Sunday, March 02, 2008 Luab: A taste for better things By Evelyn R. Luab light sunday
WE have come a long way from the time of Juan Dela Cruz and Maria. Clara.
We are no longer at home in the farm planting bananas, sweet potatoes and other root crops for food. We don’t even want to grind our own harvest of corn the old fashioned way. We prefer to go to a rice mill. Is there anything wrong with that? Of course not! We are allowed to improve ourselves, to dream and to produce results.
When does keeping up with the Jones’ family become bad? When one has to borrow, beg or steal in order to buy a TV set, a gas range, a washing machine etc. or when one has to badger one’s parents to buy these appliances even when their parents are barely getting along too.
I often go to the malls. Because I give treats to my grandchildren to joy rides, I over hear things!
One parent told his daughter. “Just two rides. I can buy you a P6 ticket and a P30 ticket. After that, Daddy’s money is for food and school. Is that okay with you?” The little girl must have been properly trained at home with the correct values because she said, “Yes”
Another mother was quarreling with her husband who kept on insisting that their three kids just take one train ride. He said P90, if doubled, would be too much to spend and they still have to eat lunch. The wife’s angry, shrill tone reached me as she snorted: “You can drink several bottles of beer and you cannot give your kids to another ride?”
As I walked away, I pictured bottles of beer versus train rides.
Our employees go home on weekends. Being naturally curious, I asked them what they do for recreation at home.
Some told me that the pasalubong (the gifts they bring home) of pancit canton with fried rice, or the cheap toys or the biscuits and candies or even just sweet bread is already appreciated. They have a feast Saturday night.
On Sunday they go to Holy Mass with their family. They go to the local town market for the week’s provision and they just wander around the town’s plaza.
On special occasions, they go for a swim at the beach. Outside Cebu City, about 150 kms. away, there are no entrance fees yet to the beaches By the time they go home, they are tired and contented.
It helps when the boss of a company exposes the employees to frugality, and to simplicity, to what is important in a person’s life. Peace, contentment and a strong family bond are focused on. While it is true that the minimum wage is still far beyond what we would want it to be, a good number of our employees are able to make do—even those who have more than two kids.
Education in public schools is still affordable. Parents have learned to buy in bulk—biscuits for baon (school allowance)—and as long as they do not allow envy and greed to crawl under their skins, they are safe. What about a taste for better clothes? They tell me with a grin as they point to their shirt or blouse. “Ukayukay (used clothing) man ni, ma’am.” Normally, if they get it inCarbon market, it comes out as cheap as P25 or P30.
Again, with a chuckle, they add: “Depende man lang na, ma’am, sa mosul-ob!” (It depends on how one wears his clothes!) Sometimes my eyes get big in wonder. I see labels such as Ann Taylor, Espirit, or Mark & Spencer.
The resiliency of the Filipino is great. We really are still a good people. It is only when people are bitten by the lure of riches and more riches that we go wrong.
There is absolutely nothing wrong in acquiring a better taste for things—provided you budget, you don’t overspend, your priorities are right, and envy and greed are not a part of your lifestyle.
We pray that one day the “other” Filipino will wake up and realize that pride and greed are partners of destruction.
