ILOILO City – Each of us is looking up to a certain hero, but each of us, too, is unknowingly a hero in someone else’s eyes. Some heroes are on the streets, others in the markets.
One gloomy Sunday, Panay News chanced upon 58-year-old Juliet Baylon vending bottled mineral water to jeepney drivers and motorists along Infante Street in Molo district.
For Juliet, a resident of Barangay Tanza Bonifacio here, Sundays are her extra-income-days – a good week’s starter for her being a traffic enforcer from Mondays to Saturdays.
Doing something else on a rest day relieves stress, Juliet told Panay News.
For 14 years, rain or shine, Juliet has been the streets’ mate – or a street hero for taking the job often dominated by males.
She started working as traffic aide after her husband, who was also a traffic enforcer, died. She said she had to work for herself despite the fact that her only child could take care of her.
“Nalipay ako mag-obra kay makakuha sang stress kon may mga problema. Gina-enjoy ko akon obra,” said Juliet.
Being a woman traffic aide is not an issue for her.
“Kaya man namon na nga mga babaye… ‘gapamanday pa ‘ko gani sa balay, gina-obra ko obra sang lalaki. Gapang-agwada man ‘ko pag-abot sa balay,” said Juliet.
She emphasized that for someone who was born from a poor family it is not practical to be choosy.
“Importante nagapangabuhi ‘ta ‘ya sang insakto. Importante nga maayo ka sa pareho mo, wala ka may natapakan,” Juliet stressed.
After duty, Juliet is a mother and a granny to her only apo. Before going home, she drops by a nearby fast-food chain to buy pasalubong.
Like Juliet, 62-year-old Edgardo Librella is also doing his job, rain or shine, as kargador (porter) at the Iloilo Terminal Market, popularly known as “Super.”
Panay News spotted him and a colleague loading sacks of bananas and vegetables in an improvised push cart despite the drizzle.
Manong Edgardo is one of the oldest porters in Super. He is a native of Lambunao, Iloilo and currently residing in Barangay Baluarte, Molo.
According to Edgardo, he has been a porter in the market as early as 1970s. Most of his contemporaries passed away already.
For Manong Edgardo, one has to work hard to live.
“Mag tinamad kaw waay ka man income-on. Alangan man nga mangawat ka,” he said.
For some, Manong Edgardo is just an ordinary kargador but for those who are inspired by his dedication, he is a hero.
Today, Filipinos are celebrating National Heroes’ Day. This is the time to pay tribute to all known or unknown individuals who dedicated their lives to achieving our Philippine identity, justice against tyranny, peace and freedom.
Manang Juliet and Manong Edgardo are just among the many faces of ordinary heroes on the streets, in the markets and everywhere. They are our everyday heroes./PN
