.jpg)
The 49-year old woman, who works at Sky Gym at LM Metro Hotel, says the family cannot even afford a tailor. Earning a little over P300 a day, Rhodora says it is not even enough to feed five children – all of them are students and the youngest is only 12 years old.
Rhodora says her husband, a pedicab driver, is also struggling to earn a living. “It is really hard, difficult I say, that’s life – a poor family trying to survive on a daily basis,” she says as she continues sewing the green colored pants of her 18-year old daughter – the third child, now a senior high schooler.
The woman also sells peanuts packed in small cellophane, and occasionally, if she has extra bucks, which by the way is very seldom, sells a few bottles of homemade peanut butter as her side line during breaks to earn little.
“Manang” - as she is fondly called by other employees and customers, has to travel at least 25 kilometers every day to go to work. The money spent on fares is a treasure already for Rhodora, enough to buy a kilo of rice for a day. “Life is hard indeed, but despite all of this, we are a happy family. We pray together and thank God for everything we have,” she says.
Rhodora, described by her co-workers as an honest and trustworthy woman, says she wants her children to finish school no matter what. “I pray the government give us scholarship grant so my children can finish school, and that’s what I always pray to God,” the bespectacled woman says and then continued on sewing the pants by hands, and paused briefly to say: “I don’t have any training on dressmaking, I just make my pattern directly to the textile, mark them with my crayons and that’s it.”
For those who want to help Rhodora in any way, may call or text her: 0905-1455943. (Mindanao Examiner)
DONORS:
Zamboanga City Vice Mayor Pinpin Pareja
No comments:
Post a Comment