The COR situation

Yesterday, I messed up. I thought of printing my COR indicating my DOST scholarship and at the last minute I decided not to. I thought, nah, they won’t ask for it anyway.

But they did. They asked for it. And I didn’t have it. This situation is so familiar because it happened before.

I messed up. I was well on my way of chastising myself when I realized, “You know what, I messed up. It’s done. But how can i remedy the situation?”

How can I repair it?

I’ve waited three hours just to enter the bank and I have nothing to show for it. No! Hope is not lost.

So the teller told me that I can print a copy of my COR. There’s a computer shop in front.

Yes, there is. But it’s closed for business.

Shit. Now what?

I was rounding the corner looking for a computer shop or print station but there’s nowhere in sight. And then I thought, there’s a computer shop I know that’s not so far away from here. 

I quickly hopped on a jeepney to the said shop. It’s only a couple minutes really. I could have walked  but I was in a hurry.

So I arrived there but all the computer shops are closed. As is mandated by the government. I found an attendant and I asked him if I could use his computer to print something. He was hesitant at first but he eventually relented probably sensing my desperation. “Be quick!”, he said. And I did. Logged in on my university account. Found the page I was looking for. It was only a couple of pages. And I told him those were the ones I wanted to print.

So far so good.

And then I realized I don’t have coins. All I have is a hundred peso bill. I asked him how much it would cost. Ten pesos. “Sorry, I don’t have change”. At that moment, I was close to saying, “keep the change.” It might even be evident in my tone. “I really need to go back before the bank closes at 12”. He eventually did give me my change though. Turns out he had enough.

“Maygani”, he commented.

I didn’t really mind. You know, if he kept the change. He’ll probably think that would be insane. I don’t know how people will react to such an absurd tip. But I didn’t wanna push it. Let people have their dignity. By that I mean, let people earn their honest living. If people think that a 900% tip is outrageous, then so be it.

Filipinos don’t really have a tipping culture though. I think Asian countries in general don’t have that. We’re frugal. 

What he didn’t realize is that that simple kindness is well worth the tip if I ever did offer it. I needed this piece of paper. He helped me. It’s an asymmetric value exchange.

But to him it’s probably just another harried customer needing an important document. He’s just doing his job. Albeit, bending the rules a little. But still, he’s just doing his job. But to me, it meant I don’t have to go back another day to open an account.

It was a simple act of kindness. But it meant everything.

My takeaway

I’m usually suspicious of other people. Even more so with strangers. But this situation is evidence that people will go out of their way to help you as long they are not inconvenienced. The world will help you. You just have to ask for it.

Another realization that I have is turning a bad situation into a fun one. I knew I messed up, alright. But what can I do to fix it? Thinking that way transforms my mindset from self-flagellating to problem solving. I thought of it as an adventure. An experiment.

A mistake is not a death sentence. Sometimes fixing it can be fun.