On their last day

 

Ate Liberty

It was actually her dream to work in La Salle—and along with this dream-come-true is the everyday struggle of making ends meet for her family of four children and a handful of a husband. They all depend on her, and her tired eyes could not hide the level of anxiety of single-handedly raising her family in a harsh world of costly price tags and monthly bills.

The story of her struggle that she can’t forget would be when she wasn’t able to pay their rent, so their family slept on the grounds of an overpass in Pala-Pala. That night, she felt the world rendering her feeble. She didn’t sleep. She watched her children snooze after they were too tired to cry.

At that time and in every instance like it, she strived to stay strong and at the very best, happy. She can easily say, without missing a beat, she was grateful for the three and a half years of working in La Salle.

“Marami akong natutunan,” she shared, “Marami akong nakilala—napapasaya nila ako.” At the end of her time in the school, she reassured, “`di ako susuko.”

 

Kuya Nomer

He had come a long way in DLSU-D, 12 and a half years to be exact. He’s a man with three daughters— two of which are not his own. He also raises his nieces. We don’t need to go into detail about his open heart—his story speaks for itself.

Kuya Nomer recalls his early years in La Salle when he was at first very shy to the students and faculty. But after a few years, he found his love for work being propelled by the smiles of the students, the little thank-yous, and the companionship. He recalls one specific moment he’d never forget. It was when a storm hit, leaving the campus in a big mess. They cleaned the school and he was moved to see the students and faculty pitching in.

But after La Salle, he is still downright clueless as to where he will work in order to continually provide for his family. He knows they’re disappointed with the situation, but if there’s someone who is happy about it, it’s his 9-year-old daughter.

“Masayang masaya siya,” he narrates gleefully, “Makakasama na niya ako araw-araw e.”

 

Kuya Ver

In times like these, it’s hard to find someone filled with such positivity—someone like Kuya Ver. Beyond his life as an Almers worker, he has a son who is scholar in the CBA night class of DLSU-D and a wife who stays at home to take care of his other child who needs extra care and attention.

For eight years, his job as a housekeeper under Almers was where he made a living. He recalls the time when he had just started his journey inside the campus, “Sa umpisa hanggang ngayon, masaya, kasi mahal namin trabaho namin e.”

Another thing that seals his years in La Salle as joyful is his collection of good memories with students and faculty who refused to treat him as just another paid worker, but as a friend. “Maraming mabait sa La Salle,” he expressed about the students who shared their college life with him. “Iyong iba nga ang gaganda na ng buhay e. Kahit makita nila ako sa mall o kahit saan, babatiin nila ako.”

He admits being deeply sad upon losing his job, but he reminds himself to be a positive thinker. He plans to find another job immediately instead of waiting for his agency’s promise of new work within three to six months.

When asked the first thing that came to his mind when he found out he just lost his job, he said, “Tatanggapin.”

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