S’porean Hawker’s Daughter Shared Heartbreaking Story Of How Her Parents were Mistreated By Customers

While I’m not exactly the manliest of men, I don’t tear up easily. It’s not of my own volition though; rather, it’s because I vowed not to cry when I was ten, which kind of led to an anti-tearing movement in my eye sacs. Not proud of it, yet at the same time, I’m not exactly disappointed either.

But once in a while, there comes a moving, heartbreaking story that damn near threatens to break my vow of cry-lence. Two years ago, it was Japanese animation Kimi no na Wa. One year ago, it was Logan. And this year…

It’s a story of how an earnest hawker couple, who worked tirelessly for more than four decades in the industry, got cruelly exploited along the way.

Now, I don’t tear up easily.

But this one damn near made me.

Dammit, ninjas cutting onions in my bedroom again.

The Authentic Hawker Life

I’m sure most of you are aware, but hawker food’s delicious. Many locals are especially taken with hawker fare, and for good reason. The food’s good, and it’s irresistibly cheap. What more can you ask for, really?

Well maybe air-con, but hey we can’t ask for everything in life.

But while consumers are largely appeased, hawkers have it a lot harder. And I’m not just talking about increasing rental prices, long working hours and the lack of sufficient rest, even though they invariably contribute to the big picture. Rather, I’m talking about…

Mistreatment by customers.

Meet Pat Law, the founder of social media agency GOODSTUPH. While she might be working in a pretty high-tech line right now, but her life hasn’t always been like that. Her parents, who work in the hawker industry, have been working tirelessly in the field for more than four decades, and she has seen a lot while growing up.

A lot.

Sharing her own family’s experience on her Instagram stories on 14 October, Pat detailed the difficulties her parents went through with both the hawker centre’s management and the local customers, and she wasn’t afraid to mince her words. But it was a testament to how heartbreaking the story was, that profanities didn’t only not seem out of place, but rather…

Fitting.

It all started with an ambiguous introduction.

Which soon led to a particularly heart-breaking story. You can check it out down below.

Note: it’s best to prep a tissue box beside you. It might not come to use, but hey it’s always more convenient.

In clarification, the herbal soup’s not just any soup.

Is that why they say the worst enemy is one within? Hmm…

Also, see what I mean? The profanity doesn’t just fit in.

It’s borderline justifiable.

And the sheer insolence of customers doesn’t end there.

At this point, Pat interjects a life lesson she acquired when she was young.

And it seems that the lesson stuck with her through the years, for Pat starts ravaging the existing hawker culture of Singapore from thereon.

She began by sharing several newspaper reports on the issue.

Before detailing just how unfairly treated Singaporean hawkers really are.

And it seems that the management had a large part to play.

And Pat, whose rage was clear for all to see, made a public declaration.

Sadly, it’s not a positive one for the rest of us.

But it’s not just because of the authorities.

And she proceeds to rant about how it’s so typical of Singaporean ‘elitists’.

At this point, she lays out a list of options that could pretty much resolve existing hawker issues. And she makes sure to omit certain committees from the picture at the end.

At this point, Pat added another brief backstory.

Needless to say, it was another teeth-clenching one.

And this led to the only funny part of the otherwise emotional-charged story.

But it seems that the chip doesn’t fall far from the block.

Hawker Culture

A topic that has been making waves locally is that of Jurong West Hawker Centre’s controversial move, in which it has announced that stallholders have to pay 20 cents for every tray patrons take. That, however, is going to change soon after the management meet up with the stallholders (but honestly, why start with that?!).

And well, let’s just say that Pat didn’t take very kindly to it.

She then set a mental checklist of who not to invite to her birthday party…

Before ending with a note-worthy resolution.

Anyone else getting the Katniss vibes? Because I sure am.

Hawker Culture

Honestly, I don’t really bother to find out the backstory of my favourite hawker. Nor do I care to discover whether he’s making a profit doing it, or whether he’s getting mistreated by the management. And for good reason too. I’m paying; he’s cooking. It’s fair trade. What reason do I have to poke into his business?

Yet, now that I read about it, I can’t help but feel guilt-tripped. Granted, I might not have asked for free soup all the time, but I don’t exactly smile when I pay for my food. And considering how much shit they have to go through, I have a feeling a smile actually goes a long way.

And so in conclusion, I implore you guys. You don’t have to exactly start a hawker movement against local management, nor do you have to station security guards to make sure nobody asks for free soup. Instead, all I ask you guys to do…

Is treat them nicely.

And while I’m not sure about a lot of things, I’m pretty sure they’ll appreciate that. 🙂

But of course, if you’re dealing with a toxic hawker, then just treat them back the same way.

*All images from Instagram (@patlaw) via Mothership.sg