I sat inside and since I was still full, I enjoyed looking at the lights and the people siting at the city park which is just located in front of the said Jollibee store. My attention was diverted to a boy outside who was looking at all the eaters inside. I thought he was a beggar, since most cities in Philippines have beggars in the streets or outside the malls, restos, etc. It's "-ber" month and usually Badjaos go to the streets and beg for money or food. But the boy didn't look like a Badjao. Then I noticed that he went inside and stood at my back, since I was sitting near the entrance. So I turned my head and saw him looking at the pictures of the food above the counter. The security guard did not reprimand him because I was already talking to him when he saw the boy inside. I asked him if he had already eaten his dinner and he answered that he will eat when he's home. But that was already past 10 in the evening. I asked him what is he doing and he said he shines shoes. He further said that the security guards at the nearby Fitmart Mall are his clients. I was happy to hear it and asked him laughing why did he not shine the Jollibee's security guard's shoes. The boy said that the security guard does not want his shoes shined. The guard was smiling to me when he heard that. A pair of shoes only costs P10. That day the boy had already shined 4 pairs.
I asked him if he is hungry but he said he will eat at home. Considering he was looking at the food pictures and the time, I asked him if he wanted to eat and he nodded. I knew he was hungry. I told him to go to the faucet to wash his hands first. After few minutes he came back and still with dirty hands. He told me that the faucet was not functioning. So he went out and looked for water to wash his hands. Later I discovered that he just didn't know how to use the faucet - it was a "push style" faucet and not a "twist style." The crew just laughed.
I gave him P100 and instructed to go to the counter and point whatever he wants to eat, and go back to me if the amount I gave is lacking. The crews were looking at me. I wanted to test the crews too if they will entertain a dirty-looking boy. But maybe because I was there, they did. He came to my table with 1 pc. chicken barbeque, 1 cup rice and L cup of Coke. He still had a P1 extra which I told him to keep. He started eating, holding the plastic spoon and fork awkwardly. I asked him if it was his first time to eat at Jollibee, and he nodded. I remember an advertisement that the next word uttered by a baby after "mama & papa" is "Ja--bee." But this 10 year old boy had never been eaten at Jollibee.
I noticed that he already had eaten a quarter of chicken barbeque but never touched the rice. I asked if he doesn't eat rice, and he answered where is the rice. I told him that the one wrapped with a paper is rice. He just smiled because he didn't know that it was rice. It's a discovery on his part that evening.
While he was eating, I told him that what he is doing is good. I mean the shoeshine job. I also told him that he should not steal or beg, but work in order to have money. I also told him not to be shy to approach people for shoeshine, because it is a good job. I asked him about his family. His name is Abdul and his mother is a Muslim. He told me that his father is a drunkard, that he is the 5th child among 7 and that his teacher in school dropped him for always absent from class. I asked why and he said it's because he needs to shine shoes to help the family buy food. I appreciate what he is doing.
The following day, Sunday, after our church service, I thought of eating lunch at same Jollibee store just to see him and invite him for lunch as well, but the boy was not there that time. I still hope to meet him again and be able to to become a Channel of Hope to one hungry child.
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