Let Me Tell You About Our Caretaker, Joseph

On July 2, 2020, my husband read an article of Quinito Henson on Philippine Star. It talked about honoring everyday heroes and it was calling stories of heroism amidst this pandemic, those everyday heroes struggling to survive.

Honoring Everyday Heroes is the loving initiative of the Dr. George and Glennda Canlas, who lost their son. It was a way of celebrating their son's 19th birthday. The couple wanted to honor today’s heroes who are struggling to survive in this pandemic. Each winner will get a Cross mountain bike through Ben’s Grant-A-Wish Day through the Benjamin Canlas Courage To Be Kind Foundation.  

My husband, who always has a heart of service, thought of featuring our village caretaker. Below is his writeup of Joseph.

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Joseph, as we call him, is the caretaker of our place, Armstrong Villas, located in Moonwalk Subdivision, Moonwalk, Paranaque City, a subdivision of around 70 townhouses. As caretaker, his duties involve ground maintenance which includes, maintaining the subdivision streets and clubhouse clean, taking care of the plants, doing repairs and maintenance of electrical fixtures, drainage, etc. But to us homeowners, he is more than that, doing chores beyond his official duties. He is every household's Mr. Go-to Guy. Gifted with all around skills and knowledge, he is everybody's mechanic, electrician, carpenter, plumber, steel man, gardener, all rolled into one. We are blessed to have him in our midst, saving us the hassles of looking for repairmen of our common household problems, besides the costs involved. We have that feeling of security and well, comfort, to have him in times of our need. 

Joseph and family lives in Bgy. Sun Valley, Paranaque City, around 5 kms. away from our place. The mode of public transport is thru tricycles, but it takes him three (3) trike rides to travel, which is a big financial burden to him. To save on fares, he would then just walk his last leg of his destination, that is, in going to work and in going home. Until one day, one homeowner took pity on his plight and lent him the old BMX bike of his child. With some repairs which he himself did, Joseph was just overjoyed with his newly found vehicle.

But beyond his all-around skills, is a man of good character and admirable attitude towards the dignity of his work, to the homeowners, and even to other ordinary people like him, the security guards, delivery men, etc. He is mild mannered, respectful, honest, industrious, and does his job with dedication and efficiency, reporting for work, rain or shine, floods or no floods.

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