Education is a privilege in a third world country like the Philippines. Because of how widespread poverty is in the country, not all parents can afford to send their children to school.
Fortunately, we have public schools here in the Philippines that offer free education. And that is where most poor families send their children.
But even though the tuition fee is free, most parents still cannot afford anything else, such as school allowance.
As a result, some kids get creative by thinking of something help them get some allowance.
On Facebook, netizen Jade De Luna share photos of a student she rode a jeepney with. The student was carrying a bunch of rags for sale.
However, what caught Jade’s attention was how the kid asked the jeepney driver if she could pay the fair by giving him rags instead.
Jade then narrates the conversation between the student and the jeepney driver.
Student: Manong! Magkano po yung pamasahe hanggang libis po? (Mister! How much is the fare to Libis?)
Driver: Otso (8 pesos)
Student: pwede po bang basahan na lang? (can i pay it with rags instead?)
Driver: Sige (Sure)
Male Passenger: Ay sige ako na sabay kuha ng pera sa bulsa (Let me, gets money from pocket)
Student: ay, salamat po! (oh, thank you!)
Driver: ay sige wag na. (oh, yeah, nevermind)
Student: salamat po! (thank you!)
Male Passenger: Magkano ba yang basahan? (How much are the rags?)
Student: Sampo lang po. (Just 10 pesos)
(Binigyan ng bente pesos ng lalaki) (The man gives the student 20 pesos)
Student: Wala po akong panukli (I dont have change)
Male Passenger: Sige iha, sayo na yan wag mo na ako suklian. (No, its okay. Keep it)
Student: salamat po! (thank you!)
Female Passenger: magkano yan ineng? (how much is that, girl?)
Student: sampo po. (10 pesos)
Female Passenger: O ito, sayo na yan Binigyan ng bente (Here, hands in 20 pesos)
After hearing their conversation, two other passengers offered to help the student. They also found out that the student goes to Tala High School in Caloocan City. Her parents are also selling rags for a living.
Many netizens felt sorry about the girl, and at the same time, admires her for working hard despite being a student.
