Where has all the Empathy Gone?

Husband and I had to stand on the bus from Cavite to Makati this morning. We had no choice since all the buses going to Makati were jam-packed. After thirty minutes of standing up, I had to ask husband’s shoulder as I need to nap. After fifteen minutes of feeling my stiffing limbs I straighten up my body once again only to feel my aching ankle. After an hour, I felt dizzy. I need to puke. But I was able to control the urge and went down few stops before my usual end route.

I am 16 weeks pregnant and no one offered a seat. There were lovers in front of me, who slept as soon as I stand up on their side and a lot of able men and women on their front seat and at the back. In fact, the bus population that time has a lot of MEN. But no one dared to give up their seat.

I would not, I swear to God. And this is not bragging. I have never tried doing that in my whole life time. If there’s an elderly or a pregnant woman or a less able to stand up individual in front of me, I would ask husband to offer his seat or I would stand up and take her place. That’s what was taught of me by my parents and teachers – and that’s what my conscience dictates.

I cried when I reach my work. I didn’t cry because no one offered a seat. I cried because along with the advancement of civilization and the fast paced progress of modern technology, goes the changing norms of people caring for people. Here goes the ‘I DON’T CARE ABOUT YOU ANYMORE!!!!’