Blind Vendor Sells Vegetables along a Dangerous Highway

She is totally blind yet this did not stop a grandma, Nanay Benny, from selling vegetables along a dangerous highway in the Philippines. Netizen Gary Liong shared an encounter with Nanay Benny to When In Manila, detailing how this admirable blind woman is selling vegetables even if she could not see!

Indeed, Nanay Benny relies on people’s honesty in giving her the correct money and getting the proper change because she couldn’t see their faces, anyway, and would have no idea whether they were actually just giving her paper or if it was real money. And even if they cheated on her or stole her earnings and her vegetables, she wouldn’t even be able to chase after them or report the incident to the authorities!

Thankfully, despite the many years of selling at the spot and in other areas, Nanay Benny has not encountered such a situation. Perhaps even the crooks wouldn’t dare steal from this blind woman for she is earning a decent and honest keep even if she has a disability that made moving around the busy city quite difficult.

Considering that, according to Liong, Nanay Benny is only brought here and fetched by a young child, it is quite dangerous for both of them to do it yet the two persevered, anyway. This is simply proof of their determination to earn money! What a slap to those able-bodied criminals who earn money by stealing from others!

Here’s the story shared on When In Manila by Liong:

BLIND FAITH IN HUMANITY. Just want to share this photo I took of an old woman selling vegetables at the corner of the National Highway and “checkpoint” in Carmona, Cavite. She is Nanay Benny, and she is totally blind. She sells her meager goods near a police station at the edge of a dangerous curve oblivious to vehicles passing sometimes just a foot or two from her as they make a turn to enter the highway.

She is brought there every late afternoon by a little girl she shares her shanty with, together with 6 other children. The first time I saw her in that location it was already dark and I was struck with concern for her safety. Her “sundo” hasn’t arrived yet but she patiently waits.

I offered to purchase a few items left in her basket and asked if people sometimes take advantage of her handicap. She said she’s never experienced it before and thankful that all her customers didn’t cheat on their payment. She said the kindness of strangers is what sustained her and her grandchildren’s survival for many years now.

I went home that night not just with a few strands of “sitaw” (string beans) in my bag but also with some of my faith in humanity restored. If by chance, you happen to pass by the area and see Nanay Benny there, please buy something from her.

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