June 12, 2018 is the 120th Philippine Independence Day. 🇵🇭🎉

On my way home from the office earlier, I rode the jeepney and two teenage kids nonchalantly hitched a ride.

At first I thought they were going to rob the whole jeep (my bad) so I was a little alarmed but instead they sang, beatboxed and rapped a Visayan Pop medley, and asked the passengers for some ‘inyong kabubut-on lamang’ alms for all that talent showcasing.

I had nearly forgotten how that was a common sight during Christmas where little street kids ‘creatively’ did caroling in a crammed and moving jeepney.

I greeted them a happy independence day (and said sorry for judging them earlier) in my head as I handed them the only twenty peso bill in my purse, hoping they’d spend it on food and not on rugby or drugs.

Malaya nga ba talaga tayo? (Are we really free?)

I wonder what those rapping, beatboxing boys, who were probably in the next jeep risking safety for food, would tell me.