I know a man who is in his late 30s. Just like many Filipinos, he does more than what his body is capable of just to feed his family. When I see or hear about a hardworking man who does everything for his family despite his physical limitations, I am inspired. I always want to wish him well and his family.

So when I heard the news that he got sick and is still sick yet failed to go to the doctor, of course I was sad. Because when a man gets sick, especially a hardworking man, he deserves a medical check-up. But because of poverty, eventhough he feels the pain and the discomfort he chose to bear it all to himself. Perhaps, there is no money. If there is, the little that he has, he would prefer to spend it for his family and not for himself. That’s for sure.

Then last night, I heard that this man has something for me, a “pasalubong”. Bringing home apasalubong is a tradition for Filipinos who leave the house, whether for a long travel or just a short trip. Coming home and bringing the pasalubong is a gesture of kindness, of love and of the delight that one is back home.

While this man doesn’t live at my house and is not coming home from a trip, he gave the pasalubong or padala to my cousins who were on the first flight to Manila from Iloilo today. This man lives in Iloilo City, my hometown. I haven’t seen him and his family for a while now.

His gesture of kindness pierced my heart. Why out of poverty, someone would still choose to give when he has nothing much for himself? Or if he may have a little, but why he didn’t spend it for himself and instead put me first?

Why bother right? When poverty is like the ultimate valid excuse for not being able to give. It is okay not to give when you have little or nothing. It is not a bad thing, it is an acceptable act. So why bother? The world would understand. I understand.

But he bothered. He went out of his poverty (or maybe he doesn’t even see it that way) and delighted in being able to offer me and my family a little something. A man like this is a rare breed in our world these days. Many of us are so absorbed in ourselves — our needs, our comfort and of course, our problems. It is all about us and we want it that way. But this man, despite his poverty, showed me kindness unlike any other.

And I am unworthy. Most of the time I even fail to reply to their texts, even if I know they only borrowed a cellphone from their neighbor in order to text me. Now why would I do such a cruel thing like that not just to the man but also to his eager 10-year-old daughter who only wants to know how I was doing? Well, I’m just like, many others in our world today who would say they’re “busy“. Being busy is such a cruelty to our families.

I also have a higher salary than this man, way higher. But of course, it’s not about money. I know this for a fact but sometimes, life comes down to that and for a time, I believed it was indeed about that. He works at a grocery store and with his frail body, does so without complain carrying boxes of groceries even though he feels the pain. The good working attitude of this man shows why he is still employed up to this day despite being on a 6 month contract only, as many casual employees are in grocery stores and other companies. Still after more than 5 years, the management chose to employ him again and again.

I don’t have kids to feed. Although I’m indebted to help my family financially, during times when I’m unable to give, I know they won’t starve to death. But this man’s kids probably would. And so he perseveres despite his limitations and weaknesses and sticks it out day after day for his wife and two kids.

I have a lot to give but haven’t. He has little and yet. Woe to me!
Which reminds me that the global economic crisis or just living a “practical” life or having low salary is no excuse for not being kind.

It is not about how much or how many that we give, the amount doesn’t count. Kindness you wouldn’t feel if you won millions in a lottery. You wouldn’t even think that God was kind enough to give you such big amount. Kindness you would feel from those who despite having little or nothing, go beyond their poverty and do not dwell in self-pity but instead do a little gesture that shouts, “I care.”

And that is probably why kindness of this kind is not just heart-warming but heart-piercing. The biggest surprise in this is realizing that amidst all the busyness and craziness in this world, someone out there still cares for you. Someone you have been wanting and planning to help. Someone you thought needed your help. But at the end of the day, it was you they helped. Because alas! It was you who needed help after all.

It was I who was dying for this kindness to affirm that life can be beautiful again depsite of.

I guess life is indeed unfair. Those who don’t deserve it receives mercy, or kindness in this case. And those who need it the most doesn’t receive any from those of us who CAN GIVE it to them.

SAD SAD CRUELTY.