The kindest gesture anyone has shown me involved a bag of chips, a loaf of bread, and a carton of chocolate milk. (Forgive me if I’ve blogged about this before– in any case, it bears repeating.)
Ateneo, 2002. Just like any other college student living away from home and living on his parents’ allowance, I was on a very strict (i.e., forced) diet. More often than not, I find myself prematurely spending all my allowance before the week ended (that extra order of egg from Tapa King and that seemingly cheap Jollibee sundae cone could really spell the difference). No problemo. There’s a reason why God created pancit canton, and there’s a reason why the most popular brand is called “Lucky Me.”
That particular week in June, however, not even those heaven-sent greasy noodles could save me from hunger. I was utterly and despicably broke. But while it was a sad situation to be in, it wasn’t entirely alien. I could always skip a few meals and sleep the hours off.
Enter Jeland Omer Lorenzo Pormentilla, 4th year student of Legal Management in the Ateneo, who at that time was virtually a stranger hanging out with people far removed from his generation.
He asked me about my lunch plans. Small talk, definitely.
“Pass. I’m skipping lunch,” I said.
“Why?! Tara, let’s eat!” Jeland countered. Years later, he’ll still be countering me.
“Walang pera e,” I told him. I was perhaps being too open about my poverty, but what the hell– we’re both college students anyway, and I wasn’t really expecting anything.
“WHAAAAAT?!?” The reaction was surprised; the reaction was surprising.
I don’t remember how I reacted or what happened immediately after, but when he returned, he came bearing gifts: a bag of V-Cut, a loaf of Gardenia, and a carton of Moby Chocolate Drink. All for me. He explained that it was so weird knowing one of his friends wasn’t eating because he or she didn’t have any money. He himself have not skipped a meal despite a meager weekly allowance.
I was stunned by this gesture of kindness, and the knee-jerk reaction from which it emanated. At that moment, my life stood still, took an indelible snapshot that etched itself in my mind and in my heart, then began careering toward a future I was not able to foresee.