Meet John Andrew Dangca, a 21-year-old working Filipino student in Australia who got in touch with us to show his fellowmen in the Philippines that working as a janitor is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, he says it should be something to be proud of.
He says, “Itong larawang na ito nagpapakita na isa lamang po akong janitor sa ibang bansa, self-supporting at handang tumulong sa pamilya.. Hindi ko po kinahihiya itong trabaho ko. Gusto ko po ipakita sa inyo para po mainspired ang maraming Pilipino.”
[Rough translation: “This photo shows that I am just a janitor in another country, self-supporting and ready to help my family. I am not ashamed of my job. I want to show this to you to inspire a lot of Filipinos.”]
He continues with more valid points:
“Akala ng iba kapag nangibang bansa na eh maganda na buhay, mayaman, mayabang, mataas, asensado, malayo na ang narating.
Let’s face reality, Hindi nalalayo ang buhay namen bilang estudyante sa mga kababayan nateng ofw na nagsisikap para lang sa kanilang pamilya. We’re only students who can only work with a limited time. Nagbabayad sa school and the same time tumutulong sa pamilya, kumbaga self-supporting. Walang tulog, study sa umaga then work sa gabi, at ung eagerness na makasama ang pamilya ay mga dahilan na talagang napakahirap.
Hindi ko po kinahihiya ang pagiging cleaner o janitor, kung eto po ung way para makatulong sa pamilya bakit naman kelangan ikahiya? Basta ang mahalaga nakakatulong sa pamilya. Sapat na, na alam ko ung proud na proud ang mama ko, mga kapatid ko at tita ko para saken. Kaya salamat po sa mga kaibigang mahilig mag down dahil po sa inyo lalo po akong namomotivate. Si Lord na po bahala sa lahat.. God bless po.”
[Rough translation: “Some people think that people who live in another country have great lives, are rich, are full of themselves, are proud, and reach great heights.
Let’s face reality: our lives as students aren’t far from the lives of OFWs who do all that they can for their families. We’re only students who can only work with a limited time. Paying for school while helping our family at the same time – self-supporting, so to speak. No sleep, studying in the morning, working at night, and the eagerness to be with our family are just some of the difficulties that we face.
I am not ashamed of being a cleaner or a janitor. If this is the means to help my family, why would I be ashamed of it? What’s important is that I can help them. It is enough for me to know that my mom, my siblings and my aunts are proud of me. So, thank you to my friends who keep motivating me. I leave everything up to the Lord. God bless you.”]
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