25/12/2025
I know I should keep this to myself, but this moment is worth sharing because it truly made my Christmas complete.
While galatag ko around 6 PM on December 23, I noticed tatay sitting on the ground, eyes closed, head leaning against a post, mouth slightly open while holding his ice cream bell. Beside him was his ice cream box. I kept glancing at him bisag naa koy customers gina-entertain, kay dili jud ko mahimutang. Something didn’t feel right.
Eventually, I told my sister what I saw, and siya pud nabalaka para ni tatay. Gisugo nako akong manghud nga pangutan-on siya kung nagkaon na ba siya. Pero pareha mi nga mauwaw kay natulog si tatay, and klaro kaayo sa iyang kahimtang nga gikapoy jud siya.
After a while, nikuha kog tiyempo nga momata siya. I approached him and asked if nagkaon na ba siya. His response made my heart ache. Non-verbatim, he said, “Nipahuway ra ko diri dai kay gikan pa ko sa Sangat unya giduka ko.” Idk, if iyang gilakaw ang Sangat padung Carcar City Hall nga layu-layu jud ra ba, around 7km ang gilay-on.
I asked him again if nakaon na ba siya. He replied, “Sige ra inday, muadto ra ko dira,” while pointing at the tempura/fishball stalls.
I told tatay nga palitan nako siyag pagkaon, and I saw him smile, klaro kaayo kung unsa siya ka-thankful. 🥺 Gipabantay nako akong manghud sa akong tinda, then nipalit dayon ko ug pagkaon. While buying, I felt at ease knowing nga makakaon na jud si tatay.
Pagbalik nako, gipukaw nako si tatay and gihatag ang pagkaon. I even asked him if okay ra ba ang baboy kay basin dili pwede huhu but he said okay ra daw. He thanked me again and started eating. My sister suggested nga palitan siya ug tubig, so mao to gipalitan sa akong manghud.
Knowing nga nagkaon na siya, nibalik na ko ug entertain sa akong customers. Later on, naay nikalit ug duol nako—si tatay diay, nagdala na usab sa iyang ice cream box. He smiled and said, “Salamat, Inday.” I smiled back and replied, “Welcome, ’tay. Amping.”
Then nibalik na usab siya'g panuroy ug dirty ice cream while ringing his ice cream bell.
This moment reminded me that kindness doesn’t have to be big. Sometimes, it’s just noticing someone and choosing to care. We never really know what others are going through, but even a small act can mean so much. That night, I thought I was just helping someone, but he helped me too, he reminded me what Christmas is really about.
