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Text & Photos by Jessica Bartolome, GMA News
With the GMA Public Affairs Social Media Team
December 19, 2018
Christmas may be for family, but sometimes that means that Christmas cannot be spent with family.
While most people spend the holidays bonding at home, there are those who are unable to do the same, because they have to work to support their loved ones.
Oscar Pangilinan has been a security guard at GMA Network for 16 years.
By now, he is used to being on duty on Christmaas and New Year. In fact, he has had more Christmases spent at work than with his family.
"Iniisip namin trabaho kasi 'yan eh, diyan kami kumukuha ng income," he says.
But even if he is unable to spend the holiday with his wife and children, he is able to spend it with his work family.
If he is on duty on Christmas Eve, he and his fellow guards hold their own noche buena, pooling together their meals for a boodle fight.
"'Yun ang sine-celebrate namin ang magsasama-sama kami, magkakainan kami, boodle fight sa labas. Naglalatag kami ng, basta maglalatag kami ng kung ano dyan na pwedeng ilatag ang pagkain, maghahanda kami ng lamesang mahaba, sabay-sabay kaming magkakainan," he says.
A young father, it's not as easy for Raymond Faledona to be away from his family at Christmas.
"Malungkot po gayong kami nagtatrabaho dito sa duty, samantalang 'yung pamilya namin nasa bahay lang po kasama 'yung ina at anak ko," he says.
But on his fifth year of being a security guard at a construction site, he is more or less resigned to it. What's important is that he is able to earn for his family.
"Kahit nakakalungkot po isipin, gano'n po ang trabaho namin bilang isang security guard, siyempre trabaho lang po ang mas mahalaga sa amin, wala nang iba para mabuhay lang po ang pamilya namin," he said.
Raymond has not had an easy life. Before he entered security, he was a construction worker only just starting a family. He said he found applying as a security guard easier so he took that route.
The 34-year-old said he prefers being a security guard despite the unforgiving hours.
"Ang duty po namin ay 12 oras, ung palitan po namin tuwing 12-12, wala na po akong time sa pamilya namin. Pagdating po namin ng panggabi na po kami, matutulog na po kami 'pag umaga, papasok naman po 'pag gabi ulit," he says.
But he is willing to make the sacrifices necessary to give his family a better future.
"Para po sa anak ko saka sa asawa ko po, para mabigyan sila ng magandang kinabukasan," he says.
As someone who earns hour by hour and day to day, jeepney driver Domingo Dagatan cannot spare a single day — not even Christmas.
He has had the same job for three decades, starting his route at V. Luna and ending at Arayat in Cubao. He works 12 hours, from 5:30 am to 5:30 pm.
After his wife's passing, Domingo is providing for three children by himself. One of his kids helps with the bills as he is a jeepney driver as well.
"Kahit paano nakakaraos kami eh tatlo ang anak ko, binubuhay ko tatlo. Nag-aaral pa 'yung bunso, yung dalawa hindi na nag-aaral. Nagmamaneho na 'yung isang anak ko biyaheng Lagro-Anonas. Nakakatulong din sa akin lalo na sa bilihin, mahal ang, umuupa lang kami," he said.
Life wasn't always hard for Domingo and his family, but a series of unfortunate events set them back permanently.
"Noong araw may bahay ako, no'ng nawala ang asawa ko, nawala-wala lahat. May sasakyan akong sarili noon, ngayon nawala lahat. Nagkahirap-hirap na kami, nagkasakit ang anak ko, nagkasakit ang asawa ko, nasunugan pa kami. Dalawang beses kaming nasunugan kaya inabot kami ng ganu'ng hirap ng buhay," he says.
At 57, Domingo has minor health issues, like hypertension, but he keeps on out of necessity.
Even on days such as Christmas, he pushes himself to earn just a little bit more.
"Sayang din kasi ang bawat araw. Halimbawa sa araw, oras, nahirapan man ang sarili ko, pinipilit ko na para makakaraos kami," he said.
Still, Domingo makes time to spend with his children on the day of Christmas, no matter how late.
While it is like any other working day for him, he knows that for his children, the day is special.
"Pasayahin ko sila, kung gusto nilang mamasyal, ipapasyal ko sila. Minsan lang din sa isang taon pero sa akin kasi araw-araw talagang ganito, araw-araw puro hanapbuhay," he said.
Working in media means working holidays too.
Joy Salenga has been with GMA Network as a chargen operator for more than 23 years.
She is responsible for inputting the text that flashes onscreen during newscasts.
Very few people do what Joy does, which means that it's difficult to find a replacement if she wants to take a day off, and Christmas is no different.
"Since nandito ako sa news, walang Pasko dito, wala kaming holiday ke bumagyo, lumindol, kung sino man naaksidente dyan, kahit na anong pangyayaring hindi kanais-nais, nandito pa rin kami sa office, nagbibigay kami ng serbisyong totoo," she says.
Her children still tend to pout whenever she can't make it home for Christmas, despite being all grown up; Joy says they used to cry when they were younger.
"Pero ngayon since malalaki na sila, naiintindihan na nila kung anong work ng nanay nila," she says.
Joy works for Saksi, which ends past 11 p.m.
It is only after work that she can make her way home for Christmas.
Her children — now 20 and 18 — still wait for her to get home every time.
"Lagi silang naghihintay sa akin na lalo na Saksi after mga alas-dose pa or ala-una," she says.
"Tatawag na lang sila, 'pag Pasko magtatawagan na lang kami, o anak maya-maya uuwi na ako diyan, diyan na ako sa bahay," she adds.
Edgard Santiago has long since accepted that sometimes, there's no avoiding Christmas duty.
And when that happens, you have to show up.
"Committed ka na sa trabaho eh so talagang i-accept na natin na talagang kahit na anong oras, kahit na anong araw, may okasyon man o wala, eh pagka-duty ka, duty ka," he said.
Edgard is a floor director for Saksi, making sure everything from the anchors to the cameras are all set.
He has been in GMA since 1974, which is more than enough time to get used to working on special holidays.
"Siyempre trabaho yun eh ano, walang pinipiling okasyon yan. Pagka Pasko saka Bagong Taon, pagka-aabutan ka ng trabaho, wala kang magagawa. Either na mamili ka, gusto mong abutan ka ng midnight ng Christmas o kaya New Year, sa bahay or trabaho," he said.
"Saka ka na lang humabol. Pero since pinasok mo itong trabaho na ito, eh 'di sakripisyo kailangan trabaho muna bago pamilya," he added.
Members of his family are also used to it by now.
Edgard just tries his best to make it home before the celebrations end.
He says he loves his job, and he works for his family, so it is a matter of making sure you follow through with your obligations.
"Para sa akin happy ka sa trabaho mo, mahal mo trabaho mo, para sa pamilya naman ung ginagawa mo, so nandon na ung content nong bakit ka nagtatrabaho kahit na may okasyon," he says.
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