Stories of inspiration

Pagsusumikap ng Isang Ama

Mahigit tatlong dekada nang naglilingkod si Rene sa Shell. Mula sa mahirap na pamumuhay sa Surigao, nangarap at nakipagsapalaran siya sa Marikina, at doon na rin nagkaroon ng pamilya. Nagsimula siyang magtrabaho sa Twinhearts Shell sa Quezon City bilang isang gasoline boy noong 1994.

Bilang haligi ng tahanan na nagmula sa kahirapan, hindi niya sinasayang ang bawat oportunidad na ipinagkakaloob sa kanya. Noong 2006, nabigyan siya ng pagkakataong maging scholar ng Gas Mo Bukas Ko (GMBK) Program ng Pilipinas Shell Foundation sa Automotive Mechanic course. Lumaki ang kanyang kumpyansa sa sarili noong matapos niya ito.

Ngunit tulad ng ibang breadwinner ng pamilya, may mga pagkakataong kailangang isakripisyo ni Rene ang kanyang personal na pangarap upang masuportahan ang lumalaking pamilya. Hindi man niya naipagpatuloy ang kagustuhang maging mekaniko dahil sa pangambang malipat ng estasyon, nanatili siyang positibo sa kanyang araw-araw na trabaho.

Nagagamit pa rin naman niya ang lumagong kaalaman sa Automotive Mechanics.

Bumibilib ang kanilang customer sa tama niyang mga payo kaya’t patuloy silang bumabalik. Dahil sa maraming oportunidad at training, siya ay napagkatiwalaan bilang lead supervisor.

Sa paglipas ng panahon, nakita niya ang bunga ng kanyang sakripisyo. Ngayon, naipatapos na niya ang pag-aaral ng dalawa sa kanyang anak, ang isa ay nasa pangalawang taon na ng kolehiyo. Dati di’y nangungupahan laming sila, ngunit ngayo’y nakapagpundar na rin siya ng kanilang sariling tahanan at dalawang motor.

Sa kanyang 30 taong pagseserbisyo ay nakabuo siya ng matibay na pagsasamahan sa mga katrabaho. Malaking pasasalamat niya sa kanilang Shell Dealer na sina Marko Medardo M. Laqui at Rowena C. Laqui sa kanilang husay at magandang pakikitungo sa kanilang mga empleyado. “Naging pamilya ko na rin sila,” aniya.

Payo ni Rene:

“Sa mga anak na nabibigyan ng pagkakataon, wag nilang sayangin ang oportunidad na ibinibigay ng mga magulang. Mahalin ang kanilang mga magulang para sa kanilang kapakanan.”

Kasabay ng sipag at tiyaga, mahalaga ang mga oportunidad na tutulong paunlarin ang pamumuhay ng mga nagsusumikap na Pilipino. Sa pamamagitan ng partnership ng PSFI at Shell sa mga programang tulad ng Gas Mo, Bukas Ko at Unlad sa Pasada, libreng nakakapagsanay ang mga masisipag na station staff at public drivers bilang mga iskolar sa kanilang napiling TVET course.

Mula noon hanggang ngayon, kasama ang mga dedikado at masisipag na ama, patuloy ang PSFI na susuporta sa pagtupad ng mga pangarap.

#FilipinoForward #PilipinasShellFoundation

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