Nakatira si Sakima sa lupa ng pag-aari ng isang mayaman, kasama ang mga magulang at apat na taong gulang na kapatid.
Sakima lived with his parents and his four year old sister.
They lived on a rich man’s land.
Their grass-thatched hut was at the end of a row of trees.
Nagkasakit si Sakima noong siya ay tatlong taong gulang at mula noon ay naging bulag siya.
When Sakima was three years old, he fell sick and lost his sight.
Sakima was a talented boy.
Maraming nagagawa si Sakima na hindi kayang gawin ng ibang anim na taong gulang bata. Kaya niyang makipagtalakayan sa mga nakakatanda tungkol sa mga mabibigat na bagay.
Sakima did many things that other six year old boys did not do.
For example, he could sit with older members of the village and discuss important matters.
Namamasukan ang mga magulang ni Sakima sa bahay ng mayaman. Maaga silang umaalis at gabi na sila nakakauwi. Naiiwan si Sakima sa kanyang kapatid na babae.
The parents of Sakima worked at the rich man’s house.
They left home early in the morning and returned late in the evening.
Sakima was left with his little sister.
Mahilig kumanta si Sakima. Kaya isang araw, natanong ng ina, “Saan galing ang mga awit na ito, Sakima?”
Sakima loved to sing songs.
One day his mother asked him, “Where do you learn these songs from, Sakima?”
“Kusa na lang po silang dumarating, ‘Nay. Naririnig ko sila sa isip ko kaya kinakanta ko,” sagot ni Sakima.
Sakima answered, “They just come, mother. I hear them in my head and then I sing.”
Gustong gusto ni Sakima kumanta, lalo na pag gutom ang kanyang kapatid. Nakikinig ito nang mabuti at sumasayaw sa tunog ng kantang kayang pumawi ng gutom.
Sakima liked to sing for his little sister, especially, if she felt hungry.
His sister would listen to him singing his favourite song.
She would sway to the soothing tune.
“Kanta ka uli, Kuya Sakima,” sabi ng kapatid. At kakanta si Sakima ng paulit-ulit.
“Can you sing it again and again, Sakima,” his sister would beg him.
Sakima would accept and sing it over and over again.
Isang gabi, tahimik ang kanyang mga magulang. Naramdaman agad ni Sakima na may problema.
One evening when his parents returned home, they were very quiet.
Sakima knew that there was something wrong.
“Ano po ang nangyari, ‘Tay, ‘Nay?” tanong ni Sakima. Nalaman niya na nawawala ang anak ng mayamang amo ng magulang. Labis ang lungkot nito.
“What is wrong, mother, father?” Sakima asked.
Sakima learned that the rich man’s son was missing.
The man was very sad and lonely.
“Siguro sasaya siya kung kakanta ako,” sabi ni Sakima. “Hindi ka makakatulong. Napakayaman niya. Isa ka lang bulag. Ano sa palagay mo magagawa mo?” sabi ng mga magulang.
“I can sing for him. He might be happy again,” Sakima told his parents.
But his parents dismissed him.
“He is very rich. You are only a blind boy. Do you think your song will help him?”
Hindi sumuko si Sakima. Pinagtanggol din siya ng kapatid, “Nawawala ang gutom ko pag kumakanta si Kuya. Baka naman matulungan din niya ang taong mayaman.”
However, Sakima did not give up.
His little sister supported him.
She said, “Sakima’s songs soothe me when I am hungry. They will soothe the rich man too.”
Kinaumagahan, inakay si Sakima ng kanyang kapatid papunta sa bahay ng mayaman.
The following day, Sakima asked his little sister to lead him to the rich man’s house.
Tumayo siya sa ilalim ng bintana at nagsimulang kumanta. Unti-unting dumungaw ang mayaman.
He stood below one big window and began to sing his favourite song.
Slowly, the head of the rich man began to show through the big window.
Tumigil ang mga trabahador sa kanilang ginagawa. Sabi ng isa, “Wala pang nakakatulong sa amo natin. Akala ba ng bulag na ito na may magagawa siya?”
The workers stopped what they were doing. They listened to Sakima’s beautiful song.
But one man said, “Nobody has been able to console the boss. Does this blind boy think he will console him?”
Natapos ni Sakima ang isang awit at balak na sana niyang umalis. Hinabol siya ng mayaman, “Pasuyo naman, umawit ka pa uli.”
Sakima finished singing his song and turned to leave.
But the rich man rushed out and said, “Please sing again.”
Biglang dumating ang dalawang lalaki na may dalang stretcher. Natagpuan nila ang anak ng mayaman, na iniwan lang sa daan matapos bugbugin.
At that very moment, two men came carrying someone on a stretcher.
They had found the rich man’s son beaten up and left on the side of the road.
Natuwa ang mayaman nang makitang buhay ang anak. Binigyan niya ng gantimpala si Sakima. Dinala niya ang anak sa ospital para ipagamot. At dinala rin niya si Sakima para magpa-opera ng mata.
The rich man was so happy to see his son again.
He rewarded Sakima for consoling him.
He took his son and Sakima to hospital so Sakima could regain his sight.
