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| Image from: baptisthealth.com |
Last Sunday while I and my friend were heading home, we saw an old man maybe in his 80's lying on his side by the road. It was scorching hot. We immediately asked him if he was okay. We couldn't understand what he was saying but he just stretched out his hand to signal that he needed assistance.
So we helped him stand on his feet and gain balance. We then assisted him towards his bike parked a few feet from us. But as he rode his bike and started to pedal, he kept losing balance. He was really trying to push himself. We felt uneasy looking at the situation so we decided to stay and watch him, and we kept asking him if he'll be fine. We stayed until he could steady and was beyond our sight.
Then as we turned at the corner going home, I and my friend looked at each other and we started crying. And we both agreed, it wasn't a feeling of fulfillment for being able to help. It was a complete feeling of pity for all the other older people living alone in Tokyo.
Before we saw that old man, there were a few people who walked past him. I cannot blame them for ignoring. You see, in Japanese society, old people refuse help for some reasons. One, they don't want to burden anybody. For them, it's rude to take somebody's time. Another, they don't want to appear helpless. That is why at first, we had to ask that old man if he was fine.
I had experiences of older people rejecting my offer. So, my Japanese friends would just tell me to let it go, that it's totally fine. But it is so conflicting in my part. It was midday at 30 degrees. How can you just ignore somebody by the road obviously needing help?
I believe the Filipino society loves our elders. I grew up with my grandma and grandpa and this is common. We are so family oriented that we sometimes choose to have an extended family living in one roof. It is not our obligation to take care of our elders, but it is our way to show respect and honor to them no matter their behavior.
I cannot just dismiss the family values instilled in me since I was young. Although, we feel so burdened of providing for our family, to us it's rewarding. It makes us more human. To us, our family is our treasure.
This reminds me of this Cebuano proverb, "Bahala'g saging basta labing." which figuratively would mean "Having less won't matter, just as long as we love each other." Literally, "It's alright if we're just eating bananas (our entire lives) as long as we're in love."
This may be the reason why us Filipinos are complacent. That sometimes we just settle for a life of poverty and mediocrity. But right now I thought, really, before coming to Japan, I was happier despite having less. Actually, the recent happiness index showed that the Japanese are happier than Filipinos. I'm a bit surprised.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am grateful of what I have, the dreams that I have achieved, the financial breakthroughs and all the worthwhile experiences. They are all by God's unending grace. Yet if all these are removed from me, I will be fine. Seriously, I will be fine. I will just go home and eat bananas happily with my family.
P.S
We were not supposed to head that way where the old man was, but my friend forgot something and we took that shorter route.
P.S.S
The old man has that red tag, too.
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