Bright Eyes.

I just have to write this down.

So, I was “studying” (Facebooking/tweeting/listening to Andrea Corr) in Starbucks Midtown when an old lady tapped my shoulder. 

“Iha, you shouldn’t be putting your bag under your chair.” 

She probably noted my Huh? face so she went on.

“Sorry, my husband and I were watching the news a while ago; there’s this thief who conveniently took the bag of a girl when she wasn’t looking. He was caught because there was a CCTV camera, sa awa ng Diyos. You look so engrossed with what you’re reading, someone might easily take your bag. Put it where you can easily see it.”, she said with a smile.

I said Thank you po! while placing my bag on the chair in front of me. The lady then decided to start a small talk. She asked me if I am a medical student, in what year I am, and what specialty I want to pursue. She told me that she has a daughter who graduated from UST, shared to me stories about her daughter crying over Neuroanatomy (Neuro, you are really too cruel.) and how she’s struggling with her residency in Pediatrics. 

“Iha, basta never give up on your dreams. The true hardship comes after graduation, during residency. Always pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance when you have to make difficult decisions when you start treating patients. Teka, I have something in my bag for you.”

She left my table, then returned with two photos of Mama Mary, one a sticker, the other one with a prayer written on the back. “… Cast out anything that should not be in me. Mend what is broken. Root out any unproductive cells. Open any blocked arteries or veins and rebuild any damaged areas. Remove all inflammation and cleanse any infection…” Really for doctors. She also handed me a piece of paper where she wrote a name of an OB-Gyne consultant from Makati Med. “She is my close friend, you can contact her if you need her help.” 

I was too stunned with her kindness that I could do nothing else but smile and say thank you. She said she had to stay in Starbucks because she had to wait for her yayas who watched the last full show (Sila na ang mga yaya na hinihintay ng amo!) and then returned to her table. When her yayas finally arrived a couple of hours later, she passed by my table and said good bye, with “Never give up on your dreams! God bless you!” as her last words.

Wow. Too much of a coincidence because I was recently contemplating on what to take for residency and where to have my training. (OB, Makati Med. Lord, is this a sign?? :P) But more than that, I wanted to write this down because it’s such a nice memo, that despite the cruelties in the world (haha), there are still strangers who go out of their way just to prod you to take care of your bags (hehe), to keep your faith, and to “not give up on your dreams”.

May God bless her always, too. :-)