The Bridge, the Ride, and the Broken Phone

 August 25, 2025 We had such a wonderful time with my cousins, friends, their partners, and even their little ones. Honestly, it wasn’t planned at all—it was so random and sudden. That morning, I woke up to a message from my sister-in-law, Ate Rege, who is my brother’s wife, inviting us to go to the beach. You already know how much I love the sea, so of course, I couldn’t resist! It was perfect timing because everyone else was free from work. I actually had work, but since I’m on WFH setup, it was manageable. Truly a fun and memorable day!  I already booked a Maxim and started preparing, since my cousins were lucky enough to have their own motorcycles while I didn’t. So, for now, I just went for a joyride with a Maxim going to the beach we planned to visit. While booking and when the driver finally arrived, I honestly felt a bit worried. The motorcycle didn’t seem very safe to me because its tire looked too low. In my mind, I even thought, “If I were the one driving this, I’d be more confident.” Still, I trusted the ride and just enjoyed the trip.  To be honest, I almost declined the ride because the place we were going to was quite far, and I was unsure if the motorcycle could handle the distance. I kept wondering if Kuya could really manage it with the condition of his motor. But in the end, I decided to go anyway, since I also felt a bit of compassion for him—he was just working hard, and maybe that was the only motorcycle he had. So, I got on and we continued the trip. Before I knew it, we were already crossing the bridge on our way.  Suddenly, woosshhh! I wondered why Kuya the driver suddenly slowed down. I heard a strange sound, like something had fallen, and I was also bothered by the strong wind since we were on the bridge. Then, out of nowhere, he stopped the motorcycle. Still confused, I sat there until he told me, “Ma’am, please get down first.” I asked, “Huh? Why, Kuya?” That’s when he explained that his cellphone had fallen—with the stand—because he had placed it in front of the motor to monitor the map. He quickly rushed to retrieve it since it fell quite far away.  Look at me here, just waiting with my head bowed down. Honestly, I was really scared because people who know me well are aware that I have a fear of heights. To be honest, I easily get nervous when I’m in high places, and this was one of those moments. We were right in the middle of the bridge, and whenever huge vehicles passed by, the bridge would slightly shake, almost like it was bouncing. Since I’m such a scaredy-cat when it comes to heights, I just kept my head down, trying not to look around too much.  When Kuya the driver came back, I could clearly see the sadness and embarrassment on his face. Sadness, because his cellphone was broken, and embarrassment, because at that moment, he was my driver and I should have already been at my destination. But instead of complaining, I stayed quiet because I also felt pity for him—it wasn’t really his fault. As we got back on the motorcycle, he explained to me that the foundation of his phone stand wasn’t firm enough, which was why the phone had fallen. I just nodded, understanding his situation with compassion.  When we finally reached my destination, Kuya pulled out his phone and with a sad voice said, “It’s gone, already broken.” My heart sank the moment I saw the expression on his face—so full of disappointment and worry. I honestly felt like crying with him. Deep inside, I wanted to help, but I was also struggling financially. The first thought that came into my mind was, “What will happen now? How can he go home without a phone to guide him?” My budget was so tight; I only had just enough to cover the fare of ₱200 plus an extra ₱100. Still, I couldn’t bear to see him that way. So, I handed him everything I had, telling myself I could just borrow from my cousin later. As I turned away, holding back my emotions, tears slowly escaped because I truly felt his burden.  When I finally arrived, I saw everyone preparing the tables and chairs, busy arranging everything we would need for eating and sitting together. The atmosphere was light and joyful, and while I enjoyed being with them, deep inside I still carried the weight of guilt from what happened earlier. It was truly a difficult experience for me—not only because of my fear of heights on the bridge, which left me trembling a little, but also because I kept thinking about Kuya driver. The fare I gave him was not even close to enough for him to buy a new phone, yet that was all I could offer. It hurt me to know I couldn’t do more, but at least I tried. I kept reminding myself that it wasn’t anyone’s fault—sometimes things just happen. Still, the memory lingered, teaching me compassion in unexpected ways.