"The smartest thing a girl can ever learn, is to never need a man." - Demi Lovato

Baguio Public Market

We went to buy vegetables in the public market. It's customary to use porters due to the lack of shopping carts. They work for tips and usually find you before you find them. She was about 13 years old with black hair pulled back in a pony tail. She asked my cousin, speaking in Tagalog, if she could carry our purchases. We were a group of three women (myself, my cousin, and her colleague) . The girl was persistent, so my cousin agreed.

Soon after another girl showed up (turned out it was her friend) and they both carried our bags of fruits and vegetables around the market. I asked their names, part of me thought if they decided to run off with our precious produce I would at least know their names!

The persistent girl was Diana and her shy friend was Princess. I liked them. I asked Diana how many carrots would make a kilo. "Eight" she answered promptly in English and she was right! Later a teenage boy came up to our porters, smiling and telling the girls in Tagalog to let him carry some bags too. They didn't want his help because that would mean they would have to share their tip with him. I intervened and told him "No, we already have Diana and Princess." He laughed, clearly surprised that I understood. And I said again, "No, thank you, I don't want you." He laughed again and moved on. I turned to Diana and Princess and told them I didn't want his help either. "Girl Power!" I said to them with a smile. They both smiled back at me. 

Diana and Princess carried our bags to the pick up area and I tipped them both. I really liked them, especially Diana. She seemed so smart and ambitious. I hope she has a good life.