A businesman's sad experiences with beggars in the city

CHOOSY BEGGAR. A middle-aged businessman told The Ear: “I don’t give alms to beggars anymore not because of the law against it but because of two sad experiences I had with some beggars.” He said that one day as he was about to board his car on Legaspi St., a male beggar in tattered clothes approached him and asked for alms. “Akong gihatag niya ang tulo ka siopao nga ako untang dad-on sa bay,” the businessman said. “Pero imbes pasalamat unsay iyang giingon? ‘Kini ra. Barata nimo Nyor uy.”

SNATCHING BEGGAR. The same middle-aged businessman recalled that while he was getting out of his car near the Cebu Central Post Office a shabilly dressed boy of about 15 or 16 approached him and asked for alms. He was dipping a hand in his pocket for some loose change for the boy when the latter suddenly snatched his dark glasses and ran. “Kurata nako ... Wa gud ko kalihok dayon,” the businessman said. “Nia sa atong siyudad ang tanang klase sa makililimos, sa no?”