Subscribe to Posts
Drop Us a LineFASTFOOD & RESTAURANTS: FREE MEALS ANYONE?
Viewed 1228 times, 1 so far today » 8 Comments » « previous article | next article »
One day, I had a late lunch in a popular fast-food chain here in the Philippines. I was tired after my morning class then in Centro Escolar University at Mendiola, Manila. I was hungry, and I needed food! I did not go into the fastfood chains near the university as they were full of hungry students, too. Walking a little bit further, I entered a not so full Jollibee restaurant. I made my choice, paid my order and went up the second floor to consume my meal. As I was eating, four little street urchins came up, maybe the guard was not at the door when they entered. They raided the left overs on vacated tables, perused the paper plates, nibbled on the chicken bones, swallowed quickly a lump of rice and quenched their thirsts by drinking the left over colas. It was a sight to behold. I was shocked. Regaining my com-posture, I called on one of the children .. and unbelievably, the reaction was to scamper down the stairs. But I called and asked them if they wanted to eat .. sheepishly, they came near me and said, “Yes”. Finishing my meal, I accompanied them to the counter. Trouble began when the guard came and accosted them. They took to the door and run. But, again, I said these are my guests and they should eat. The whole area was silent for a second. And the guard relented. They were really hungry! They asked for these or that orders, and I gladly obliged. I brought them to a table where they were seated and they began to eat. I was impressed, they have good manners, too. They paused and prayed and thanked God for the meal .. and they asked God to bless me,too, who gave them the meal. I was very touched. After their meal, I asked if they wanted to bring some food for their siblings, and I ended up buying some food again ..I was happy for the kids. At the door, the guard thanked me for what I had done to the children. And I joked that, next time, he should let in other children, too.
We don’t realize it but our left overs at the fast-food restaurants are free dinner for some people out there. There was once a Television Special about the “Pagpag Food” .. why pagpag? because they wait at the trash bins of every fast-food restaurants and search for food, shake it(pagpag) to remove other impurities, and bring the food home for the whole family to share. A late dinner for their families. We don’t see them, but they are very real people. So, the next time you go into a fast-food restaurant, think about the people who will be searching for leftovers when the restaurant is closing at night .. it will be a good habit to leave a fried chicken or two, also, for them. Some people are praying for a free dinner for their hungry families from the bins of any fast-food chain. They might thank God and pray also for us. Their prayers are heard by Him for “the Lord hears the cry of the poor”!
Wow!!! Amen! You’re right Fr. Jok. I can see God in that kids and in you. Magkaiba man tayo ng estado sa buhay, they are still our brothers and sisters too. I remember din poh, one time din pauwi na ako from office, i was really really really hungry kasi galing kaming event, Drop by muna ako sa isang store near our office and bumili ako ng noodles for take out kasi nagmamadali din ako that time, habang naghihintay ako ng masasakyan, binuksan ko yung binili kong food kinuha ang chopstick and i started eating, i dont care what will other people say sobrang gutom lang talaga ako, and then nakadalawang subo palang ako, may lumapit na batang babae and she was really crying holding her tummy and asking for my food…. i stopped for a while, pause for a while, gusto ko sanang sabihin pwedeng isang subo nalang? =) but then i end up giving my food and my juice to her. Naisip ko oo gutom nga ako, pero meron pa at marami pa ang mas gutom kesa sakin. I can buy another noodles if i want pero etong batang to, kelangan muna nyang maglibot sa makati, manghingi ng pera para lang makakain kahit noodles lang. Ok na sya. When i handed my food to her, kinuha nya yung chopstick, nilagay nya sa bulsa ng palda nya (at least hindi nya tinapon sa kalsada) =) at kinamay nya na yung noodles. Funny pa kasi nakalimutan nyang mag thank you, nakatalikod na sya palayo ng bigla syang tumigil sabay sabi, ate, ang sarap, bago sya nag thank you.. hehehe.. umuwi akong gutom parin pero happy. =)
Quote
Pwede ka na mag madre day rhina .. hahaha .. nice story!
Quote
Naku Fr. Jok, magugulo ang tahimik na buhay ng mga sisters pag pumasok ako… hehehehe… =) Baka dumating ang panahon sabihin nyo poh sa akin, “Rhina, imong gihugaw-hugawan ang redoble clan… ” hahahaha… jooooooook…… =) Bitaw pwede rin naman poh akong maging angel (wow!) in my own little way. hehehe…
Quote
pati buhay ng mga pari hahahahahaha
Quote
during my fastfood working days…me and my co-workers used to smuggle products that havent been sold during the day..we used to call it “waste”. The duty manager alawys made sure that we dont eat the waste products, may it be fried chicken or rice..but being deprived to eat such delicious fastfood products..me in cahoots with my coworkers, we smuggle the waste products clean and intact. we put them in a clean garbage bags, using 3 or more garbage bags to make sure it stays clean and put it inside the garbage bin. then afterwards eat them after working and give some to the poor kids in fuente. it went well for a few times until the duty manager finally found out about our modus operandi…after that, the manager made sure that he pour some soap on the waste products before throwing it away to ensure no one could eat them hehehe
such a waste…
Quote
ooooh….. tsk! tsk! tsk!… sayang nga… =(
Quote
Korek!!!! clap! clap! clap!.. =) Magugulo talaga poh.. baka ipadala na ako sa planet mars.. hahahahaha…
Quote
Gooooooooooooood Morning everyone!!! =)
Quote