Edgardo H. Munsayac, SN# 2011-05683-mn-0LLB/ Advanced English Grammar

A Final Term Requirement in Advanced English Grammar

Poverty remains the most critical social problem that needs to be

addressed in the Philippines. That is why when Prof. Rimando talked about

marginalized members of our society as the subject of a paper that has to be

submitted as part of our subject’s final term requirement, the first thing that

came to my mind is the urban poor. That reminds me of my regular

customer in my retail business in Paranaque. His name is Arnulfo Santos, a

street rag vendor. He earns a living by selling rags to the jeepney drivers

and, at the same time, he collects used plastic bottles from the trash and

sells to a nearby junkshop. The sales from these commodities apparently

help them get by the grind of daily life.

As expected, Arnulfo is what we call illiterate, “no-read, no-write”,

never saw the light of day in a school. As a consequence, plying such items

is the only thing he was able to get himself into. I see him every day in the

location of my business. At first, I did not give him much attention. But that

does not stop me from giving him a little something every Christmas. And

that’s how I got to be acquainted with him and know more about him. And

thus the story of his life.

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He came from a broken family of 6 siblings, all boys. He is the third to

the eldest. His father left them when he was four. His mother works as a

part time “lavandera” and housekeeper.

Arnulfo wanted to study when he was young. But his mother said she

cannot send them to school as she had no money for the tuition, books,

school supplies and daily expenses. She said her income cannot even buy

enough food on their table. And so, Arnulfo helped in his own little way when

he was six. He went with his friends to collect and sell trash. And later, he

was able to meet somebody who introduced him to selling rags. He was

determined to earn to help feed his family and save money for his education.

Times are hard and so he barely had enough sales. He was not able to

save for his education. He then met a girl also selling rags and fell in love.

They got married when he was 19. Came their first child the year after, and

then another, and then another, and yet another, in short intervals. So they

had four in a span of 8 years.

Life became harsher, Arnulfo never realized his dream to study. And it

looks like he cannot send his children to school either. He continues to work

for his family and, with the help of his wife, they were able to make a day-to-

day sustenance. But the inflow is not enough for his dreams for his kids.

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I can see the hardship from every line on his face, the adversity from

the sunburned skin, and the regret in his eyes. He always murmurs if only

he was able to study, he could have a better source of income. If he can

send his children to school, his lot in life would improve. If only his children

can have a stable work after studying, their lives would be a lot better.

But he continues to persevere and dream and plan and hope. He says

those are the only things that keep his family going.

A short caption about the picture:

At first, when I mentioned about my plan of talking to Arnulfo and knowing

more of him as part of my school project, he was hesitant to give in to my

request. But finally, after breaking the ice which was followed by a no non-

sense conversation, he gave in to my request but with a condition that no

picture of him may be taken. However, I was really not that obedient,

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despite the cautions, I was able to take a stolen shot of him when we were

about to end the interview. He could not do anything but shake his head

when he learned I just took a shot of him while walking away after our

conversation.

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