Salamat Sir Wilson

Last year, when i started assisting the SWM program of AFI, 7 hardworking individuals who happen to be AFI-SWM's partners in the implementation of segregation at source in the MCBD area. The 1st time i met them, i was still overwhelmed with questions pertaining to their roles for almost 4 yours in the said program. But as months passed by and as reports were collected, i was enlightened with their functions.

I began to understand how their "business" works... Imagine, they would have to collect and clean these so-called recyclables just to make a living out of it and just to basically help in diverting wastes going to payatas. Can you imagine an individual working in an almost maggot-infested area just to clean-up the things some people fail to do -like washing the soiled styrofoams or plastic cups or even that MCchicken nuggets box?!! These are few of the things that these junkshop partners do...

They became not just project partners, but they became part of my work life and eventually part of my life. I began to understand each one of them as individuals dealing with typical life struggles. But one thing i have learned --in their junkshop business, for the previous months, threats like being robbed off of their money or even stripped off of their lives have been slowly increasing its intensity. Many of their comrades in the business were either held-up or even killed with their moneys (whom they have earned with their own blood and sweat).

Last year in one of our meetings, Sir Wilson told us that his wife was held up in their garage (where the office was located). They lost 300 K, but nothing bad happened to his wife and he was pretty thankful about it. And i guess, he promised himself that it will never ever happen again.

Last christmas, sir wilson, was one of the gracious partners who gave us some chinese stuff as presents. Having CHUA as a family name, i assumed that somehow he was chinese. :)

I was about to visit the SWM annive last friday...a little bit after lunch, Jessica texted me sumthing like please pray for kuya wilson and his family. The first thing that came up in mind was the possibility that he was held up... but hours later, i texted again, and jessica said that sir wilson was dead. I was shocked reading the message. Death of him was far from my thoughts...

Just last night, me and ms Adel with the SWM Project Partners came to visit him. We saw him lying as if he was just sleeping. I finally met his wife Rosita. It was only through phone calls that i got to interact with Mrs. Chua. When i saw her, i also saw the emptiness. It's hard to say that i actually knew how she felt, but i kind of felt the intensity of that certain emotions.

She told us that it was only one bullet that took Sir Wilson's life... the bullet hit him inches away from his heart. The guy came in the office while Sir Wilson's workers were outside. Afraid that this criminal would fire to anyone, he was. Sir Wilson was still thinking to spare his employees or even his wife from the danger. He managed to shout to everyone not to get near him since the guy had a gun. While all of the action was happening Mrs. Chua was busy cooking the calderetta for the SWM anniversary. When she heard the gun shot she run, and saw him lying. She asked the workers to bring Sir Wilson to the hospital. Over the phone Mrs. Chua was telling the doctors to do all they could just to revive him.

Minutes later the doctors called her back asking her to come and see Mr. Chua. When she reached the hospital and learned about Sir Wilson... she said that she had gone hysterical and was asking the doctors why they had not done their best. Mrs. Chua told us that she never had a decent meal and has never felt hungry since sir wilson died. She was also telling us that Sir Wilson would often tell her about what had transpired during the monthly meetings... He would tell her stories about funny things that i or the group have done.

Sir Wilson left two kids - Mark and Michael.

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I am sad that something so violent and emotionally torturing could happen like this. I am sad knowing that Sir Wilson, one of the ever hardworking junkshop owners had to be robbed off of life just because people who are lamely lazy just wanted to have easy money and relied on the hard earnings at the expense of other people.

I am just sad because I realized that I lost someone who has been part of my life.

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To sir wilson, whereever you are, i know you will be your wife and kids' guardian angel.

If justice here on earth may be but a dream, i know karmic justice will come and hit that individual BIG TIME!

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Sir, salamat po!

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