(Greg M. Ramil)
Growing up in a family with meager resources drives me tostrive hard and to work even harder. To date, it’s my fourth employment alreadysince I graduated in college. It’s my choice. It’s not that I don’t have any contentmentwith my previous job, in fact, I love them (refer to
H.L.Neri’s Love Your Work). Itonly happened that greener pasture calls me to stride, opportunity knock butonce not to mention.
A casual talk with Ms. Macky, Systems Administrator of VeteransBank, still clearly flashes my mind as I wrote thismouth-blabbering-rumor-mongering-what-so-ever-piece when she said “Hindi komaintindihan ‘yung kaibigan ko. Lipat ng lipat sa trabaho. Ang gusto lang niyatumaas ang sahod. Hihihi.” And I can relate. Parang tip lang sa mga taonggustong tumaas ang sahod without any promotion involved.
I experienced studying here in Manila when I was inelementary first and second grade as my father is destined to work for aconstruction firm. Karpintero po ang tatay ko. Take note. Walang capital LANGha? All is well then, until we got home in the province since my father’s workhere in Manila is done. Following year became the saddest moment in my life as mymother past away.
At young age, I learned how to face the most challengingdilemmas only survivors can defeat. I have been into farm to help whatever I can.“Panagraep. Panagsikka. Panagsugot. Panaggapas. Panagadas. Panagbilag”. It’seasy anyway. What’s difficult is to be under the sun all day. Anyway, mahirapis but just mediocre sa mga taong naghihirap. I remember one time when achildhood lad told me, “Manung, sika ba ‘ata?”, maybe feeling pity for my tan.I have even experienced to be at slaughter houses during night times of Fridaysand Saturdays during school days as assistants of butchers. We call it,“panagbuking”. Add to the scene how I have to be at my relative’s home to helpwith their household chores, dry mais and palays, for them to buy me thingsI’ll need for the next schooling.
At school, I experienced not to attend Christmas programsbecause I have no present for exchange gift and new clothe to wear (nakakahiyanaman bibigyan ako ng regalo tapos wala aq ibibigay, siguradong magrereklamoyung hindi mabibigyan. Hindi totoo ung “it is better to give than to receive”sa mga bata.) I have experienced to denounce honor during commencement rites.(Uso kasi nung kapanahunan namin kelangan pag may ribbon kelangan mag-donatekaya sabi ko sa titser namin, iba na lang. [yabang]. Haha.) I have even experiencedto get low grade. (Walang “s” kasi normal lang sa mga normal na abnormal. hehe).A classmate once said, “Mabalin pagpritwan ta ulom ti itlogen bro.”, feelingthe heat as I arrived at school premises. Imagine walking for about half anhour at high noon. (Kaya nga pag may pera ako nun, imbes na pambili ng project,ibili na lang ng pagkain. Tos, galingan na lang sa exam. Hehe)
Those bitter past molded me to become a better individual. Tryingtimes tested me to be strong. Adversities allowed me to be able to standdespite sturdy tempests. With those, I learned how to compete not necessarilyto win but to show that I can. I learned how to play not to beat my opponentsbut to have some fun. I laugh, I smile, I am happy. Parang masaya kasi kungnakikita mo ‘yung dati mong kinatatayuan kung saan mas mahirap ka pa sa daga ‘tosngayon kalevel mo na siya. Mare-realize mo tao ka pala. hehe.
Right now, I am working in a support group and am dealingwith high profile individuals. It is somewhat a splendid accomplishment forwhich I learn from others’ experiences which I could emulate. I learn from others’ actions which I couldimitate.
After a meeting one time with Ms. Belen, VP of SecurityBank, she narrates she cooks and helps her maids at home during weekends as weare having our lunch, letting us taste her special adobo so odd and so delicious so differentfrom other adobos I have tasted before. Halos di na namin ginalaw ang mgainorder na pagkain. Masarap din ung binagoongan at saka ung fresh carrots whichaccdg. to her, siya mismo ang nag-prepare. Lesson: Not all busy people at workhave no longer time at home.
Kaya nga when my former boss gave me assignment for acompany at Ortigas, naglaan ako ng time for it hindi ‘yung lakwatsa lang nglakwatsa. (Wala kasi budget panglakwatsa eh. Hehe). “Bro, nu pumanaw ka,agpakada ka nga nasayaat ta makasubli ka met lang nu kayat mu.” Te Veny, a colleague, oncesaid. I do what she advised, that is why my former superiors and I are still inharmonious rapports.
I never stop dreaming… never stop praying… never stopbelieving.
I never stop when I am tired. I only stop when I am done.
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