By Ruel S. De Vera, Associate Editor
Sunday Inquirer Magazine

ASIDE from being a name that’s either meaningfully apt or ridiculously ironic, charity is a concept more complicated than you think. From a very young age, we’re taught to be giving, especially to the less
fortunate. But then we’re told that it’s illegal to be giving money to street children, even as we’re taught in college to step out of our campuses and work with the poor. There is no longer anything simple about alms and giving.

Is charity complex?. The most complex part has to do with beggars. In particular, I remember a fantastic poem by Emmanuel Torres about being picky about beggars. It invoked vivid images of preferring the beggars who “work” to earn alms, those who play musical instruments, or compared to those who just sit there, hand outstretched with cup.

This dilemma gets even more pronounced during the holidays when a virtual army of urchins seems to sweep the city streets. So now, one has to choose between different kinds of street children, younger
versus older, one child carrying another, or perhaps holding hands of two even younger children. And what does that mean for the older beggars, or the disfigured ones, or the paralyzed ones?

Is charity reckless? Should it apply to everyone every time? What does it mean when we encounter a beggar and avert our eyes, almost willing the person to become invisible? I remember someone advising me to just smile when a beggar asks for alms. I remembered that piece of advice one day in Connecticut, when I was confronted by a rather large homeless man. “Hey man, got any change,” he asked. As I was advised to do, I smiled. “What you smiling at,” he said, voice rising as he stepped towards me. I walked away as fast as my feet could charitably carry me.

Is charity a matter of amount? Some people give thousands of pesos, others hundreds, others nothing. One recalls the parable of the widow with the talents, who gives all she can.

Is charity a competition? It is a twisted view that we should hold ourselves above others simply because we give more money to the poor, or maybe donate more time to the less fortunate. I suppose one can look at it the same way as those trying to get into Heaven. It’s not about getting there first. It’s not about who has the better resume. Like holiness and charity, it is only real when we do it because we want to and not because we want to be credited for it. It works only when we do it for the right reason.

Is charity personal? I think it is. That is why being an anonymous donor makes sense. Calling attention to yourself sounds a little weird when you’re trying to show how good a person you are.

Is charity seasonal? It shouldn’t be. I’m not one to lecture—I am hardly the charitable type: It’s mine, all mine, bwahaha! Truth is, I’m confused and often conflicted about my own ideas regarding being giving. But what better time than the present to try and think about it? What better time to be giving about being giving?

Read about our favorite charities in the December 14, 2008 issue of the Sunday Inquirer Magazine.