Hanggang Kaya Ko Pang Sumakay sa Bus

“Oh! mani… mani… kornik… beans- walang mantika!”

Are these words familiar to you? If yes, then you are a certified Quiapo-bus terminal passenger. Being so means that you know this old woman vendor who always get into the bus and gently doing the sale’s talk as she smiles adorably, having a kind of voice that can reach heavens by it’s highest pitch.
She usually wears lose blouse and below the knee-cut shorts and the head-turning CROCS sandals. The head dress? Well, just the simple pony tail complemented by a head band.
The one I’m talking about is Mrs. Natividad Fernandez (her real name). She prefer being called Aling Nati rather than Aling Mani as the bus passengersused to call her, “Pero di naman mahalaga sa akin kung anu man ang itawag nila. Ang mahalaga’y makaubos ako ng aking paninda para sa mga apo ko,” she said when I’ve found a chance to have her for an interview.
This seventy six year-old woman is so much of a Darna as she do the service to people wholeheartedly by all means.
“Maaga pa lang sinasangag ko na yung mga paninda ko. Siyempre, sa paraan kung san nila ako nakilala, pagsasangag ng walang mantika. Alam mo na, para makaiwas sa anu mang sakit sa puso. Bilang tindera? Hindi! Siguro’y bilang isang lolang nagpapahalaga sa kanila,” she grinned.
“Ine, matanda na ako. Simula pa lang (she became more serious) kapakanan na ng pamilya ko ang iniisip ko. Gusto ko sanang bago man lang ako mawala ditto sa mundong ito’y may maiwan man lang ako sa kanila.”
These words of her really struck my whole being. Knowing the fact that though she’s that old, still she can manage to do the job of the PADRE DE FAMILIA.
“Matatanda na ang anak mo nay,” I said to myself. Being a mother of twelve wherein of all who’re all married, five were still living with her and she’s the one raising them?... so uncertain!
I’ve ended our talk with this question, “Gaano katagal pa po kayo magtitinda ng mga yan nay?” Her answer has touched the very core of my being…
’’Hanggang kayak o pang sumakay sa bus…”