What would you have done?
Friday, 6. January 2006, 03:39:50
Poor girl finds, returns P300,000 that biker lost
First posted 04:35am (Mla time) Jan 06, 2006
By DJ Yap
Inquirer
Editor's Note: Published on page A1 of the Jan. 6, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
THE QUESTION arises: Would others have done the same?
Cristina Bugayong, 12, lives in a cramped house with her parents and seven siblings.
The sixth-grader goes to a public school with only P10 in her pocket, and helps sell cafeteria food in her free time.
Her mother Luzviminda is the breadwinner of the household, but is barely able to make ends meet.
When Cristina picked up "at least P300,000" on Wednesday night, she could very well have changed her life as she knew it.
But the idea of making off with the money just did not occur to her. "Hindi naman sa akin 'yun, e (But it's not mine)," she said shyly during an interview near the makeshift family home in Quezon City.
Against the advice of neighbors, Cristina decided that the money would be returned to its owner, who, as of yesterday, was still unknown.
GMA 7 reported later last night that Cristina had turned over the money to the rightful owner, a messenger.
Motorcyclist
Cristina said she picked up two wads of P1,000 and P500 bills tied together with rubber bands, as well as a handful of checks, at about 7:20 p.m. the other day along T. Gener Street in Barangay Kamuning.
She was chatting with a friend when she saw the money fall out of a man's bag as he was speeding past on a motorcycle, she said.
Family members had been keeping mum on the exact amount in order to keep false claimants at bay. (According to other reports, the stash is worth P420,000.)
Cristina said the man wore a helmet. Family members said they could identify him by asking for details about the cash and checks issued by various banks.
Three persons had approached the family, each claiming the money.
But the family wanted to be very sure about the windfall, which was in the safekeeping of Jie and Bong Mateo, Cristina's aunt and uncle.
No way
Neighbors had urged Cristina to split the loot with them, but she was firm: The cash and checks should be returned to the man.
She said it would be a pity if the man were fired because of the lost money.
It was not the first time that the girl returned something of value that she had found. Last year, she returned about P5,000 to a newspaper vendor; in 2004, she also gave back about P1,000 to a tricycle passenger.
Ironically, Cristina was once accused of filching a few pesos from the sale of snacks at the school cafeteria even though the charge was largely unsubstantiated, Luzviminda Bugayong said.
The mother said she was very proud of her daughter's honesty. But she confided that the first thing she did on seeing the money was to touch the bills -- just to know how such a big amount "felt like."
By Luzviminda's own estimation, the money can help the family start a sari-sari store.
But this believer in karma said there was no way they could have kept the money: "Di natin alam kung ano ang magiging kapalit (We don't know what the cost will be)."
Rough times
A neighbor, Marie Mateo, said the Bugayongs were going through rough times, sometimes skipping meals because they had no money. Relatives often had to help out by giving them food, she said.
The father, Cesar, is out of work.
Luzviminda helps out at a canteen that prepares meals for a few offices, and takes in wash on the side. She makes about P2,000 a month at the canteen, and P250 a week for the laundry jobs.
Cristina is the sixth child in a brood of eight, with ages ranging from 22 to 5. Only Cristina and 10-year-old Nerissa are in school because there is not enough money for the rest, Luzviminda said.
The mother said Cristina did not excel in academics, but that she made up for it by always going to school and studying her lessons.
"Matiyagang matuto (Diligent in learning)" was how Cristina's adviser, Joynalyn Isip, described her to reporters.
When the subject of a reward finally came up, the girl could only say: "Nasa kanya na 'yun (That's up to the man)."
Reward from mayor
Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said he had sent Councilor Ariel Inton Jr. to determine the needs of Cristina and her family.
"It's just right to reward that kind of behavior," the mayor said.
He added that the city government would give Cristina a plaque of recognition, and that a scholarship program for her was being considered.
Councilor Edcel Lagman Jr. said he had drafted a city resolution commending Cristina for her honesty.
