You Can Swindle My Foot!

Arls and myself were devil's advocates to Char's playing hooky last Friday. It was such a perfect scene of elopement as Char snuck out with two huge run away bags and quickly jumped into my car. The three of us were all set to spend a relaxing morning at the Ace Water Spa. The whole day to the evening has been carefully planned out already... but who would have thought that other surprises were in store for us?

We found a spot for the car at the back facility and parked beside a white Hyundai Starex van; when we got off the vehicle, an angry woman approached us saying that upon opening our passenger door, we have been careless and chipped off a speck of paint on her car. Ooops! Not really seeing any damage and perhaps committing a crime of thinking light of the situation, we just apologised and went on our way into the facility. Not long after arriving in the dressing room, we received a call from the guard requesting for us to come out as the lady wanted a word with us. Uh-oh... "double double toil and trouble; fire burn and caldron bubble..."

Mrs X complained about how we disregarded others and how we were too careless in our ways and actions, and oh look what we did to her car! Gasp!!! Let me put out my magnifying glass and lo!... a millimetre of paint chipped off. Her driver was not helping either as he ribbed her on about how we slammed (slammed???) our door to theirs. Fine, however small the damage is, it would be our fault for not being careful in opening the door, and so Char asked how Mrs X wants us to settle this. The magic word... settle! She said that she'll let her driver appraise the damage and we could split 50-50 on the cost of repair. Wait a minute kapeng mainit... Char was quick, she immediately said that it won't be an unbiased appraisal if it was HER driver doing it right? Mrs X proceeded on saying that if it were just a scratch, even a big one, she wouldn't have made a big deal out of it as it'll be an easy fix, but but but... a small chip like this would eat up the steel and cause rusting, and then she would have to replace the whole door. Right! I was already apprehensive, I said that I would make a phone call. She probably does not know whom I called but that is the whole point (it was just my dad). We then told Mrs X that our insurance will take care of everything; I have a camera with me and we could take a photo (although in my heart I doubt that the insurance company would even give a fart about this tiny dot). At the mention of insurance company, she balked and started her monologue of how she doesn't like paper work like that, it's full of hassle etc etc, that she would rather settle this right there and then (meaning, with us shelling out cash). Very obvious signs of being a fake right? Why would she rather put out money than have insurance pay for the damage, if there is any really.

Here were the words we've used: "due process," "comprehensive insurance," "police report," etc. She didn't want to hear about it anymore. If earlier she wanted us to take responsibility, at this point she changed her stand to just shoulder the cost by herself and let "God take care of the whole thing," and that may we realise that this is "our punishment" for being too carefree. Mrs X wasn't too happy with our use of English, for she is just a simple Bicolana who has a business of her own as well, and she would earn back what she would spend for the car, yada yada yada. Arl was the humble one who didn't make her feel low and so she was willing to let this incident pass, but others (me and Char) harped on in English. What??? Holy cow, she was so long-winded and so out of this world. We again offered the insurance for we don't want any one to come out disadvantaged. She refused. And why wouldn't she?... she doesn't have a case. She was trying to swindle money out of three supposedly innocent, gullible-looking girls who also supposedly know nothing about settling matters like this.

We kept our fingers crossed that we don't bump into her in the spa, and that they don't do anything to our car. Nothing happened. In the end, I realised that her claimed chipped paint on her car is in fact just a bit of paint from my dark green car that rubbed onto hers. Oh well, more than half an hour of our time wasted, and her time too... but without her getting the moolah she was hoping to gain from this. Swindle our feet!

Kidney Sold

We've heard of these stories many times, we are aware that this trade actually do happen, we express strong opinions when it's brought up. But still it is different when we hear of an actual account told by someone who has been through the process - whether he be the buyer or the seller. It feels almost eerie, it puts a heavy weight on one's heart.

The 60++ wife of a businessman has been through a difficult time with her kidney problem; painful dialysis is what kept her alive. When the opportunity for a kidney transplant was presented to her by a surgeon, her family grabbed and held on to the promise of a new lease in life. The "surgical package" inclusive of the organ translated to Php1.5million (around AU$40,000). She would also need to be on medication for the rest of her remaining life.

A man in his 20's had previously approached the surgeon, offering one of his kidneys for sale. He was initially turned away for his blood type doesn't match any potential buyer. Not long after he was traced and called back, and offered a sum for the sale of his organ. He accepted. In exchange for one of his kidneys, he took home Php150,000 (approximately AU$4,000).

How do we measure life? No one can put a price to it, but in cases like this, it forces us to look at the ugly reality that money plays a huge role in preserving as well as taking away life. To the young man who had to dismember himself for a very obvious reason of financial need, I feel sorry for him. He still has many years to live and I do pray that his remaining kidney serves him well and lasts him long. If I could, I would have urged him not to sell, but what do I know of another's predicament, what right do I have to want to influence the decision of someone whose life experiences could be so different from mine. To the recipient of the organ, I wish the trade immensely increases her quality of life.

It is easy to pass judgment on both parties, what should have and should not have been. But can we really fully comprehend them for their decisions and actions? I guess not. Still, organ trade poses as an ethical and societal quagmire. In poverty-stricken countries where exploitation of those who have run out of other better options is rampant, organ trade would not be so uncommon. It is a sad fact that many lives in need have latched on their hopes of a "supposedly" better life to something that may eventually lead them to sickness and an even darker state.

Such things fill me with sadness. One can only hope that those lives affected are affected for the better. It's not always the case.