Lettres des Philippines
Letter 5 : When the poor cry over the poorer!
That story has just been narrated to me by Jean-Paul who returned from Leyte where he was unable to visit the places he had planned to go because of the rains and landslides.
So he was riding a bus bound for Southern Leyte when the vehicle stopped because of a rock fall.
Seated beside him, there was another passenger with whom he got on well as it is true that the Filipinos love to converse and he too.
Her name Chona, was 37 years and a single mother of a 5 years old little girl.
The passengers got out of the bus waiting what the driver would decide.
By the side of the road there were few miserable hovels with plenty kids in
rags. Chona approached and then discussed with them.
Later she returned to ask Jean- Paul if he could give her some money to distribute. He gave her some little bills that she handed out to the little children.
Finally the drivers decided to head back towards its starting point as the news about the road conditions were frightening.
When the bus moved off again, John Paul saw Chona who was wiping her eyes. He asked her what was going on because she was crying. She replied that she lamented over the fate of these poor people, as she pointed out to Jean-Paul , the children only had rags on their back and had not even rice to eat, only a vile gruel.
Then she said to be born in the country, his parents were poor but they still owned a pig, a few chickens and a small plot of land to cultivate.
Today the father of her daughter gave her a monthly fee of around 100 Euros which purchasing power is equivalent to about 300 Euros in France. Not big money isn't it? And yet she was crying about poorer than her.
So what the rich people should do then in a country where the growth rate is close to 8% and where the poorest remain on the side of the road?
Chona Thank you for this lesson of compassion!
Article ajouté le 2008-02-22 , consulté 35 fois
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