(March 10, 2007)

7:20pm, Saturday. As I was waiting for a friend at the Carabao Park here in UP Los Banos, a sampaguita girl approached me and prodded me to buy sampaguita from her. Sure, sampaguita vendors are a common here in the university, but there was just something about this little girl.

As I grew more curious, I made use of my waiting time to interview the little girl. I was startled to know that she was only 5 years old; my thoughts then shifted to my 4 year old brother. I was simply saddened. A 5 year old girl was out in the streets, at night, selling sampaguita. As we continued on with our conversation, I also became aware that she did not know how to cross the streets and often resolved to run in order to get to the other side. A dangerous feat for such a little girl.

We talked for awhile and when she had to leave, I quikcly pulled out my laptop to write this down… *sigh*

I thought I was already fully aware of the realities of life. Yeah, maybe I am, but to actualt talk to someone about it and to really experience it is another thing. And now here I am, in front of my laptop trying to convey this chunk of feelings and emotions within me, hoping that something would happen. Hoping that, well, hoping….

STOP.

• Angeli
• 5 years old
• sampaguita vendor