Not good to rant, but I'll do it
anyway. An otherwise very lovely
afternoon at Megamall turned unpleasant with mendicants (beggars) who kept
cropping up left and right of us asking for alms. These were able bodied women,
who didn't the very least look like incapable of looking for jobs however menial
for as long as they can fend for themselves. Until I shook my head vigorously
would they leave.
Brings me back to one time I had
to go to Megamall's security office to file a report on my lost car keys. I had
to ask our driver to bring me our spare keys. I never found them, but the
experience was harrowing.
Imagine the security officer
throwing the books on a woman shoplifter -- slapping her with a wad of
newspaper, "ikaw na naman?"
Friday afternoon at this mall,
full and bustling and brisk business every square meter of it. You try to get a
first, second and third bite of a pastry - someone begs, what would you do? It was just as harrowing an experience and I, totally
unprepared to have been reminded of those below the poverty line.
I know I have much to be thankful for but really, being poor
and losing your dignity to beg is their choice, but not right to impose on
others. Megamall should do something
about this before it gets to be like Quiapo.
My coup de grace,
photo shown.
