this curious boy went to the other side of the lot where there were a group of women of different ages cutting and burning dead weeds. The locals greeted him with the most genuine smiles he’s ever received in his life. They even offered him coffee and the sweet potatoes they were having as merienda.

“Sir, kain po! Pasensya na eto lang po kinakain namin dito.”

“Paborito ko po ito! Salamat po.” He couldn’t help but notice all the giggles and laughs he could hear in the background. “Grabe, ang saya naman ng mga tao dito! Ano po bang sikreto niyo sa masayang buhay? Sa Manila, mas komportable nga po ang buhay, pero mas masungit naman ang mga tao.”

One of the older women responded: “Mahirap din naman ang buhay dito! Tignan mo, nasa makapal na usok kami at nagtatabas ng damo. Mas masaya lang mga tao dati kasi mas kontento kami dito.”

Another interjected: “Madaming problema, pero smile lang! Ngiti lang! Walang mangyayari sa buhay mo kung nagmukmok ka lang sa tabi dahil sa dami ng problema mo. Kahit may problema, dapat lagi pa rin nakanigiti! May Diyos naman na di tayo pababayaan.”

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