Madamot

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I was sitting outside, enjoying my morning coffee and ciggie when a woman caught sight of me and approached. She held her hand out like she was asking for money. She mumbled being from the province and needing fare to go home. Not one to encourage dole-outs, I automatically said "Ay, wala po," though offering her coffee was in mind. She moved away and I was able to catch the only word that mattered in her sulky mumbling: ".... madamot (ungenerous/stingy)..." Having spent most of my adult life in development and humanitarian work, I went inside the house and sulked right back, "Tatay! Madamot daw ako!"

Aug 13, 2015

"I am an X in an indeterminate equation. And that X is the rock upon which I stand." - Mario Puzo

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