For Education

I have weird tendencies when it comes to note-taking, I rely on blue ink for highlighting passages and heading when I read, then just black ink for writing notes.

So when I left my pens at home, I couldn't face the end of it because my brain kept nagging me to get what I needed.

So while falling in line to pay for my pens, an elderly man in front of me was carrying about 20 thin, cheap notebooks and two pencils. There were no rulers or erasers, not even crayons- just 20 thin notebooks and a couple of pencils. I figured he was buying two of his grandchildren these school supplies.

He had a 100-peso bill in his hand and the cashier said the total is Php 120- he reached for 20 pesos. He searched his pockets for an elusive 20 peso bill, it took him a good five minutes until he finally found a bill deep in his pockets where his loose change sat. After a good search, he produced it, paid and went on his way.

If he hadn’t found the missing 20, I was willing to reach out to him. But he was proud enough to pay for all these goods himself.

From a distance, he had a weathered face, wore old clothes and wore only slippers. But his gait was that of a proud man having been able to bring home 20 notebooks and 2 pencils for eager students. For education.