At the age of 81, Jacinta “Sinta” Balagtas has one simple wish on Mother’s Day.
“Gusto ko lang ng maayos na kariton para makabenta ako at para masuportahan ko pa ang anak ko,” said Balagtas who sells vegetables and “nilupak” (pound cassava) to support her 57-year-old blind daughter Kristina.
Kristina became blind after being afflicted with measles when she was young, according to Sinta who lost her husband to pneumonia 13 years ago.
Mother and daughter live in a small, makeshift house in Barangay Tangos South in Navotas.
Her four other children have their own families to fend for in the provinces. “Hindi na ako nanghihingi ng tulong sa kanila kasi alam kong wala rin naman sila. Tanggap ko naman na ang sitwasyon namin, kaya hindi na dapat ako dumaing,” Sinta said.
At 3:30 a.m. every day, Sinta would take a 30-minute jeepney ride to Divisoria to buy cassavas or assorted vegetables.
She would bring home 15 kilos of cassava which she would pound to make “nilupak”. She would buy vegetables if the price of cassava goes up.
From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sinta would endure the searing heat and walk around the neighborhood to sell “nilupak”.
“Minsan, kapag paubos na, binibigay ko na sa mababang halaga para lang agad mabenta,” she said.
On the average, Sinta said she earns P1,300, P1,100 of which will go to the “5-6” lender. “Kapag ‘di ko nabalik ang inutang ko sa loob ng isang araw, ‘di na ako papahiramin,” she said.
Sinta recalls an incident when she jumped out of the jeepney after gunmen announced a holdup. She suffered a bone fracture but the injury did not stop her from still going about her business.
Sinta said her daughter needs her. “Dahil hanggat nabubuhay ako, hindi ko s’ya papabayaan… Ako ang magsisilbing liwanag para sa kanya…Tutulungan ko sya,” she vowed.
Sinta’s story is not uncommon in a country where poverty persists despite the high growth rate.
When Filipinos go to polls on Monday, Sinta and the other people with similar predicaments are hoping that the next batch of leaders would make their lives a little better. (Joseph Pedrajas)