The Other Side of the Street

For most students, today marks the start of their long-awaited semester break where they can spend most of their time whether at home or any other place without having to worry about school.

For others, however, a long, unproductive week has passed and perhaps cut short for them. But, everything is the same for me since I spent most of this "break" at school.

Today was no different from the other days. Except that it is raining.

So, as I thought that we had some sort of meeting in school, I went only to find out that it was cancelled because there is a typhoon today. Reasonable enough I guess.

Anyway, I decided to go home. I started walking along the Padre Faura Street on the side of the Supreme Court. I usually walked along the other side but this time, I decided to change it up a bit. Then it took a turn of events.

As I neared Robinson's, a guy came up to me asking for some money. He was probably in his late teens or early twenties and he was wearing a loose, black shirt and blue maong shorts.

He literally looked the typical gangster member who was set out to steal some money off a kid walking alone in the street. But I wasn't alone.

At that moment I thought that it was a syndicate and with that, I quickened my pace. Then he placed his arm around my shoulders and he started monologuing. Seriously, I did not pay any attention to what he was saying because I was already thinking of some way to escape him.

I also saw another guy who was following closely behind him which convinced me that this was some modus operandi and I can feel my heart pumping gallons of blood. It was fight or flight.

I tried many times to buzz him off and to get rid of his arm around my neck but that guy was persistent. The normal, "I don't talk to strangers" would not work with this guy. He really wanted to get some money but then I blurted, "I don't have any money" and by then, he stopped.

I walked straight ahead as quickly as I can. I actually thought of going inside Robinsons but at that point, I just wanted to go home.

To tell you the truth, after I said that to him and finally removed his hand from my shoulder, I was waiting for him to stab me or to shoot me but thankfully he did not and he did not try to pursue me any more.

I looked over my shoulder and saw that he wasn't following which was a relief. But to think that he could have injured me right there and then, it was very terrifying. I am so thankful to God that I wasn't hurt or anything.

I was close to giving him some money but I shrug that thought off my head because he might actually steal my wallet as I get the money. I did not want to take that risk.

The next time I meet that guy or when some random person goes up to me, asking for some money, I would be prepared.

Poverty has definitely stricken the urban communities in the Philippines the most. Every day, as I go to school, I see many people sleeping on the sidewalk or under the railway or on the street. Beggars wander in the streets hoping to get a few coins in their small, plastic cups or tattered clothing.

Little children, bare and helpless, run around the pavement - their only source of enjoyment - waiting for who-knows-what to happen. Then they will soon realize the cruelty of the world they live in and they have to toughen themselves up to survive.

Hunger and thirst force them to commit crimes. It is a pity that they have to resort to such acts but what else can they do? They have no other choice. It is either they do it to live for another day or they will just die.

My experience has definitely taught me a lot. For one, always be vigilant. You don't know what can happen. I don't know what other implications there are but hopefully the government will address the problems of our society. I don't want to live my life in fear.

Wouldn't it be great to live in a crime-free country? No constant threats or dangers to your life. Remember that it all starts with each one of us.