John-John “Ambo” Maeso, 29
Taho vendor
“Mahirap ‘pag mainit. Pati na ‘din ‘pag umuulan. Mahina kita. Pangarap ko kasi magkaroon ng motor para lagyan ng sidecar pang-service. Para kahit umuulan, kahit walang benta, may pagkakakitaan pa rin ako.”
(It’s challenging when it’s too hot. The same when it rains. Sales are slow. My dream is to buy a motor that I can attach a sidecar to and then use for [school] service. So even if income from selling taho is low, I’d still have another way of earning money).
Juliet Carrascal, 50
Sidewalk vendor
“Kahit Pasko man ‘yan o baha, nagbebenta pa din ako dito. Minsan hindi na nga ako nakakauwi sa amin. Wala kasing papalit. Pero okay naman kasi dito na lang ako kakain. Bibili na lang ako ng makakain, at may makakain naman sila doon sa bahay. Nalilibang ako dito. Nauubos ‘yung oras ko. Masaya siya, marami kang nakakausap, marami kang nakikilala at marami kang nae-experience. Dito na ‘ko tumanda. Mahilig kasi ako magsugal dati. Lagi akong nagsusugal, pero pagkatapos kong magsimulang magtinda, natanggal na lahat ng bisyo ko. Imbis na magsugal ako, e di magbenta na lang ako. May kikitain pa ‘ko.”
(Whether it’s Christmas or even if there’s a storm, I remain at this post to sell goods. Sometimes, in fact, I don’t get to go home anymore as there’s nobody to take over my post. But that’s okay. I can just buy food and have my meals here knowing my family has food on the table at home. I enjoy my work here. The time just passes by. You get to talk to a lot of people; you meet a lot and you get to experience many things. I’ve spent a good number of years here. I used to gamble a lot but after I started being vendor here, I stopped all my vices. Instead of gambling, I might as well just sell and earn.)
The working Filipino has many different faces. He could be Ambo, who continues striving to earn more for his family. She could be Mary Grace, persevering for her family despite being away from them. This present-day hero could be Marlon, chasing not their own dreams but for others. Or she could be Rhea and Juliet, who see their roles as something more than a job but rather as a vocation and a source of joy.
No matter the kind of worker one is or the kind of job he or she has, anyone who makes an honest living should be celebrated for their hard work and contributions to their family and communities. We salute our fellow Filipinos who face life with great optimism and perseverance to make lives better.
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