Eight Korean kids nervously stood on stage to “recite” the tale of the Blind Men and the Elephant. It was their first public performance as a group of foreigners learning English as a second language. As expected some struggled, some choked, some whispered, but everyone delivered.
Two days later, I’m mildly amazed how a school presentation would serve as a very real lesson and reminder concerning the latest breaking news in the nation: the Supreme Court frees the “Vizconde massacre” suspects.
Given that everyone would undoubtedly have something to say about the decision, I initially opted not to comment for or against the decision or the case. But out of nowhere, I was reminded of last Monday’s tale and how significantly relevant the story is to what will undoubtedly be a sensational issue.
For those who’ve never heard the story of The Blind Men and the Elephant, the tale comes from India and talks about a group of blind men who travelled by holding on to each other.
One day the blind men came upon an elephant and they each placed their hands on different parts of the elephant. After a while, the man who had placed his hands around the leg of the elephant declared that an elephant was like a mighty tree!
Another one who had touched the elephant’s trunk declared that he was an animal with mighty arms. The next one touched the smooth sharp tusk of the elephant and declared that it was like a sharp and mighty spear. No, it is like a gigantic fan, said the one who touched the elephant’s ears. The last one to touch the elephant by the tail declared that it was a very long and hairy snake.
As the lesson goes, they each had an idea that was partially true. However what they held to be the absolute truth was nowhere near the complete picture. Even if they all collected what they knew, it would have been nearly impossible to see the real picture. That in a way reflects Truth.
What many of us believe or know to be the truth is limited by what we know or lack of it. Declaring what we “feel”, we believe, or even what we have seen does not make it the whole truth.
Today, as opinions and speculations pour out for and against the decision to set the Vizconde massacre suspects free, we MUST remind ourselves how easy it is to be fooled and be fools by our own notions and impressions.
Are you going to call it a tree, a snake, a spear, an arm, or a fan? Honestly, is it any of our business? Are you helping and healing or are you being blind and foolish?
The blind men were foolish enough to touch the elephant because they did not see its size and potential threat. But even zoo-keepers will tell you, it’s always good to keep a safe distance from an elephant especially if you are blind.
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This segment falls under RIP-OFFS!
Some people think they’re smarter than Filipino shoppers or that Pinoys must be stupid.
While shopping at an upscale mall along Shaw Blvd., I entered a store that sells premium all weather, outdoor gears. I was shopping for a genuine waterproof jacket and the store had a good reputation for it.
The best choice was available for P11,500 plus or something like $210 compared to the usual $150 jackets I used to buy. Sensing I was a serious buyer, the sales clerk pointed out that the jacket would be 50 percent off if I made it my second purchase.
Upon inquiring, the catch was I first had to buy other products worth P2,800, and then I would be entitled to a second purchase at 50 percent. So instead of making a P5,500+ sale on an out of season rain jacket, they did not make a sale, but they did create a very unhappy shopper.
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I wonder if this would fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Tourism, Trade and Industry, or local government, but there is a serious need to audit and regulate hotels that have “outsourced” their parking operations.
If you have ever parked your car at this plush hotel in Makati City or that five-star hotel in Pasay City you might have noticed their comparatively horrendous parking fees.
Every time you park for more than four or five hours, the parking operator charges you the equivalent of what a minimum wage earner makes in one day!
There is something seriously wrong when these hotels or their franchise holder charges guests a day’s wage for parking, especially when the guests are there for an event that was hosted by a company or private individuals.
In the words of the older generation, this is “doble lagare” or making money on both ends. You make money on your clients then you make additional money from their guests.
It shows bad judgment and poor taste on the part of such hotel when they create a situation where the last thing you remember as you leave the premises is the exorbitant price you have to pay at their parking lot. There is nothing five-star about that!
Finally, while shopping for her “utility type” handbag, my wife was shocked to discover that vendors in Greenhills don’t just sell fake bags, they sell them with gall. Imagine being offered a FAKE “Hermes” for P16,000.
When my wife pointed out that they were selling something that was FAKE and Expensive, the vendor coolly replied; “But M’am, it’s A-1”.
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