Chateau Du Mer, Boac, Marinduque.Philippines, 2020
The other day I posted an article about the kindness of a stranger to ten soldiers in their way to Afghanistan, buying them $5 lunches in the airplane. In that article I cited three links on my own personal experience as a recipient of kindness from complete strangers in the US. In this blog, I am reposting my previous article ( Part 1) of our ( Macrine-my late spouse and I) experience as a recipient of kindness in Marinduque, Philippines - my previous home. Here's Part 1 for your reading pleasure. Part 2 will be posted soon. 💚 Do not forget to view the video at the bottom of this posting.
Kindness from a Stranger!- Boac, Marinduque, Philippines
Front Yard of our Retirement House in Amoingon, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines
Several years ago, prior to the building our beach house in Amoingon, Boac, Macrine and I usually have Sunday drives after church from Amoingon to Buenavista. This drive along the national road parallels the western seacoast of Marinduque where there are beautiful homes of expatriates and balikbayans retirees from all over the world as well as rich businessmen from Manila. We drive just to get an idea of the architectural styles that we may be able to incorporate into our beach house design.
One Sunday we saw a beautiful modern design beach house painted blue, between Gasan and Buenavista. It is appropriately named, CASA DE AZUL. We were struck by the simplicity of its design and architecture, we decided to park outside the gate of the house. We got out of the car, linger a while at the closed gate to see if the owners are in. It appears that someone was in the house and I started ringing the door bell. No sooner than after I pressed the buzzer, a middle aged lady got out of the house and asked us what we want. I said we admired the style of the house and asked permission to take a photograph. Then we introduced ourselves and stated our purpose why we stopped.
To our surprise the lady invited us to come in and introduce herself as the owner. Her husband was outside the yard and asked if we are interested to see the whole house as well as the backyard which faces the ocean. The house was beautiful inside, modestly furnished and with a swimming pool. We found out that the couple resides in Manila. The house is their weekend retreat. The lady is a Filipina and the husband was originally from Austria. The wife works in Manila and her husband is in the import-export business.
This incident will never happened in the US. The owners will probably call the police and accused us of trespassing. Bob Martin, owner of "Live in the Philippines" web magazine commented, "Wonderful story, David. I fully agree this will not happen in the USA. They would suspect that you might be a terrorist, or planning to pull a robbery at the house".
To reciprocate this act of kindness from a stranger, we allowed visitors to take photographs of our front yard. We have several visitors the last couple of years who stopped at our front gate and ask permission to take pictures of the front yard. The front yard is landscaped with blooming bougainvilleas in a rainbow of colors, orchids, and several blooming tropical shrubs. Yes, indeed we allowed them to take photographs of "my landscaping" and even offer them a glass of juice or bottled water. It is our way of reciprocating the kindness of the couple who resided in the Blue House by the Sea.
Unfortunately, we have forgotten their names and they probably do not remember our names also. But, I feel this story is possible only in the beautiful island of Marinduque-home of the most hospitable people in the Philippines, if not in the whole world.
Meanwhile, Marinduque is known for its heritage homes built several decades ago in downtown Boac. This one is the ancestral home of my wife's Grand Parents ( Nieva-Jambalos family).
Please view this video on Kindness and how it affects Others.
💚https://nethugs.com/be-kind-inspirational-motivational-video/
We are called to be kind! When we show kindness to others the impact it has can change their lives.
Last but not least, Kindness is an act that the blind can see and the deaf can hear. Have a Great Day Every One.
No comments:
Post a Comment