When I was young I often played with the toddlers in our
neighborhood. I often played the role of a teacher in a ‘titser-titseran’ game.
Whatever I learned from my teachers at school I taught my friends. Although
this is a child’s play, I still reflect on those memories with great fondness
because my simple effort to teach the children means a sign of responsibility
towards others. To me, the care to impart knowledge to out-of-school children
of my age is a sign of good citizenship. Earlier, it was my ambition that
someday I will be a teacher like my tita because I grew up with her family when
I was a child. As a child, I voluntarily donate old toys, used clothing & old
books to less fortunate children. Normally, it is difficult to convince children
from well-to-do families to give away their old things, but as a child, I can
easily understand that less fortunate children always dream that someday they
too can have these things for themselves. I got these qualities from my
parents. They are both caring and helpful parents and I grew up witnessing their
examples in caring and helping other people – especially those urgently in need
of help. It’s so easy to give money to someone in need, however, genuinely
attending and caring for them is a difficult task. My parents are always teaching
me to understand other people – those that need help and attention.
Recently, we have an old Dutch neighbor who had some problem with
his finances. He was not receiving his pension for the past 3 months. His
pension from Holland has stopped remitting funds to him for a while. He had nothing
to eat and had no companion for the past 3 months. He had lost a son few years
back due to lung cancer and his wife left him to work in Canada. I was very
worried about this old man. I asked my Papa to give him food and it had become
routine to us to make sure that he has some food to eat whenever we take our
meals. Aside from this, we kept him company whenever we have time. Loneliness
is a big factor of depression. Our neighbor admitted he is depressed. I
wouldn’t want to boast that being a friend of a poor & lonely foreigner is
a sign that you are a good citizen. However, I know deep inside me that we are
all citizens of this world and being a good citizen means that you help others
- whatever race they belong to. This act of kindness would also inspire them to
help others some day. Honestly, I also want others to help me too when I’m the
one in need.