First posted 04:35am (Mla time) Jan 06, 2006
By DJ Yap
Inquirer
Editor's Note: Published on page A1 of the Jan. 6, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
THE QUESTION arises: Would others have done the same?
Cristina Bugayong, 12, lives in a cramped house with her parents and seven siblings.
The sixth-grader goes to a public school with only P10 in her pocket, and helps sell cafeteria food in her free time.
Her mother Luzviminda is the breadwinner of the household, but is barely able to make ends meet.
When Cristina picked up "at least P300,000" on Wednesday night, she could very well have changed her life as she knew it.
But the idea of making off with the money just did not occur to her. "Hindi naman sa akin 'yun, e (But it's not mine)," she said shyly during an interview near the makeshift family home in Quezon City.
Against the advice of neighbors, Cristina decided that the money would be returned to its owner, who, as of yesterday, was still unknown.
GMA 7 reported later last night that Cristina had turned over the money to the rightful owner, a messenger.
Motorcyclist
Cristina said she picked up two wads of P1,000 and P500 bills tied together with rubber bands, as well as a handful of checks, at about 7:20 p.m. the other day along T. Gener Street in Barangay Kamuning.
She was chatting with a friend when she saw the money fall out of a man's bag as he was speeding past on a motorcycle, she said.
Family members had been keeping mum on the exact amount in order to keep false claimants at bay. (According to other reports, the stash is worth P420,000.)
Cristina said the man wore a helmet. Family members said they could identify him by asking for details about the cash and checks issued by various banks.
Three persons had approached the family, each claiming the money.
But the family wanted to be very sure about the windfall, which was in the safekeeping of Jie and Bong Mateo, Cristina's aunt and uncle.
No way
Neighbors had urged Cristina to split the loot with them, but she was firm: The cash and checks should be returned to the man.
She said it would be a pity if the man were fired because of the lost money.
It was not the first time that the girl returned something of value that she had found. Last year, she returned about P5,000 to a newspaper vendor; in 2004, she also gave back about P1,000 to a tricycle passenger.
Ironically, Cristina was once accused of filching a few pesos from the sale of snacks at the school cafeteria even though the charge was largely unsubstantiated, Luzviminda Bugayong said.
The mother said she was very proud of her daughter's honesty. But she confided that the first thing she did on seeing the money was to touch the bills -- just to know how such a big amount "felt like."
By Luzviminda's own estimation, the money can help the family start a sari-sari store.
But this believer in karma said there was no way they could have kept the money: "Di natin alam kung ano ang magiging kapalit (We don't know what the cost will be)."
Rough times
A neighbor, Marie Mateo, said the Bugayongs were going through rough times, sometimes skipping meals because they had no money. Relatives often had to help out by giving them food, she said.
The father, Cesar, is out of work.
Luzviminda helps out at a canteen that prepares meals for a few offices, and takes in wash on the side. She makes about P2,000 a month at the canteen, and P250 a week for the laundry jobs.
Cristina is the sixth child in a brood of eight, with ages ranging from 22 to 5. Only Cristina and 10-year-old Nerissa are in school because there is not enough money for the rest, Luzviminda said.
The mother said Cristina did not excel in academics, but that she made up for it by always going to school and studying her lessons.
"Matiyagang matuto (Diligent in learning)" was how Cristina's adviser, Joynalyn Isip, described her to reporters.
When the subject of a reward finally came up, the girl could only say: "Nasa kanya na 'yun (That's up to the man)."
Reward from mayor
Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said he had sent Councilor Ariel Inton Jr. to determine the needs of Cristina and her family.
"It's just right to reward that kind of behavior," the mayor said.
He added that the city government would give Cristina a plaque of recognition, and that a scholarship program for her was being considered.
Councilor Edcel Lagman Jr. said he had drafted a city resolution commending Cristina for her honesty.
You must be logged in to write a comment. if you're not a registered member, please 
