The real essence of Bajau's water village is hidden somewhere in the heart of every villager. Though it is mostly advertised as a foreign destination, the place only shows its beauty extrinsically. But within lies a different world - a beauty far from what we could actually see and imagine. I've been there and experienced the mundane reality with these "laut" people.
It was After all a Wonderful Day!
I woke up on the other side of the bed that morning when someone from
my past started to ruin my trip.
Suddenly, I realized that I should not let a whoever bygone passed my
day by with a frown. At the same time, since I was totally exhausted from those
exchange of words, my physiologic clock began to tick which told me that I
hadn't had my breakfast and lunch.
I began searching for food in my hostel's fridge and settled with
fruits. However, I was still feeling less contented because of the bugging
indigestion problem so, I roamed around the small town to look for something
edible.
 |
| "The hostel where I stayed is just opposite of this river bank." |
Voila! I ordered a KFC Pocketloader combo meal. However, my food trip
got a twisted story.
These "Laut" People
It brought me to a place where a lot of unfed mouths were seen living
in dilapidated houses. Having stayed in a week in the Federal Territory of
Labuan, I opened my eyes to such shameful truth - these hungry-mouths are my
Kababayans, my fellow Filipinos. I have also seen this kind of situation in my
place but it breaks my heart to see these people in a foreign land struggling
to survive of what little they have and could have - uneducated, illiterate,
starving and working in a lowly job.
 |
| "This is a usual scene." |
Going back to my KFC snacks, I gave that KFC Pocketloader to a kid
looking at me. I bet she had never eaten the kind of food I am enjoying at home
and in fancy, high-end restaurants.
 |
| "Enjoying dinner with the Badgao Family: |
 |
| "Aftie break be like..." |
In return, I was humbly served dinner with what they call a combo meal
- a seaweed salad, a fried fish and fish in vinegar sauce! I enjoyed it so much
eating by hand and squatting on the floor! It was a sumptuous meal and a hearty
one!
 |
| "I lose to these kids..." |
I ended up crying inside - these people are so kind. They have the
means to enjoy themselves even how difficult life is. Just so I had the tour
around the water village, kids were playing a famous Filipino game - TAK-SI!
(Coins were placed inside a square drawn on the ground and players toss another
coin hitting the cent outside the box.) They also enjoyed sliding down from a
high-place sandy land with their wooden planks. They had fun playing their own
version of soccer and volleyball! Living in a place that is somewhat
unimaginable and hard, they still find the joys of living!
 |
| "Ordinary scene..." |
Back in the Mainland
Back in the mainland, I joined my Chinese friends. These rich people
could never understand me. I was even told that these "Bajaus" bring
shame to their country. It pierced my heart that I wanted to defend these
people from the insults and misnomers they received.
 |
| "I may no longer remember your names but for sure, you gave me a great lesson which I carried these days." |
Anyway, I have seen the different faces of a coin and each side has a
picture of it. I had heard both sides and experienced both. Once the coin is
flipped, it is the side that stays within the game.
 |
| "It still is a wonderful world..." |
Life then is a battle for survival however, it is not defined by money
alone but rather it is defined by happiness and contentment. I am not rich. I don't even fancy myself to become one. But, I am
thankful that somehow, I was given an opportunity to flip both sides of life
and experienced its sweetness and bitterness.
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