All parents strive to give their children a good life, even if it means facing mountain-high hardships and selfless sacrifices. Meet 54-year-old Cristito Quimaldo who proves a parent’s unconditional love for his children through his hard work as a garbage collector for over two decades.
For 20 years, Cristito wakes up at 3am every single day just to get to work by 4am.
He earns P500 a day at most through garage collecting. Despite his meager salary, he is still able to send all of his four children to school.
“Mahirap, andyan lahat. Masugatan ka, halo-halo kasi minsan may mga bubog. Lahat ng klase ng basura, ginagawa ko para sa pamilya ko,” he says.
While his family gets by with his low salary, there are days when his earnings are just not enough. “Mahirap, kasi marami akong anak. Pero kahit mahirap, kinakaya ko. Minsan wala kaming makain,” he shares.
Cristito’s motivation to get through the day and the harsh realities of life is to give his kids a better life, especially good education.
“Hanggat malakas ako, pipilitin kong makapagtapos silang lahat. Yung pag-aaral nila hindi ko pinababayaan kasi yun lang yung ano ko sa kanila—makatapos sila,” he says.
His decades of hard labor recently paid off as he witnessed one of his children graduate college in April this year. Her daughter Jenny Rose successfully graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Food Technology.
“Minsan, pumapasok akong walang baon, pero nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos na siya ang tatay ko kasi marangal ang trabaho niya. Wala siyang ginagawang ilegal,” shares Jenny Rose.
Her father’s job may not be the most glamorous, but Jenny Rose takes pride in it. “Pag tinatanong ng tao, ‘Anong ginagawa ng tatay mo?’ Sumasagot yan, ‘Basurero!’ Hindi siya nahihiya,” Tatay Cristito proudly says.
Since their story was aired on GMA News’ DigiDokyu, an international non-profit group offered to extend some help to the family.
“He told me that he and some of his concerned friends are willing to help us. And now that we met, words are not enough to express our gratitude for the help he has given us, including his friends,” says Jenny Rose on a Facebook post.
The non-profit group Lifted International works to help families out of the cycle of poverty worldwide.
