Last Friday afternoon, an old man slowly opened the door and went inside the office. I asked him to sit down and asked him what I could do for him or perhaps what he needed from my father, who was still talking to another client.
He said that he lost is ATM Card and was asked by the bank to fill out an Affidavit of Loss and have it notarized.
Anyway, even if I already asked him to sit down, he first asked me "pila magpanotaryo ani?", showing me the blank Affidavit. After I told him the amount, he said that he had no money with him. So, I asked him how much does he have. He said he didn't have enough. I even reduced the "fee". He looked for some money in his pockets but there was none. He looked inside his purse and all he had was P 20 bill and some coins.
I asked him "taga-asa di ai ka nong?". He replied "taga-Times Beach. Silingan ko ni ________. Kaila ko sa papa nimo." At that time, my father was still talking to another client and it seems he can't remember our manong client.
I said it's OK and I will notarize it nevertheless. He was surprised because he didn't think I was a lawyer (I always get this reaction ... hehe). I just told him that he could drop the payment in our office the next day. But, at the back of my head, I said it is okay if he forgets to come back and pay for it.
And so, I filled out the form for him. I asked for IDs and asked the details of how his ATM got lost. And our manong client told the story with all the details and I listened earnestly. I just wrote the important details in the Affidavit, had it signed by him and notarized it myself.
Afterwhich, I gave back the form to him and remembered that it was a Friday and we may not be in the office on Saturday. He said he'll be back on Monday. Although, again, I thought he would forget it and I will just let it be.
But this morning, manong client came back and paid.
I was touched. I did not expect it. It was a happy surprise.
I know I could have just said it's for free but sometimes, you get the feeling that there are those who are appreciative of what you do for them that they are willing to pay for it if they can and it would be an insult to refuse it. It was the kind of feeling I get from manong client.
It was my sole income for today (excluding my teaching wage). But big things come in small packages and it sure did!
Yes, it was a good day!
He said that he lost is ATM Card and was asked by the bank to fill out an Affidavit of Loss and have it notarized.
Anyway, even if I already asked him to sit down, he first asked me "pila magpanotaryo ani?", showing me the blank Affidavit. After I told him the amount, he said that he had no money with him. So, I asked him how much does he have. He said he didn't have enough. I even reduced the "fee". He looked for some money in his pockets but there was none. He looked inside his purse and all he had was P 20 bill and some coins.
I asked him "taga-asa di ai ka nong?". He replied "taga-Times Beach. Silingan ko ni ________. Kaila ko sa papa nimo." At that time, my father was still talking to another client and it seems he can't remember our manong client.
I said it's OK and I will notarize it nevertheless. He was surprised because he didn't think I was a lawyer (I always get this reaction ... hehe). I just told him that he could drop the payment in our office the next day. But, at the back of my head, I said it is okay if he forgets to come back and pay for it.
And so, I filled out the form for him. I asked for IDs and asked the details of how his ATM got lost. And our manong client told the story with all the details and I listened earnestly. I just wrote the important details in the Affidavit, had it signed by him and notarized it myself.
Afterwhich, I gave back the form to him and remembered that it was a Friday and we may not be in the office on Saturday. He said he'll be back on Monday. Although, again, I thought he would forget it and I will just let it be.
But this morning, manong client came back and paid.
I was touched. I did not expect it. It was a happy surprise.
I know I could have just said it's for free but sometimes, you get the feeling that there are those who are appreciative of what you do for them that they are willing to pay for it if they can and it would be an insult to refuse it. It was the kind of feeling I get from manong client.
It was my sole income for today (excluding my teaching wage). But big things come in small packages and it sure did!
Yes, it was a good day!
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