Social Class Encounter and Thoughts in Manila

Priscilla Angela Cruz
Ateneo de Manila

(This was a Facebook post from a friend, reposted here with permission.)


After last night's rant, a story to restore my faith in my own people and to remind me that there are many pockets of hope:

While I was biking to work today, I saw a sorbetero, an ice cream vendor, with his cart of what we refer to here as 'dirty ice cream'. We were both waiting at the traffic light and I noticed he was pushing the cart. I decided to strike up a conversation. He told me that he sells his ice cream at Quezon City Circle and that he has walked there with his cart every single day for 30 years. He told me it takes 45 to 50 minutes to push his cart, which was very neat-looking, and that he is proud to say that he sent all his kids to school through ice cream. He was also proud to talk about his grandchildren, who also get a share of his ice cream profits. I would have stayed longer to talk and I did so want to buy some ice cream from him. But the light changed and all the cars behind started angrily honking their horns so all I could manage was a hasty good bye. As I rode away, I briefly looked back to see him pushing the cart as he was crossing the busy intersection we were at. His voice floated to me, "thank you, ma'am!"

One problem with the Philippines is for many reasons, cultural, political, economic, historical, religious, etc., is that we are a highly stratified society. Social class permeates everything we do and the way we live. I think this problem has made it very difficult for us Filipinos to see other Filipinos as people. I realize that had I been in my car behind this very gentle ice cream vendor, I would have swallowed a bit of annoyance: how could he be pushing a cart in a terribly busy street? He would have slowed down traffic in this already horribly congested street. But on this morning, the cars behind us, I am sure, were thinking the same way about both of us. In that one moment, there was small solidarity, where we were both Filipinos with our own stories. Never mind that I saw all to strongly the fact that he had to push the cart while I was on my big and strong two wheels.

Then I thought, this guy has worked harder than I ever have yet he manages a smile and a thank you. Perhaps what is important is that we see people and not the road, not the vehicles, not the annoyance. If we, as a people, learn to do that to each other, then maybe our streets will get slightly better despite the systemic issues that plague this country.

I don't know, really, the problem with the ability to endure is the all too familiar effect in this country. We endure so much that everything stays bad.  But if maybe, just maybe, if we learn to see each other as Filipinos, we will be an even greater people.

And to visitors to the Philippines, enjoy us! Get some dirty ice cream, which isn't really dirty. I love the cheese and avocado flavors (yes, we have cheese ice cream). Dirty ice cream is sold in scoops of three. You can combine all the flavors you want.