02/12/2025
Your paying for the knowledge, expertise and experience to get the job done, quick, safe and sure. Not for the minutes it took for him to do the Job.
A few days ago, nagpatulong kami magpacheck ng washing machine.
May naririnig kasi kaming kalampag sa loob… parang may nalaglag na turnilyo. As in hindi na pang “quick spin,” pang “concert tour” na talaga yung tunog.
So we called a technician. Pagdating niya, sabi ko,
“Kuya, pa-check naman po. Baka may natanggal na screw.”
Binuksan niya yung machine, tinanggal yung ilang parts, tapos sinilip nang maigi. Mga 15 minutes din siyang nagkalikot.
Then may hinugot siyang maliit na bagay.
Pagharap niya sa’kin, medyo kinabahan pa ako kasi akala ko major sira.
Pero sabi niya, “Sir, eto po.”
Hawak niya… isang bente pesos na coin.
Napakamot ako.
“Ah, coin lang pala… siguro mura lang to.”
Pero ngumiti si Kuya at sabi niya,
“Opo, Sir. Coin lang siya… pero pag ganitong kailangan kalasin para makuha, 1,500 po talaga ang service.”
Napakunot-noo ako nang bahagya, pero mahinahon kong nasabi,
“Kuya, coin lang talaga? 1,500?”
He smiled again and explained... calmly, professionally, walang yabang:
“Sir, hindi po yung coin ang binayaran ninyo. Sa inyo po yan. Ang binayaran po ninyo yung paano ko malalaman kung saan napunta, paano ko siya kukuhanin nang hindi nadadamage, at paano ko ibabalik yung washing machine nang ayos lahat ng pyesa.
At sir, kung hindi po natanggal yan, pwedeng magasgas o mabutas yung drum pag tumagal. Tingnan nyo po halos pudpod na yung coin.”
Tahimik ako after that. As in yung tahimik na tipong napahiya nang konti, pero natawa rin sa sarili.
Kasi doon ko na-realize... ang bilis nating malito between effort and value.
Akala natin pag maliit yung nakita, maliit dapat ang bayad.
Pag mabilis ginawa, mura dapat.
Pag “coin lang,” dapat “coin lang din ang presyo.”
Pero hindi natin nakikita:
Yung oras na ginugol para magkamali nang paulit-ulit.
Yung tools na pinag-ipunan.
Lahat yun para maging “madali lang” sa mata natin.
The truth?
It looks easy only because someone practiced long enough to make it look easy.
And this applies to everyone...
other technicians, artists, freelancers, carpenters, designers, marketers, photographers, writers, consultants, etc.
So next time we say,
“Madali lang ‘yan.”
“Mabilis lang ‘yan.”
“Ganyan lang yan?”
Remember:
You’re not paying for the minutes it took.
You’re paying for the years it took for someone to do it right, safely, and confidently.
At yung napudpod na coin na ‘yon?
Simple siya, oo... pero the lesson behind it?
Worth every peso.
