I held onto my bag tightly and activated my alert mode to be ready in case she suddenly decides to rob us other passengers. After passing a few streets with traffic gradually building up, a man with a backpack boarded our jeepney. He opened his bag, took out a bread and handed it to the old woman. She humbly said "Thank you." The woman took a bite of the generous bread before getting herself busy again with coin-hunting. Triumphantly picking up the seemed to be last coin she needed, she, without any delay, exclaimed "Bayad po!" The charitable man who was suppose to pass her fare to the driver refused to take the coins from her dirty hand and said "Keep it, I'll pay for you." "Thank you," she said as she turned her face away shyly.
My heart melted. My face growing pallid in guilt and embarrassment. How can I just witness something like this. I was unfair to quickly judge the old woman based on her external appearance. Now, she's just one person I wish I could be. She roughly has anything, and yet, she still wanted to be honest enough and pay for her own ride. I wish I have also been as sensitive and compassionate as the man who immediately offered assistance to the needy old lady. I wish, I wish I'll never be another unfair judge and witness again...
