Sometime in 1998, I was part of the HR Team that was doing "road-trips" - recruitment blitzes - to the different provincial municipal halls south of Manila. This particular trip brought me to Malvar in the province of Batangas. As soon as we reached the venue (a local public school) and met with the local PESO (Public Employment Service Office) Officer, the team and I found our own corners and started interviewing the hundreds (okay, "several dozens" would be more like it) of applicant who came for the opportunity to be employed as machine operators in one of the world's largest semiconductor manufacturing and test companies.
Sometime towards the afternoon I was face to face with a young, single mother. She was quite soft-spoken and pleasantly mannered. In the course of the interview I found out that she had been standing in line all day, not leaving her place even during the lunch hour (it was already 2:00) just so that she wouldn't have to line up again and miss her chance. She wanted to get interviewed so badly, but she also wanted to get home immediately, as she had left her then 1-year old child - who had a fever that morning - with a neighbor (she lived alone). Hungry, tired and obviously worried, she answered all my questions quite satisfactorily. For all intents and purpose, she had passed and would be hired, but I still probed with questions, which she answered very well.
And then she balked at one question: "Why should I hire you?"
She fell silent. I was anticipating the usual "I'll-work-for-the-company-with-all-my-heart-with-all-my-mind-and-with-all-my-strength" answer. But I got something different (at least for that particular day).
In Tagalog, she replied: "You should hire me because I am working for a purpose - for my child. I have much to give her, but I need the opportunity to give her what she deserves. Because of this purpose, I will make sure that the company will not regret hiring me". And she fell silent again, obviously worried about her daughter (she didn't have money to buy paracetamol for her fever).
I knew that hiring her would make her happy - but what she needed right now was faith.
I told her then: "You are a good mother. Go home. Your daughter will be healed". Then I directed her to the table for her to submit her requirements.
Two weeks later, back at the plant, she approached me just as I entered the room to give orientation to the new hires. I did not recognize her, as she looked a lot brighter that day. She refreshed my memory by telling me of the interview.
"Sir," she said, "God must love you so much..." I asked why she said that.
"Because when I got home that day, my daughter was playing and laughing... and she had no fever at all.
"Only the word of someone God loves so much can be that powerful".
I am now godfather to that child.
And still a humble servant of God.
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ReplyDeleteI have been an avid reader of Kerygma and Didache before and I was very much touched by this personal story of yours. Thus, I was made to remember all the past stories and sharings I have both read and heard. The story was inspiring!
ReplyDeleteLike the young-single mother whose purpose for work is to provide for his 1-year old child all his needs, we all are being called for to have a life driven by a purpose. Thus often we hear the popular commercial statement... What drives you?
Often, work has been barring us from our spirituality but then again in the course of performing our daily routine comes all these simple yet strong stories of life and faith that inspires and changes though often ignored. It is sad though that often we forget about our own purpose why we do things and the reason why we are here.
Many of us would say that all these struggles are to answer the question of WHO AM I? It is an egoistic challenge the pushed man to reach the moon and for man to dream of replicating life itself. But then again, we all here are just passing-by. The aim for self-discovery is not just about superficial and earthly milestones but for us to grow spiritually through strengthening one's faith.
God is good. I may not be as religious and as diligent in terms of religion and faith but I grew up witnessing even until now, how God has been so good to all of us. He has saved me so many times. He never let a day pass without helping me carry my load. Often, he would carry me all throughout the journey. God is love.
The society has been so much focused on material things and those that relates to personal gratifications and reputation-enhancing activities which blinds us to who we are and why we are all here for after all.
I may not look as if I am who I write but then I know that I am here because of the others and I am here because of God.
It has been awhile since I have visited your site, but as a mother who has gone through what that lady has experienced, two things: it is a gift to be a parent, let alone, a single Mom, I salute single Moms everywhere, it is a difficult and long dark road alone, but they continue to survive for the sole purpose of providing and rearing their child/children in the best way they can. Secondly, no one request is ever left unanswered when God is with you every step of your way. Though physically, it may seem no one is standing there with that lady, I am sure that Jesus was carrying her through that line and watching over her child as she waited and sacrificed as much for her child. One thing that is good about people, is the Malasakit we show to those who are in need. God gave us the heart and the capacity to help others and be an instrument of his love.
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