In the bustling marketplace, a woman approached an old seller. Her eyes were drawn to the bunches of ripe Saba bananas displayed on the stall.
“How much are you selling the Saba for?” she asked, her voice echoing the casual indifference of a routine haggler.
The old seller, her face weathered by years of sun and wind, replied with a gentle smile.
“Three pesos per banana, Madam.”
The woman, seemingly taken aback by the price, retorted.
“I’ll take six bananas for one peso each, or I will leave.”
Her tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.
The old seller, her smile never wavering, responded.
“Come take them at the price you want. Maybe this is a good beginning because I haven’t been able to sell even a single banana today.”
With a triumphant smirk, the woman took the bananas and walked away. The feeling of victory coursed through her veins. She climbed into her fancy car, the scent of fresh leather mingling with the sweet aroma of the bananas.
She drove to a first-class restaurant, her friend in tow. They ordered an array of dishes, the table groaning under the weight of their extravagance. They ate a little, their conversation filling the air more than the food filling their plates. A lot of what they ordered was left untouched, a testament to their excess.
When the bill arrived, amounting to P2,200.00, she handed over P2,500.00 to the owner.
“Keep the change,” she told him.
The owner nodded, pocketing the generous tip without a second thought.
This incident might have seemed quite normal to the owner. After all, it’s not uncommon for patrons to leave a tip. But it raises a poignant question about our values and ethics.
Why do we often feel the need to assert our power when we buy from those who are in need? Why do we haggle over a few pesos with a seller who might be struggling to make ends meet, yet freely give away our money to those who do not need our generosity?
This paradox of value and ethics is a reflection of our societal norms and attitudes. It’s a mirror that reflects how we perceive value, not just in terms of money, but in terms of humanity. It’s a reminder that generosity is not just about giving more to those who have more, but about being fair and kind to those who have less.
In the end, the true measure of our values and ethics is not how much we give, but to whom and how we give. And perhaps, it’s time we start reevaluating these measures.
