With the economic effects of the pandemic still on the rise, members of the auxiliary staff are struggling to rise above their day-to-day financial struggles. In an interview last November 24, Anni Dericto, a custodian in PAREF Rosehill, voiced out the effects of the pandemic in her family’s day-to-day life.
Anni Dericto or ‘Ate Anni’, as she is most fondly called in Rosehill, stated that despite having no stable source of income, she is still able to provide food on the table for her family’s lunch and dinner.
“Nakakaraos naman kami. Kailangan lang talagang maghigpit ng sinturon ngayon. Hindi kagaya noong may trabaho. Sobrang naapektuhan talaga kami. Yung pang araw-araw – talagang napaka-hirap hanapin. Mahirap talaga. Ang kain namin ay tanghali at hapunan,” said Ate Anni.
She added that she currently busies herself by planting vegetables and running a small ‘sari-sari store’, where she earns an average of Php 30 per day.
“Wala akong income ngayon eh dahil yun nga wala akong trabaho. Hirap kasi mag-apply ngayon eh kaya dito lang ako sa bahay. Nagtatanim-tanim ng gulay at halaman. Nagtayo rin ako ng maliit na tindahan. Kumikita naman ako ng mga Php 30 ganun pero minsan pag walang walang na talaga kami, lumalapit na lang ako sa mga kapatid ko,” said Ate Anni.
Further, she mentioned that she is grateful for the help the school and the parents have provided for it helped them get through the pandemic.
“Naka-survive naman kami dahil sa tulong ng parents doon sa school natin. Nagbigay yung school nung March at May sa amin ng bigas tapos pagkain. Malaking tulong talaga sa amin,” said Dericto.
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