The Woman Next Door...
Nowadays, most people tend to think solely of themselves and their own families. They do not mind other's business as they do not want others to meddle into their little worlds. I call this as individualism brought about by Western influence. This is usually seen in urbanized areas where no one does not know his or her neighbor's name, and worse, do not even care to know. But this precept is not practiced by everyone as one of our neighbors has proven.
I have lived in the barrio for most of my earlier years. In our small barangay, almost everyone knows his fellow villagers. We know the names and the kind of work our neighbors have. We could just peep into their homes without being probed as thieves or gossipers. What is best and the most prized value people share in the village is the "Bayanihan" system and hospitality. When someone butchers his rooster r native pig, he would invite his immediate neighbor to share with his blessings. I think this is also the reason why there is not even one mendicant in the far flung areas. Every person takes responsibility of others. When one is incapacitated, you do not see him go hungry but you will be counting heads to come and look for him. They don't only bring themselves, but foods for the ll neighbor too.
When my father lost his job in 1992, we were forced to leave our first home and moved in Camp 6, Tuba, Benguet. We stayed there for five years. During this time,we have come to get close with one of our neighbors. She has been nice to us even when we just transferred there.
Aunt Gloria was a plain housewife who used to look over her kids as her husband worked abroad. Because our parents were always out for work, she always comes to our house to oversee us and share stories. She often encouraged us to study well and reminded us to be responsible to take care of ourselves. She also has not ceased to advise us to respect our parents as we are the reasons why they really work hard.
Every time her husband comes home for vacation, she would always invite us and give some products as her husband's pasalubong. Added to this is her warm invitation to have a taste of her self-cooked snacks.
The moment I thought that she is so good to us that she shown us another thing that makes her the best "woman next door" that I could have ever known.We are biologically related to her but she treated us like one.
May the likes of Auntie Gloria multiply; a kind-hearted person who is not hesitant to help no matter who she is and what her status in life is.
To Galacyan family, gracias...