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Saturday, December 13, 2003
Flavier: The parable of the town beggar
By Juan Flavier
IN MANY ways, the farmer's marriage was a good one. He worked hard and long to provide for the family. They were not rich by any stretch of the imagination. But their food was adequate the whole year round. The house had the basic amenities of a radio, a bamboo sala set and even a foot-operated sewing machine. All their young children attended school. And every school opening, each child had a new pair of shoes and uniform.
They even have extra for movies and other forms of modest entertainment.
The couple had no reason to get into any altercation except on one issue. The so-called minor vices of the farmer. He smokes a pack of cigarettes daily, drank tuba on Saturday evenings and gambled in the sabung in town on Sundays.
"Those are not minor vices," objected the wife. "They are wasteful and are unnecessary expenditures better used for our other needs. I wish you would stop them. They will do you no good and can later lead you to all sorts of evil."
"I don't think so," disagreed the farmer with a smile. "I don't hurt anyone. The money I use is mine. I do not take away from what should go to our food, the schooling of the children and our needs in the house."
"If you only saved that wasted money, we would already own a stereo," said the wife without raising her voice. "I still believe smoking, drinking and gambling will get you nowhere."
But the farmer still went about his usual activities. That Sunday, he went to town to buy a supply of cigarettes good for a week, a small bottle of tuba and bet a few pesos in sabung.
By early afternoon, the farmer was ready to proceed back to the barrio. He stood by the plaza waiting for the kalesa (horse-drawn rig).
A haggard beggar approached the farmer. "Can you spare me a few centavos?" implored the beggar with outreach hand.
"Tell you what...I will spare you a cigarette," offered the farmer.
"Sorry, but I do not smoke," replied the beggar politely.
"How about a gulp of tuba?"
"Sorry, I do not drink."
"Okay, I will give you one peso but you must bet it in the lottery. We will buy the ticket in that stall."
"That is kind of you but I do not gamble."
The farmer thought for a while and said, "Would you like to come to my house in the barrio?"
"Okay, I would really appreciate a good meal," answered the beggar enthusiastically.
"No, it is not about food, I just want to show my wife what happens to a man who does not smoke, drink and gamble."
(December 13, 2003 issue)
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