Real Life
People Watching
THURSDAY is my favorite day of the week. I went out and found myself sitting alone in a coffee garden at the top of Trinoma in Quezon City. It was an overcast morning, also humid. I’m not a huge fan of designer coffee by the way, but the apple pie looked good so I got a slice that went well with a tall glass of lemon juice. Armed with my Corby, my iPod and my old laptop, I thought I’ll be good to finish writing some articles. When I opened my laptop to start typing no words came out. Okay, this might be one of my stick-in-the-mud-days, I told myself. I let loose, closed the laptop, heaved a sigh and listened to Lenny Kravitz.
I sat thinking about the life I’m living and smiled at what the future might bring while watching people crisscrossing in front of me—rushing here and there. Some looked tired and sad, eager and excited, worried, bored, distracted.
Trying to gauge the purpose of their presence in the mall from the way their bodies spoke or the expressions on their faces and the way they dressed. It was an interesting game to while away time at coffee shops waiting for ideas to pop. With the peso gaining ground and Christmas just around the corner, more and more people are heading out to the malls for a headstart in Christmas shopping. Some checked out new gadgets or simply chilled out—- not minding at all the threat of terrorist attacks adding gloom to Metro Manila these days, aside from the weather.
I tried to spot those that I thought were eager to splurge their 13th month pay on sale items for presents for both self and others. A “tweenager” embarked on her shopping experience with barkada for fancy shoes, bags or perfect get up for show off? Or someone who is shopping to run away from stress or personal problems for a while maybe?
I also saw women next table in elegant coiffed, professionally packaged suits with 4-inch stilhettos carrying their laptops and brief cases while puffing their “ladies cigarettes” carefully resting between long fingers bearing well polished nails. They may be waiting for their clients to come and certainly hope to ink a contract at the end of the meeting. I giggled to myself as I dared psych up a thought who in their group is the naughtiest —- ready to strip off the power suit in wild abandon as soon as she closes the door to her tryst with her lover as a celebration of a job well done.
And I looked at this band of boisterous teenagers in short, preppy dresses stirring the air with their rowdy laughter and loud banter while each had iPod earphones stuffed on their ears. Others played PSP, others tapping their laptops, logged to to Facebook or Twitter, yet they call it conversation. Then, I felt a little jealous of their carefree enthusiasm.
And how about these well-toned, muscled young guys that seemed to march more than glide carrying Fitness First duffel bags with their Navy Seal’s bearing ready to dive at first sign of danger. Except that in reality, they may scream first before jumping and will start running away from danger like little girls. In today’s definition of “macho” one can also be gay and happy.
Then there was this lady in tangerine blouse. Her chiseled nose, pouty lips ala Angeline Jolie says she’s in her mid-30’s but with her white hair she suddenly looked 50. Women, I believe are licensed to play with hair coloring. The likes of Cindy Lauper in the 80’s revolutionized multi-color hair style that set the trend to this day—the thing we call “highlights”. It’s never a crime to dye your hair. It’s fun. It’s liberating.
People in the mall are no different from people in the park or the airport or in wet markets, schools and offices. They come in all shapes and sizes, characters and traits, moods and habits, beliefs and principles, politics and religion. In hindsight, I love to remind myself that with so much variety, I can only surmise that one thing is sure—there is so much good in every one.
It maybe easier or harder to find in others but there is so much good in our hearts, as there maybe evil in the minds of a few. From my perspective, watching how different we all are, it is so reassuring that what we have in common is the opportunity to live the life we borrowed in ways we wanted it to be and be responsible for it.
Announcement: workshops@ibapa will culminate Life Conferences Workshops-Seminar for teachers and students in “Mentoring Tour 11” starting January 2011. Registration is free. Email:dm.palisada@gmail.com.