Our Ates and Kuyas on Life in the Time of COVID-19

By: Montsy de Castro

Due to the ongoing pandemic, many members of the PAREF Rosehill School’s auxiliary staff have been forced to stop working. These days, they have been operating different jobs while awaiting the day they can recommence working their regular shifts in the Rosehill campus. 

According to Kobee Lundag, a custodian at school, who is known to most of us as Kuya John Dale, some of the auxiliary staff members are able to work at school twice a week, while other employees have not had the opportunity to work regularly in Rosehill during the pandemic.

Maribel Tabirara or Ate Mabel, who is also a custodian in Rosehill, is one of those who have been unable to resume working in Rosehill due to the current situation. In the meantime, while waiting for the resumption of physical classes, she has been assisting her daughter run a store that sells delicious food like pancit malabon, spaghetti, lugaw, and sopas.

“Sa ngayon, tinutulungan ko ang aking anak magluto ng almusal pang tinda,” said Ate Mabel.

(As of now, I have been helping my daughter cook breakfast to sell.)

On the other hand, Kuya John Dale is one of the few auxiliary staff members who regularly go to the campus twice a week. However, besides working at school as a custodian, he explained that he helps in delivering packages for Rosehill, which is among the other sideline jobs he has undertaken as other means of living.

Likewise, Rodel Villantes, a Rosehill security guard, has work shifts in school twice a week, yet he has also felt the need to find other part-time jobs to help him earn more income. 

“Ako po ay naghahanap ng extra income. Bumibiyahe po ako ng tricycle, namamasada upang makadagdag-ipon, maliban sa aking trabaho bilang security guard ng Rosehill,” he said.

(I am looking for extra income. I drive tricycles to earn money besides my current job as a security guard in Rosehill.) 

When I asked each of them how they felt about the circumstances that they found themselves in because of the pandemic, they were all open about speaking on the difficulties and challenges they have experienced.

“Mahirap po pakiramdam ng magkaroon ng pandemiya dahil nabawasan po ang oras ng trabaho ko bilang security guard. Bawas din ang income,” said Kuya Rodel.

(The pandemic has made it difficult because my work hours were lessened, which resulted in lesser income as well.)

“Sanay kami sa hirap pero iba yung panahon ngayon,” added Kuya John Dale.

(We are used to hardship, but this time is different.)

However, all three of them expressed their immense gratitude towards the Rosehill community,  who they said have helped them better cope with these challenging circumstances.

“Buti nalang meron lagi binibigay mga taga PAREF sa amin. Meron bigas, canned goods, noodles, minsan naman cash,” gratefully said Kuya John Dale.

(It’s a good thing that the people from PAREF always have something to give us. They have given us rice, canned goods, noodles, and sometimes cash.)

“Malaki ang pasasalamat namin sa Rosehill school, parents, and students dahil sa pagtulong sa amin at pagsuporta, kahit wala kami pasok sa ngayon. Hindi kami pinababayaan nila, at doon kami nagpapasalamat, sa pagmamahal at pag-aalala sa katulad namin empleyado ng Rosehill,” expressed Ate Mabel.

(We are extremely grateful towards the Rosehill school, parents, and students because of the help and support they give us, even though we currently don’t go to the school. They don’t neglect us, and this is why we are thankful, for the love and consideration they give the employees of Rosehill like us.)

Just like everyone else, the three of them wish for the immediate end of this pandemic and for the return of the real normal, a time where we could all head to school to learn and work untroubled by the thought of practicing proper social distancing. 

“Mensahe ko po: magdasal na sana matapos na ang pandemiya, upang bumalik na sa normal na sitwasyon ang pamumuhay ng mga tao,” concluded Rodel Villantes. 

(My message is to pray for the end of this pandemic so that we can all go back to our normal lives.)