Naalala ko nung bata ako, mahilig kami magbenta ng junk shop items.
From plastics, metals, copper, aluminum, to paper and cans.
That was during my grade school days.
After school time in the afternoon, I, together with a 3-4 friends, would look for them, do quick inspection, place it into a plastic sack and sell them to a nearby junkshop.
In exchange of long hours of “treasure” hunting, we would be happy having less than 20 pesos handed to me by the junkshop owner. (20 pesos is malaki na that time!)
It was thrilling for me.
What other considered rubbish trash, I was able to convert to cash. My interest was captured to the idea of recycling.
Why did I do that?
Well, not really for the need of money (though we’re poor then) but because that was one of the hang-out together with my childhood friends.
Aside from the traditional pinoy games like agawan base, patintero, siato, tumbang preso and luksong-baka, looking for these litters and selling them for our group merienda was our time-consumer.
We would roam neighboring areas and look for these sellable scraps.
Aluminum cans were already a jackpot for us.
If you’re aware about the businesss, you would know that aluminum is more “lucrative” than plastics and metals.
When I recall those times, I am left wondering how very fast time really flies.
The experience, though admittedly somewhat grubby, is very educational.
At a young age, it taught me how to distinct a metal from an aluminum to a non-metal.
It trained me how to separate a sellable plastic to a disposable one (yes, not all plastic types are accepted by the junk shop).
And obviously, it exposed me to the need for “accuracy” when it comes to weighing.
Looking back, those experiences might be part of the things that have opened up my interest into science.
That time, TV kid show Sineskwela was still such a hit show which undeniably has also pushed to the next level my curiosity to the subject.
So when I had my chemistry subject in junior high school, it’s chicken to me when our teacher talked about copper, alloys and other metals. My classmates were introduced to them with scientific characterization and book definitions: I on the other hand, with an actual prior experience.
I would also like to think that the same familiarity led me to the chemical engineering degree I finished in college (with flying colors pa!)
Yes, during my formative years, the things I went through seemed totally meaningless that time.
I looked at it and it’s totally bare.
But 13 years after, it’s easy to see the whole picture with joy and delight. That things happen really for some definite purpose.
Clearly, all the things we had in our childhood year have a big immeasurable impact to the type of dreams we later on aspire.
If you look at yourself, I’m pretty sure that you can also see a direct link from what you’re doing now to what you had before when you were still a small kid.
That reminds me of Steve Jobs when he said
This coming Saturday, December 16, Smart Pinoy Investor will be supporting Street Angel’s annual Christmas gift-giving to Children this year! This year, Street Angels will be sponsoring the Street Sweepers of Caloocan together with their children. We know how hard it is to work under the scorching heat of sun, that is why we want to give them a treat this year. We will give them Noche Buena packs, rice, and other goodies. Their children will take home school supplies and new slippers. It will be a fun party! Your generosity will make this possible. We also have our Candy-negosyo in which we give additional candies to our lolo and lola street vendors. You can contribute by giving us candies that can be sold in the streets, like stork, judge, icool, V-Fresh. We also need CASH donations for food budget and for sacks of rice. I invite you to be part of it. You can donate any amount (basta galing sa puso) you want to support the events above Sponsor a kid for 500 if your heart calls. This way, we’re making a dot in their lives. It may just be a single lonely dot now, but years down the road, these children might be able to connect this dot with the rest of points in life they’re going to achieve. But more than that, this is a reminder for us all to be grateful for all the blessings we have received this year and serves as an opportunity to share to those in more need. Be part of this greatest investment! Meet the hopes of our future! And see you there too! As they say, no one is rich enough that he cannot receive, and poor enough that he cannot give.. Have fun investing (in others!) oMeng For those overseas, you can send your donations via paypal to (rstawid@gmail.com) using personal payment of $5. Let’s make Christmas’s spirit more real for the least/lost/last. “Nobody is so poor that he has nothing to give, and nobody is so rich that he has nothing to receive.”– Pope John Paul II.LET’S MAKE A DOT IN CHILDRENS’ LIVES
VOLUNTEER! YES! You can join us during the event.
Account Name Romer Tawid.
Account Name Romer Tawid.
Deposited already on BPI Buendia branch. Hope this will help. God Bless.
Hi Sir Alejandro, got it. Thanks for your generosity.
May God bless you more! Merry Christmas!
Hi Sir Omeng..just donated for this event.
Thanks for the opportunity to help! ?
Thank you Olive for your support. May God bless you.
hello Sir Omeng. will transfer later. forgot this one last time, been so busy and i’m on vacay. haha thank you for your email. once BPI is up, will do transfer. thank you again for the opportunity to help.
Thanks Alwin, received it. God bless!
it’s a very worthy cause that deserves everyone’s support.
Yes, I will donate!
Thanks for your support.