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No long weekend for these workers

No long weekend for these workers

ABS-CBN News

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Updated Nov 03, 2023 01:01 AM PHT

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With the long weekend almost over, most Filipinos are psyching themselves up to return to work. After a week of rest and relaxation, the return to reality looms. But for some, working never stopped. Either out of necessity or simply a sense of duty, a long holiday is but a pipe dream.

While not the ones that first come to mind when someone thinks of “essential workers,” the work they do is no less important, though not always appreciated.

Meet a few of the Filipinos working behind the scenes during the long weekend and see it as just another work week.

Caezar Julius

"Nakakainggit (ang mga may long weekend), kaya pag nag mo-motor po ako iniisip ko na lang parang nag stroll-stroll na lang ako." As a Transportation Network Vehicle Service rider, Caesar Julius regularly plies the roads of Metro Manila rain or shine. Every ride, a chance to put a few more Pesos in his pocket. While he admits he does feel envious sometimes of people on long weekends, he says he has a unique way of lessening it. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Caezar Julius

Parang nag gagala na lang din, parang nalilibang na rin po ako.” Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Ricardo Pimentel

“Sipag at tiyaga lang. Kailangan lang mahaba pasensya at kalmado lang, kasi lingkod ka ng bayan, kailangan mag duty." Just like Julius, Ricardo Pimentel stays on the streets as part of his job, no matter the weather as an employee of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB). Ready to offer a helping hand and keeping traffic flow moving, Pimentel looks at his role as more than a task. For him, sacrifices such as working even during Undas is part of it, seeing himself as a public servant. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Ricardo Pimentel

"Pagka public servant ka kailangan magsakripisyo ka talaga." Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Bryan Dizon

“Mahirap po na okay din. Una kasi mahirap dapat kasi kasama namin family namin papunta sa sementryo, para bumisita sa mga namayapa naming mga pamilya, pero hindi namin magawa ngayon kasi nga call of duty. Pero may mga ibang araw naman, ibang panahon na makapunta kami doon. Masaya dahil kahit ganitong pagkakataon , nakakapagsilbi tayo sa mamamayan naint. Katulad ng ganyan, sobrang traffic, napakaraming tao. Isa kami sa tumutulong ka kanila na mapaayos yung daloy ng trapiko, na maging maayos yung Undas natin.” Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Bryan Dizon

Like Pimentel, Bryan Dizon is also part of the MTPB. He has mixed feelings about having to work during the long weekend, but like his colleague, he sees it as a call of duty. “Puro trabaho nasa isip namin e. Pagka ganito tayong public servant, hindi na natin iniisip yung bakasyon. Puro trabaho lang tayo ng trabaho.” Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Jerry Estelloso

"Nasanay na ako, lalo na kung wala kang kapalitan, pero lalu na kung bago ka lang. Malungkot talaga. Iniisip ko na lang masaya ako, kahit mag isa." Security guard Jerry Estolloso offers a more somber take on being at work instead of visiting and spending time with family. He admits that not having the days off can get to you, but he chooses to ignore it. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Jerry Estelloso

"Kung didibdibin mo ang problema, tatanda ka talaga." Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Ronald Baloca

“Okay lang (hindi maingit). Basta makatulong sa gusto ng ating mayora, konsehal, para makatuong dito sa North cemetery, kusang loob naming, kahit hindi kami kumita okay lang yun. Minsan lang to sa isang taon to. Yung lang po para sa akin.” E-trike driver Ronald Baloca on the other hand is more pragmatic, choosing to work during the holidays. Contracted by the Manila LGU for Libreng Sakay during Undas, he knows it’s a chance to be paid while most Filipinos are relaxing. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN news

Ronald Baloca

“Sa amin kasi, sabagay matagal na namatay yung lola ko, ilang taon na din. Mga tiyuhin ko. Namimiss namin (going during Undas), pero sa bahay na lang kami mag titirik. Mahirap na makita po. Sa dami na nakalibing, mamaya tirk kami ng tirik wala na roon. May ganun kasi e.” Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN news

Ryan De Ocampo

“Para po sa akin, okay naman po kasi obligasyon namin mag trabaho. Dito po kami naka duty, dito kami dinetail ng opisina. Yung iba man may holiday, kami wala. Pero okay naman din kasi may mga kagaya ng ako, meron naman po akong namatayan dito. Yung paglilingkod ko sa trabaho, kasama na po yung nililinis ko po yung Norte (Manila North), kumbaga nakakasama ko pa rin sila. Yan naman po yung importante , kahit patay na po sila, nakakasama ko pa po sila, nagagawa mo pa yung trabaho mo. Double purpose po.” Manila Aide Ryan De Ocampo has held his job for 18 years and is frequently assigned to the Manila North Cemetery. He chooses to see his job as being able to perform his duties whiel also spending time with loved ones who have passed away. He says he makes it a point to light candles for his deceased relatives. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Ryan De Ocampo

“Mga lolo ko po, mga tiyuhin ko. Kahit papaano, hindi man po makapunta yung mga kamag-anak ko, nandito na ako, puwede ko na po silang itirik ng kandila tapos makakatrabaho pa po ako. Yun po, double purpose yung trabaho ko, nakapag trabaho ka na, nakapiling ko pa yung mga wala na po sa buhay.” Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Delfin Andres

"Walang double pay kahit holiday. Masaya na ko don e, kaya sabi ko ang Diyos na lang ang bahala sa ‘kin sa double pay. Siya na lang ang magdadagdag sa akin sa double pay, baka triple pay. Basta manalig ka lang sa kanya, siya na ang bahala. Basta masaya na akong wala akong sakit at ang mga anak ko. Basta kumakain araw-araw. Diyos na ang bahala sa akin.” For 79-year old village security personnel Delfin Andres, every chance given to work is a blessing, even if he does not receive holiday pay. The former OFW who hailed from Pangasinan says he was able to raise his five children with his current work, even while separated from his wife. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Delfin Andres

"Bakit ako maiingit sa kanila, basta ako sa Panginoon ako sumasandal palagi. Ako walang high blood, walang sakit sa puso, walang sakit. Healthy. Okay na ako don. Saka ang kailangan natin ngayon sa hirap ng buhay ay pera. Kailangan natin sa buhay." Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Delfin Andres

"Simula nung pumasok ako, ayaw kong umabsent. Sayang ang araw at oras. Sayang ang pera na mawawala. Mahalaga yon. Kahit itanong mo sa opisina, wala pa akong absent diyan. Masaya ako may trabaho ako. Basta makapagsimba lang ako ng Linggo at may trabaho ng anim na araw, masaya na ako. Basta hindi magkakasakit. Yan ang hinihingi ko sa Kanya.” Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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