Captured

by Ronalyn Mantala

The shouts of the street children selling sampaguita, the sounds of vehicles and the noise of the crowded people were heard at Lipa Cathedral. Harry, a 7-year-old boy suffering from hydrocephalus seemed exhausted. Tiredness was seen in his face. Another day is going to end. But not for him. He started to walk fast as the people went out from church.   

“P-please buy sampaguita... It’s only ten pesos.” He said it with a shaky voice. The cold breeze embracing him made him to tremble.  

The people just passed by and didn’t even take a look at him. Everybody seemed excited going to their homes. It looked like everybody wanted to arrive at their homes and tell how was their day went on. Sadness was seen in his face. He wanted someone to ask him how was his day. He had many stories to tell but he had no one to share his stories with. He looked at the sampaguitas he was holding, there were 3 pieces left. He will give it to the last person who will come out from church. And there, Jack a 24-year-old, short guy stood at the main front of the church. He was holding his camera. He was looking for a perfect view that would be perfectly good for his photography. 

“Sir....” Harry stood next to Jack. 

“Yes?” Jack didn’t even take a look at him. He was busy looking at the photos on his camera.   

“Please accept my sampaguita... I am going to give it to you for free..”

 “No, thanks... I will not accept that.” Jack walked fast as it looked like he wanted to avoid him. 

“Please Sir, I just want to go home.”

 Jack stopped and looked at him with a puzzled face. 

“Then go... Stop bothering me.” Jack uttered. Jack walked fast but Harry suddenly grabbed Jack’s hands.  

“Please accept this.” And I won’t bother you anymore.” Harry walked away leaving the sampaguitas in Jack’s hands. 

Jack looked at the boy walking away sampaguitas he was holding and wondered.

 As Harry arrived at the place he was staying, he counted the money that he earned from selling sampaguita. It was fifty pesos. He put it in his piggybank. The place he was staying was at the back of the community park near the Cathedral. Thanks to those security guards of the community park, because they let him stay there. He began to starve so he ate the bread that was left. But the bread didn’t satisfy his hungriness. He laid down on his bed and feel the coldness of the wind embracing his thin body. As the wind blew so hard, the memories kept flashing into his mind... 

“Harry... Stay there. I just sell these sampaguitas.” Dodong reminded him to stay at the corridor of the church. 

“Okay, Dodong just go back when you are finished selling those.” 

“Okay. I well go back as soon as I am finished...I promised” Dodong gently tapped his head.  

Harry smiled. “Okay. I will wait.” He said. 

He met Dodong when he was five. He was bullied by other street children because of his appearance but Dodong bravely defended him. He defended him whenever he got bullied. He protected him always when he was in trouble. Just like him, Dodong was alone.  

Five hours had passed, still, Dodong didn’t came back as he promised. He began to feel nervous. His sticky sweat began to flow on his face. He stood up and began to look for Dodong. Shouts and sounds of whistles were heard on the crowd. There are lot of people on the sidewalk. He felt curious as he went near. Blood! There were bloods. He started to walk away but then he heard two people talking.  

“The child was shot by the policeman when the child persisted to sell those sampaguitas.” The woman said. 

“Oh! too bad, I heard that he had a little brother so he want to sell those sampaguitas.” 

“But the policeman said that it’s not allowed there to sell sampaguita so he got his gun and shoot the boy.” 

Harry’s knees began to tremble. He couldn’t move his feet. His eyes became blurry.

He went back as fast as he could. Dodong! It was Dodong! 

 “My poor Dodong! You promised that you will go back...” He held Dodong’s cold body that was full of blood.  

“Dodong, please wake up.”

But Dodong didn’t even say a word. He didn’t even move. Dodong was gone. Poor Dodong! He hardly breathes. He realized that he would be alone. Again. 

Jack was dreaming to be a famous photographer someday. Maybe, for others it’s just a job, but for him, photography was his passion. He wanted something different. Something inspiring and something that will shape and change lives.

It was seven in the morning so Jack started to prepare his things.  He was reminded of the boy who gave him sampaguitas. Despite of having a hydrocephalus, the boy was striving so hard to work. After he had finished packing up things, he found himself going to Cathedral. He was looking for someone. It took time for him to see the boy. The boy was busy selling sampaguitas. He got his camera and look for the perfect angle. Then click! Perfect shot. He thought that it would be perfect to submit those photos in Authentic Photography. Photographers of all ages are encouraged to submit their taken photos in Authentic Photography. The juries will select ten winners and those ten winners will get access to Authentic Photography to work in the industry all over the globe. So, he didn’t want to miss a chance.  

As Harry sat on the chair, he felt very restless. Everyday life was a struggle for him. As a 7-year-old boy with a hydrocephalus, he dreamed to have a happy family. He wanted to read and write. He wanted to go to school. His dream was just simple but the world seemed so harsh to him. 

Jack had submitted the photos to Authentic Photography. And this is the day, the juries will announce the winners. He felt so nervous.  

“Third place goes to......... Mr. Juanito Carlos.” Jack began to lose hope. Only two winners will be announced it looked so impossible for him to be included.  

“And our winner goes to....” 

“Lea Gomez...!” Full of claps surrounded the crowd.  Jack breathed heavily. He began to walk away... 

“Oh wait, we have a tie!”

“We have Lea Gomez and.... Jack Martinez! Congratulations!”

Jack was so happy when he went on the stage. He burst out into tears as he touched the trophy. It was a dream came true. He wanted to express his gratitude to the person that became part of his success. He went back to Cathedral and began to search for the boy. 

It took time for Jack to see the boy. The boy was selling sampaguitas. As he went near, Jack’s heart was full of delight. He knew he had a purpose. The boy will never be alone. Again. 

As Jack walks near to him, the boy looked at him. The boy smiled as if it’s going to hug him... “Harry, you will never be alone again.”

 “Jack, wake up! You’re having a dream again.” 

Jack opened his eyes. His eyes were full of tears. 

Johnny was staring at him. The person who adopted him. 

He was that “Harry” seventeen years ago. And now, he was Jack Martinez, the famous photographer. His experiences made him stronger. Thanks to Johnny who helped him and spent money for his operation. It has been tough journey for him, realizing he had a purpose.  

Dodong became his inspiration to be one of the bravest photographers who featured the unfair criminal justice system, that it seemed to be two different systems: one for the privileged, and one for the less privileged.  

He was also one of the famous photographers who helped and inspired many poor children.   He realized that someone can’t be truly happy without experiencing the challenges because those challenges made life interesting and overcoming them was meaningful.