Poor, Unfortunate, Happy Souls
Yam Sancho in Ang Pinoy Stories
Jun 13, 2020 • 2 min Read
Poverty is a major problem in the Philippines and the number of Filipinos living below the poverty line is continuously growing. Some of these unfortunate individuals roam Luneta Park in Manila. Though poor, they have dreams and they dare to smile.
Delia Ruiz, 40, sits in one corner of Luneta and asks a passerby for money. She suffers from diabetes mellitus, a disorder wherein there is too much blood sugar or glucose in her system because her body does not produce enough insulin. She has two daughters, Lyca, 9, and Rosedel, 11. Both are grade school students at Paco Elementary School.
Delia moved to Manila from Nueva Ecija to look for a better job. She thought that living in the city is the only solution to have a better life. She did not know any better and ended up as a street sweeper.
“Ito ang pinakamaling bagay na nagawa ko na pinagsisisihan ko habambuhay. Sa Nueva Ecija, may pagkain kami. Aanihin lang namin sa bakuran mga pananim namin ng bigas at mga gulay,” she says.
She thought that living in Manila would help them rise up from poverty, but the reality is she ended up asking for money on the street. Eventually, she met Rolando, 50, a construction worker.
With the children in school and Delia’s condition, Rolando’s takehome pay is never enough. So Delia decided to go to Luneta and ask for money from tourists and passersby. She had an operation three months ago and that further ate up whatever money they had.
“Lahat ng naipon ng asawa ko, ubos na. Sabi niya, mas ayos na mawalan siya ng pera, kaysa mawalan ng asawa at nanay ang mga anak niya.”
Delia is always thankful despite the many hardships in her life. No one from her family is willing to help with her medication but she says strangers are always willing to give coins and bills.
“Buti pa mga hindi ko kapamilya, handa akong tulungan. Kaya tinuturing ko ring pamilya yung mga taong nagbibigay ng tulong e.”
Her daughter Lyca dreams of becoming a doctor someday so that she can treat her mother and help other families in a similar situation.
“Masaya po ako na kahit ganito ang buhay namin, basta kasama ko po si Mama,” says Lyca.
Their struggle as a family continues, but at the end of the day, they have faith, hope, and each other. Tomorrow is another day and full of uncertainties, but today they smile — at strangers who give without questions.
