私のささやかな幸せの時間は日曜日の朝、カワイイちゃんを近所のJollibeeへ連れて行き、ローカル新聞を読みながら安いコーヒーをすすること。
5年ほど前迄は朝のJollibeeで必ず見かけるのはコリアンだったが、今では圧倒的に日本人の若者グループを見かけるようになった。
私の前に並んでいた若者がこんなことを言った。
「なんでこのジョリビーが人気なんだろうね」
いい質問だが、これを明確にレポートするにはフィリピンの文化社会教育環境すべての見地から総合的に深く掘り下げる必要がある。
しかし、一つだけはっきりしているのは国民の8割を占める年収＄2800未満層をターゲット客にしている点だ。
ふと目が留まったコラム。
お父さんと息子の会話だ。
ざっとこんな感じだ。
いつも忙しくしている父親に息子が聞いた。
「とーちゃんの時給ナンボなん？」
すると父はイラっとしならがこう答えた。
「ぶっちゃけ500ペソだ。ていうかカンケーネーだろボケ」
息子は「じゃあ、300ペソ貸して」と父親に頼んだ。
すると父はイラつきながらこう言った。
「どうせお前しょうもない物買って部屋にこもって遊ぶつもりやろ。ホントにわがままな奴だ」
しかし、父親はちょっと言い過ぎたと反省した。ひょっとして大事なことに必要なんじゃないか。。。
息子の部屋へ行き、何に使うのか尋ねた。
すると息子は今持っている200ペソを見せながらこう言った。
「とーちゃんと過ごす時間を500ペソで買わせて！明日早く帰ってきて一緒に夕飯を食べようよ」
私もブログを書いている最中にカワイイちゃんが「パパ遊ぼう」と言ってくることがある。
今ちょっと忙しいからあとでねともう言わない。
ブログよりも子供が親との時間を切望する時間を共有するほうが何百倍も大事だ。
ところで、このお父さんの時給500ペソはかなり高給だ。
セブの庶民の場合、お父さんは働いていないか、たまに気が向いたときハバルハバルライダーをする感じ。
もしどこかの企業で働いて月給取りだったとしても日給にして350がいいところだ。
だから500ペソ払えばお父さんを24時間と7時間拘束することができる。
しかし、時間は幾ら払っても買えるものではない。
だからタンバイのお父さんはいつも息子と遊べて最高に幸せだ。
ぜひタンバイを目指そうと本気で思う日曜日の朝！
こちら良かったら応援クリック強めにお願いします！
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SPONSORED LINK
Father and Son Conversation
https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-lifestyle/2018/05/06/1812625/father-and-son-conversation
One day, the father was doing some work and his son came and asked, “Daddy, may I ask you a question?”
Father said, “Yeah sure, what it is?”
The son asked, “Dad, how much money do you make in an hour?”
Father got bit irked by the question and snapped, “That’s none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?”
“I just want to know. Please tell me, how much money do you make in an hour,” the son persisted.
The father softened and said, “I make P500 per hour.”
“Oh,” the little boy reacted, his head bent down. Then he looked up, “Dad, may I please borrow P300?”
The father got irked again and furiously replied, “If the only reason you asked about my earning is so that you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or other nonsense, then go to your room right now and go to bed! You are being so selfish. I work hard every day and do not deserve to be confronted with childish behavior.”
The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. The man sat down and started to get even more irritated by the little boy’s questions. “How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?” the man thought.
After about an hour or so, the father had calmed down and started to think, “Maybe there was something my son really needed to buy with that P300. He really didn’t ask for money very often.” The father approached the door of little boy’s room and very slowly opened the door. “Are you sleeping, son?” he asked softly.
“No daddy, I’m awake,” the boy replied.
“I’ve been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier,” said the father. “It’s been a long day, son, and I took out my aggravation on you… Here’s the P300 you asked for.”
The little boy sat straight up, smiling and yelled, “Oh, thank you, dad!” Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled some crumpled bills. Seeing that the boy already had money, the father started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, then looked up at his father.
“Why do you want money when you already have some?” the father grumbled.
“Because I thought I didn’t have enough… but now I’ve found out that I do have the amount,” the little boy replied. “Daddy I have P500 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.” Father was dumbfounded.
Moral: It’s a reminder for those who are working so hard in life. They should not let time slip through their fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to them, those close to their hearts. If a worker dies tomorrow, the company that he is working for could easily replace him in a matter of days. But the family and friends he leaves behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.
