You can’t control the hand you're dealt, but you can control the outcome of the game.

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Such is the case of Rowel Togo. To say that his life has been full of challenges, would be an understatement. Whether it’s the limitations presented to him because of his inability to finish school, financial challenge to make ends meet for his family, struggle to collate his Social Security Service papers, or the grave danger he faces everyday working as a frontliner in this critical time, it seems it's one hurdle after the the other for Rowel. Adversity seems to meet him at every turn. 

 

Early in his life, Rowel saw the limitations presented by not finishing school. His lack of a college degree prevented him from securing a stable job. As such, he ended up working at any job that would take him. He worked in construction, sold food in the market, and he even tried his hand at fishing at one point. The instability of all these jobs left Rowel worried for his family on a regular basis. “Ang sahod ko kasi ay  arawan [at] kulang na kulang na po yun. Para sa kuryente at tubig palang [yun] eh.” (I earn a daily wage and it’s not enough. It only pays for electricity and water.) Soon enough, it became clear to him that earning only a daily wage would not be enough to sustain his wife and 2 young kids. Through the referral of one of his family members, he was offered a job as a janitor at a health clinic that paid a regular salary. He gladly took the job, ready to enjoy the little comfort that this new, more secure job would bring for him and his family. This new job however, required that the employees work on their SSS, Pag-Ibig, PhilHealth, etc. requirements themselves, and the company would pay for these benefits, but the company did not have the manpower to assist him in putting the papers together. Unfortunately for Rowel, his days were filled with work in the clinic, and any extra time he had was spent finding other ways to provide for his family. These busy days never allowed him the time to collate all the papers he needed to be approved for different employee benefits and given that part of the reason he was looking for a more stable job was to be able to have access to these kinds of benefits, Rowel knew he needed to go elsewhere. Just as things were beginning to look up for him, he was met with yet another challenge. However as with most of the challenges he encountered, Rowel hurdled it through his hard work and refusal to give up. He ended up taking a job at Chowking, though it was not nearly as convenient as his previous job due to the longer commute he had to take, the Chowking management handled all of the paperwork for his benefits and provided him and his family with a steady income. After a year of tirelessly working at Chowking, he received his best offer yet. The same health clinic he worked for before Chowking, offered him his job again and they agreed to cover all his SSS, PhilHealth and Pag Ibig benefits. Unsurprisingly, he quickly accepted the job.

 

Rowel thought that going back to this old job simply meant a shorter commute, stable income and select employee benefits. Little did he know, going back to this job would mean gaining bosses that would become family and making an impact in a way larger  scale than he could have ever predicted. His bosses, the owners of the clinic, are a married couple who are both doctors. Over the now 3 years he has spent working with them, Rowel developed a really good relationship with them. This was evident to The Adversity Archive when he said, “Malaking pasalamat ko talaga sa kanila parang [pamilya] ko na sila kasi po pag may sakit ang anak ko dinidiretso ko sa kanila, libre na yung check up sa kanila tapos dinidiscount pa ako sa gamot so malaking tulong talaga sa akin yun, ginagawa ko lang ng paraan para matuwa sila sa akin”(I’m very grateful for them. They’re like family to me. Whenever my kid is sick, I take her to them first. I just do whatever I can so that they will be pleased with me).

 

In the same way that Rowel values his bosses, it is evident that he is equally valued by his bosses and the clinic staff  as a whole. “Ako nalang mag isa na janitor kasi nag resign na yung isa parang di niya kinaya, nag resign siya, ako nalang mag isa, ako nalang lahat gumagawa ng gawain na dapat hati kami, pero para sa akin wala namang problema, kasi trabaho ko naman yun. Inaasahan [ako ng] clinic eh." (I’m the only janitor because the other janitor resigned. He couldn’t take it, he resigned. I’m the only one left, I do all the work that we were supposed to share but for me it’s not a problem because that’s my job. The clinic needs me).

In addition to taking care of all the cleaning, Rowel also serves as the guard of the clinic. He’s tasked to man the door at all times, constantly making sure that people enter one at a time, and that everyone who enters is wearing a mask. As both the clinic’s guard and cleaner, Rowel is always the first one in and last one out. While many may consider him overworked, Rowel is grateful for the opportunity to make more for his family. “Kahit man nadagdagan ang trabaho ko, ok lang po yun sa akin. Inisip ko parin yung pamilya ko, ano kakainin namin [kung hindi ako magtrabaho] kasi no work, no pay. Kahit ako yung unang pumasok, huling umuwi, ok lang po yun sa akin. Wala pong problema sa akin. Hindi ako makakareklamo kasi hindi ako nakapagtapos ng pag aaral siguro eto na yung binigay sa akin ng Diyos tsaka sa pamilya ko, kaya ginagawan ko ng paaraan.”(Even if I was given more work, It’s okay. I still think about my family, what will we eat if I don’t work because no work, no pay. Even if I’m the first to go to work and last to leave, that’s okay with me. It’s no problem. I can’t complain because I didn’t finish my studies so I think this is what God’s giving me instead so I have to make a way). 

 

Before the lights are on and the doctors are in, much work is done behind the scenes. In fact a very crucial part of the job is done before and after patients come in. Behind the scenes, our silent heroes make sure every part of the clinic is clean, every item is sanitized, and every room is ready for use.  It is people like Rowel who make it possible for doctors and nurses to effectively do their jobs. “Umaabot po ako ng 8 ng gabi, 11am hanggang 8pm, ako po naiiwan sa gabi, naglilinis ng mga inuupuan, yung mga dinadaanan ng mga tao, halos lahat ginagawa ko [noong mga araw na yon.]” (I reach up to 8 in the evening, 11am to 8pm. I’m the last one to leave. I clean the chairs, the places where people pass, I do all the cleaning and sanitation during that time). While some might be ashamed to call themselves a janitor, Rowel is proud to say that he is a janitor, and more importantly a frontliner. He knows the importance of his job and he takes it on with great pride.

 

“Proud po ako na frontliner ako, kahit paano nakakatulong ako hindi man ako ang gumagamot sa mga tao na may sakit, pero nakakatulong ako sa mga kasama ko katulad ng staff, katulad ng mga nurses, doctors, na naasist ko sila sa trabaho nila. . .doon palang po malaking tulong ko na bilang frontliner hindi naman ako nakakatulong sa mga pasyente, nakakatulong naman ako sa mga kasama ko” (I’m proud that I am frontliner. I may not directly help people who are sick, but I’m able to help those I work with, like the staff, nurses, and doctors. With just that, I’m already able to help a lot. I don’t help patients, but I do help those I work with). 

 

Despite all of the many challenges, and the unfavorable hand he was dealt, Rowel has managed to make the most of all that he’s been given. In this pandemic more than ever, Rowel’s work is extremely valuable. His story underscores the fact that your circumstances don’t have to dictate your capacity to contribute and make an impact. The Adversity Archive acknowledges the efforts of unsung heroes like Rowel. They risk and sacrifice their lives for us. They are the silent warriors who keep us safe but are often overlooked. Though they are seldom seen and recognized, they play a key role in the battle we’re facing.