“Ang hirap lumaban pag hindi patas.” (It’s hard to fight when it’s not fair.)
Earlier today, I was outside waiting for my doctor’s appointment when I saw an elderly man selling newspapers as he made his way through the hospital halls.
I don’t usually read newspapers, as most news is available online, so I politely declined with a “No, thank you.”
He smiled and continued on, offering his papers to others in the area. Not a single person bought one.
He came back still holding his paper to the people beside me. I noticed that his walk was not normal. He also had a big umbrella on his back hanged because his arms were pre-occupied with newspapers.
He passed by me again and I decided to get one so that his climb up the stairs would have not been wasted.
“How much?” I asked.
“45,” he replied.
I hoped my wallet had cash, as I’d only brought a 1000-peso bill for my medication. Finding a 50-peso note, I said, “I’ll take one.”
He sat down in front of me and asked, “Which type of newspaper, Philippine Star or Philippine Inquirer?” He even offered his recommendation, mentioning that one was full of advertisements.
I chose the Philippine Star and handed him the 50 pesos. He gave me a “freebie,” as he called it — yesterday’s issue, but still the latest news from Negros.
I told him to keep the change, and he thanked me for the extra 5 pesos. As I type this, I wish I could have given him more.
While waiting for my turn to see the doctor, I couldn’t help but cry, tears silently rolling down my cheeks. Given I am not feeling well, work is hard, and I have extra personal problems, I might be feeling a lot of emotions today.
This experience led me to ask: How can we make everyone’s life easier? Though I’m not particularly religious, I found myself calling out to God, asking, “Can we help those who are trying? Those who are doing their best? Those maintaining peace and fighting for what’s right?”
Earlier today, I had an incident that triggered a lot of my stress and anxiety, leaving me feeling powerless. This encounter with the newspaper vendor brought that feeling of unfairness into sharp focus. Here was a man, likely facing far greater challenges than mine, persevering with dignity and grace. It made me reflect on my own struggles and the broader inequities in our society.
I felt a mix of emotions — a twinge of regret for not helping more, profound gratitude for what I have, and a renewed inspiration to face my own challenges with the same resilience I witnessed. The vendor’s quiet strength reminded me that while life isn’t always fair, our response to adversity defines us.
“Ang hirap lumaban pag hindi patas.” It’s hard to fight when it’s not fair — but this man showed me that the fight itself has value. His perseverance in the face of obvious hardship was a powerful lesson in courage and dignity.
In the end, this encounter wasn’t just about a small act of kindness. It was a stark reminder of the uneven playing field many face every day, and the strength it takes to keep going. It reinforced my belief in the power of compassion and the importance of recognizing our shared struggles, even when they manifest differently.
