by Ann Gumiran

While getting back to its feet from the wrath of the sleeping giant that spewed fear and ashes painting the whole city gray, the people are down on their knees again from another blow of a different adversity. The city that has just been slowly gaining its life back started to get its busy streets ghosted once again.

From drawing together and fighting hand in hand, the people of this town, along with everyone around the globe, are now combating in this war against the unseen enemy in an unlikely tactic at large. It is a war where to fight means wearing protective gear that doesn’t have to be bulletproof, maintaining a distance, and staying at the comfort of one’s safest haven—home. It is a war where privilege and resilience seem to be the greatest arms for survival that one can ever have.

After few months, the people started stepping out of the threshold, easing into a new norm. Some soles were just merely itching for a walk outside, but some were in dire need of making a living. Regardless, the once dense and packed areas were starting to be filled in, but only with a limited number of people mobilizing yet at a certain distance. Mandates are glaringly flashed and written all over—as ubiquitous as those men in ‘that’ uniform.

Then came that day when it was my turn, and I needed to step outside.

With an empty basket in need to be filled with the necessities and curiosity about what the outside world is like, I took a walk into one of those places with a one-way ticket out of my own privileged bubble and started to look past what my senses can actually perceive. That’s when I saw in flesh how a lot of Filipino people fought the situation well with resilience.

A lot of things that are indeed new and twistedly interesting unfolded right before my eyes through the dusty window shield of the car. As my eyes scanned the area to find an unoccupied parking space, a man in a horse carriage appeared. It is quite unusual yet refreshing to see one in this city. They are usually found at the attractions and theme parks outside of town, yet here they are, still serving their mortal gods to whatever purpose they may serve. Most people would not actually mind nor pay an attention when coming across with a man in a horse carriage in this city. However, come to think of it, that person chose not to lose the battle due to the inconvenience brought about by the adversity, especially in the urban areas. While some complain a lot about the inconvenience in the changes regarding the system, there are these people who would rather find a way to make their own situation better with their own white horses.

Mulling over the horse carriage for some time got me preoccupied enough until I found a perfect spot on which to park. After pulling over to the side, I headed to the building—quite curious about what my basket of curiosity would have to take.

As I walk along the wet and muddy aisles, I found resilient fighters of the third world in this war slumped at the corners—tired and weary but still putting up a cheerful mask to invite good luck.

“These people are up to gamble life for a living, and here they are, offering me, and everyone, the warmest smile they can give.”

Locking eyes with them as I walk in front of their stalls means a warm greeting—a genuine light in this situation and a reminder that good gestures, such as smiles, are free. Despite half of their faces being concealed by those masks, I could see on the wrinkles at the corner of their eyes how tired they were yet they still managed to pull off a genuine smile. Smiling back is the least that I can do. I’m telling you. It does a little magic—an instant wash of relief for the both of us, perhaps.

The sweat dripping on the side of their faces, their slouching shoulders, callouses and veins in their hands, the dirt stuck in their nails, or those wrinkles they got from getting their hands soaked for hours show how hard and tiring their day has been; yet, they were still truly altruistic with their smiles that are contagious.

That first drive to the market and a walk to its aisles after being locked down for quite some time brought me to some light and realizations.

No matter how hard the situation get, there would always be people who will bring us to its silver lining. Life seemed tough for some people in this trying times leaving themselves hopeless. Yet, here they are – the bamboos thriving and bending to life’s tempest.