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Wednesday, December 10, 2003
Flavier: The parable of the broken leg
By Sen. Juan Flavier
THE farmer was desperate. Everything seemed to be going against him. No doubt in his mind, he was sinking deeper into poverty and debt.
It all started with two years in a row of drought. This was followed by two successive devastating typhoons. The howlers destroyed his home, damaged his rice crop and felled his fruit trees of papayas and bananas.
Typhoons commonly hit his area once every six years. With that, the odds were in the farmer's favor. He was supposed to have enough time to recoup any loses and recover investments. But two major typhoons one after the other simply took its toll.
He had a loan from the rural bank, which matured three months earlier. His second daughter had to stop going to high school for his failure to pay tuition.
To while away his desperation, he listened to his old transistor radio. Between music pieces, the announcer recounted a human interest incident where an American in New York City was bumped on the leg by a car. The victim was paid half a million dollars as indemnity by his insurance company for the injury.
"My God, that is the answer to my prayer," the farmer exclaimed to himself. "I will also get an accident insurance. Breaking a leg for several thousands of pesos would be worth it."
He borrowed money from the barrio usurer after determining the modest premium for an accident insurance. He was now insured for two hundred thousand pesos.
Wasting no time, the farmer went to the city. He deliberately jumped in front of a car at a busy intersection. His left leg was broken and he was rushed to the hospital.
"Make a claim to my insurance company immediately," he ordered his wife.
The feedback after a week was depressing. The farmer had forgotten to read the fine print saying any injury within the first month was not covered.
"Instead of getting money, I have a broken leg," he wailed.
"Also a bad infection," added the wife. "But there is bad news and good news."
The wife came nearer and said in a most gentle tone, "The doctor told me your left leg has to be amputated."
"My God, what a disaster! How can I farm? All is lost!" he moaned with tears streaming across his rugged cheeks. "What is the good news?"
"The patient in the next bed wants to buy your rubber shoes."
(December 10, 2003 issue)
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