right saying they can pose dangers to other people.
hmm... sa'n kaya 'yun,mon?
The complications of the world today, noh?
ReplyDeleteHave you not wonder that seeing these people, we realized that we are luckier if not the luckiest people on earth?
ReplyDeleteI've seen a lot of them at the waiting sheds of a public school near my son's place in manila. These waiting condotel sheds, newly painted and well-kept are luxuries for free for these poor people where they can rest their tired bodies and perhaps their souls for a night.
My heart bleeds for them and all the more makes me hate our useless politicians.
Whoever built these waiting (condotel) sheds must be an angel.
yes, it is truly a complicated world, kyels, molded by the greedy.
ReplyDeleteseeing them really makes me feel, not only lucky, but blessed, rolly. but it saddens me, too, that there are people with a lot of extras and they cannot even afford to share. there are those in power and with authority and they cannot even do something about the plight of the poor.
It's really sad to see the plight of the less fortunate ones. And you see that everyday. It must be depressing. And I know how it can get to you. Last year, my middle son and I volunteered at a soup kitchen and we saw these homeless people, some of which look wasted. It has affected him too. He wondered why they were homeless, why some had these blank stares, why one lady's hand was shaking (must be a crack addict). It's really sad.
ReplyDeleteBtw, May is nearing it's end. Isn't your birthday in May too? Just want to greet you a very belated happy birthday. :)
thank you, irene. and a happy birthday, too! :-)
ReplyDeletemy kids get affected, too, seeing them. we may not be rich, but at least they do not roam the streets, and they are educated in school. most of them kids in those areas havent even seen a school in their lives.
Typical scene in our busy streets. That man sitting in the wheelchair doing his bit was probably placed by his relatives in that spot. It's not easy for someone in wheelchair to move around in Pinas, esp on sidewalks. I was always wondering about these street hawkers who sell food if they are being regulated by the Dept of Health.. Constructions and road repair are a bummer indeed and tey seem to take forever to finish :(
ReplyDeletei was thinking the same about the man in the wheelchair. baka pinagtatrabaho ha ha
ReplyDeleteas to the street hawkers, they are not being regulated.
my golay! i was told that those road repairs have a 2 year contract! imagine! only in Pinas, actually.