Traveled to Manila to attend a close friends wedding, I was there for the weekend. We attended the wedding and the party and it was awesome. I am back in my own country, it is not my hometown though. I didn't come home to Cebu, I am in Manila for the weekend. This is not the first time I traveled to Manila, my first time was during the World Youth Day conference when Pope John Paul II came to visit. Few other times for vacation and the longest time probably was when I got assigned to stay there more than a month for a Project.I have a lot of good friends that are from Manila, so whenever I come visit, I always travel along with my covenant sister Ami. Now, situation called for me to travel by myself from Ibarra to Makati to visit a family member. Probably for everyone I know who are from this side of the country, they would say it's easy, true. But for me, it felt like the toughest challenge because I know nothing there and commuting thru taxi will be a great scare. 730pm, it started to be dark. They hailed a cab for me, gave the instructions to the cab driver where to send me. I am expected to arrive within 30 mins minus the traffic.
Whew okay, Inside the cab. I started to get scared but held on to my composure. Here we go. My Heart started racing like crazy. I have traveled quite a few countries alone, strangest places, unknown people, unexplored locations, only depending on maps and tourist guides online. I never felt scared traveling by myself nor thought of anything negative about my travel. This time it is different. This is my country, how could one be scared? But my heart would just not stop pumping so hard and I felt uneasy. That's the thing when you see too many things in the news and on tv, it feeds you FEAR. My mind couldn't just stop thinking where the driver will end up taking me, thoughts of being ganged up, that the taxi driver will spray something on the cab air conditioning to make me faint, someone will just shoot me dead randomly. Too many things you see on the news and on television. The taxi driver then started a conversation, I kept avoiding, I pretended to be busy. Just saying as small answers to questions, as I tried to keep my accent. I am not a native Tagalog speaker which means I would speak more English than Tagalog. I tried to mimic how usual Tagalogs talk to act as natural as possible, not a stranger to my own country. All I could do inside the cab, is pray. To pray for my own safety, pray that the driver will be nice, pray that everything will be fine. I arrived safely at the destination and if you could just imagine how many times I thanked the driver for taking care of me. I was happy. Visited my Aunt who is admitted at the hospital for Cancer. They also do not live in Manila, they were also just staying at the hotel. I then said goodnight and then faced the trial of traveling again to the hotel when they told me they will stay in the hospital. I was told the hotel is another 30 mins away. When you are too used to taxi cab commuting in Singapore, we all know A to B isn't complicated and it doesn't matter what time it is, dawn or broad daylight, your safety is guaranteed. Now, part 2, is to take cab to go hotel. At the hospital, I waited in line, I told the Security guard to talk to the driver for me and give him the details of the hotel. I was scared to talk to the taxi driver cause I was scared he will find out I am not local. Then the driver and me traveled 11 in the evening. The hotel is in United Nations avenue. We drove past unknown dark places and I kept praying. Then my heart started getting scared again, when the taxi driver started driving to very narrow unlighted roads. Out of nowhere, the cab suddenly stopped, he stopped in a non lit street. I looked around and it seems like we were surrounded by container vans, some pier or port. I checked my phone, the battery just died on me! I carried 2 phones, 1 Iphone that is my main number and 1 other phone that is just meant for calls, they told me it is the decoy if someone tries to steal or rob you, that is the phone to just give. Both of the phones, dead. No power. He stopped in a dark alley and spoke, "I don't think I remember the hotel address. What is the address again of the hotel?" OMG! I could have died inside but tried to act as composed as I could possibly be. My head is all screaming and looking for possible plans to do next. I said the address and the driver said he is lost. Oh Lord, I wanted to faint of the news, but I had to keep composed. He stopped and just stared at empty space, thinking. Then he turned to me and just stared at me, looking at me straight in the eyes. Silence. Awkward silence. I wanted to cry. No gps. No maps on iPhone. I felt helpless. There is nothing left for me to do. I can imagine it's funny for some people that I started to take my passport, my IDs, my cards and my phone. I was ready to run just in case he attempts to do something. In my head, "Lord, please keep me safe. My security is always at your hands." I prayed so hard in the cab, I prayed so hard that I suddenly raised my hand towards the drivers seat. I prayed for the driver, I placed my hand near his face and prayed over him. He might think this is weird woman, but I needed to do what I gotta do to live. I kept telling myself, "God, not this way. I do not want to die like this. Please, not like this." Then the driver started talking to me, he said, "Sorry Mam, I think I remember now, I know the way now." He started to drive again I still could not breathe almost. I reached the hotel safe and sound, I thanked the driver for everything and gave him 3 times more than the fare. He told me I gave him too much, I told him, "that you for keeping me safe. Stay good always and take care." He looked at me like I am weird! Fear, when it is there, it eats you and feeds your mind, fear of violence, aggression and bad people. It stops you and steals your happiness and security. I prayed over and over about it. I went to the hotel room and cried, I needed to let all that fear go and not emotionally blackmail me. I went to sleep in peace and woke up today happy. Even until now, I think about that night. I am thankful always. There will always be GOOD in this world, but we need to PRAY harder for people.
