JON WAS an aspin whose master was a cultivator and a seller of sampaguitas. Unfortunately, they were separated during the EDSA People Power Revolution twelve years ago when tanks and armored vans caused an uproar in their camp.
As Jon rested on the uppermost part of a tall staircase–which had become a comfort area for him because it meant that he could finally have a better view of his surroundings to protect himself–a blind woman carrying a basket approached him and gave him pandesal. He quickly consumed it out of sheer hunger.
“Mahilig ka rin pala riyan,” she remarked under her breath after tapping the floor with her cane, checking if Jon had eaten the bread.
The dog suddenly saw his master’s likeness from the elderly woman, but because he had learned to fear people after being constantly abused as a stray, he did not give her much attention.
Everything about the woman was new to him—from the wrinkles on her face to her frail voice. But the woman had one thing in common with his master: they were both visually impaired.
The lady proceeded to walk downstairs when a strong breeze scattered what seemed to be sampaguitas from the basket. She knelt down, struggling to gather them. At the sight of the woman and the flowers, Jon reminisced a fading memory of the past when he would help his master harvest every flower from her garden.
Jon decided to rip the collar off his neck, which was given to him by his master and contained a braille of his name. He chased the woman, collar in mouth, and mounted his paws on her knees while continuously whining.
“Ano ‘to?” she asked.
When the woman traced her fingers on the braille, tears materialized around her eyes. F
