On the other hand, I'm truly madly deeply addicted to the beach and the outdoors. It lets me shake off the stress. It is my ideal vacation. Puerto Galera is a good five-hour travel from Las Piñas which makes it an ideal destination for me. I can go there on a Saturday and be fulfilled when I go home the next day, with a little more free time to rest the travel off for Monday work.
Story I:
Last Saturday, I met two little girls, both aged twelve - Mary Queen and Kristina. They first approached us while we were having lunch. They were trying to sell us anklets and bracelets. P5.00 each; two free if we buy ten. I bought ten. Then, they offered to braid my hair for P300.00. I told them to braid it for P250.00 and they got themselves a deal. It took them a while to decide because the price I bid was too cheap considering the length of my hair. It is about two inches above the waist. Next, they offered to take us on a hike to Aninuan Falls for P300.00. Hours later, we accepted the offer.
It turns out that Mary Queen and Kristina live near the falls, deep into the woods. We had to take a trike to the foot of the mountain. From there, it was an hour hike to the falls. AN HOUR HIKE. It was an adventure for us Manila Girls; it is a lifestyle for them Mindoro girls. We passed by some Mangyan people and their lifetyle is even more humbling. I tried to restrain myself from slipping and to stifle my shriek everytime I do. I thought it was embarrassing because these little girls hopped from rock to rock with much ease. I hate the feeling of being the less skilled.
At the end of the day, I was more than happy to hand the girls the eight hundred pesos. It was a low cost happiness for the tough lifestyle they have.
Story II:
During Galera I with my girls, we craved for green mangoes. After walking awhile, we saw an old lady carrying a bucketful slung over her left arm. At P2.00 a pop, we were only going to buy one for each of us. But the sight of her slouching due to the weight of the bucket shot daggers through my heart so I bought 10 mangoes. She even gave me extra two as hiling [bonus].
I gave her fifty pesos but she returned only twenty pesos. When I asked her for the additional ten pesos, she told me I bought ten mangoes at P3.00 each. My nose flared. She must have mistaken me for being too gentle. I impatiently reminded her of the P2.00 a pop she told me and when she must have realized that I'm not giving my ten pesos away just like that, she came up with two five-peso coins.
Tsk Tsk! The facade of helpless old lady wouldn't work with me. She's a swindler underneath. Pshhh... If she didn't end up lying to get my ten pesos, I would've whole-heartedly given it to her as tip. I might have even given her the whole change.
*.* as if! @ 2:58:00 PM • • RBJ
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