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Whenever I see the New York City police officers walking around the World Trade Center train station in the morning, I sometimes expect they will make a big deal out of it. Yeah, I have a pack of chewing gum in my bag, that makes me feel edgy like it's illegal to carry.
You know you have lived in Singapore for a long time in the past when you catch yourself skipping a heartbeat to the sight of a chewing gum! Someone offers it to you, you face lit up and you start acting like you have never had one in ages, secretly opening it, mastering how to put it in your mouth swiftly like a ninja, then chew it discretely with this cute little guilt feeling the whole time. By the time you are done, you would never want to throw it unless you got tissue paper, you walk all the way to the trash can and dispose of it like getting rid of some evidence on a crime scene. In case you are not aware, there is a ban on importing chewing gum into Singapore which is strictly enforced. Under the rule, no gum is allowed to be bought or sold inside Singapore and there is a $700 fine for spitting out gum on the streets. As a law abiding person, of course, you follow the rules so whenever my colleagues that are from Malaysia, it never fails to still give a scare. It started one fateful morning, baptism of my younger brother. I wore blue and I was standing in those kneeling boards you get in front of you in your traditional seats in church. She was in front of us, she kept looking at me instead of concentrating on the mass. I presumed she is about 4 yrs older than me, she kept sticking her tongue out trying to annoy me. I tried to hold on to my composure, I knew the importance of patience back then. She never stopped trying to make a fight, well, that’s how it was conveyed to me, sticking her tongue out at me placing each hand on her ears waving it back and forth, making rabbit ears. I looked at my Mommy, she was busy carrying the baby, I wanted to escalate but then again, I have always wanted to manage things on my own. I felt like I got everything in control and I can handle it like a big girl. At an early age, I remember praying, “Lord she hurt my feelings, I don’t want to be angry.” We were in church, in front of the altar so I knew what would make God mad at me. At this point, the godparents are lighting their candles to do their prayers for the baby.
Next thing heard in the whole church was a loud cry, a commotion, screaming and a woman splashed water on fire. The girl was crying and her Mom started to walk towards us, “Who burned your hair?” The crying girl pointed towards me and I was shocked myself, I was shocked that she called me out for doing that to her. All eyes shifted to this little girl, wide eyed trying to look around wondering what happened. I tried to give mommy my usual puppy eyes, she was trying to defend me which is her first motherly instinct to protect me. I tried to communicate my justification, she asked me: “Did you burn her hair Honey?” I nodded, “Yes, I’m sorry.” Honesty is the best policy, I gave Mommy the candle in my hand. I was 3 years old, I remember that exact moment and in my head, all I could think of was, “How did she know it was me? And I did not try to burn her hair, I only tried to light up her veil.” |
EmilyAnderson
And now these three remain: FAITH HOPE LOVE. But the greatest of these is LOVE. I LOVE to write, about LIFE, LOVE, PEOPLE, EXPERIENCE, day to day life and INSIGHTS. I love to Travel. I travel a lot, I create Video blogs on my travel as well as I write about experience, culture, highlights and knowledge. May this site serve you well. I will be open for comments and suggestions, as well as topics I could write about. Thank you very much. Archives
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