“He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and is heart is an artist” – St. Francis of Assisi
May 1 is Labor Day or International Workers’ Day. Curious to really check on the beginnings of this yearly event, read in Wikipedia that in the 1880’s, in the United States & Canada commemorated Labor Day every first Monday of September.
However, in 1886, to pay tribute to the brave workers of Haymarket affair in Chicago, May 1 became the commemorated annually as Labor Day. In that year, there was a general strike and work stoppage. On the verge of being dispersed, the public assembled in support of the strikers but an unidentified person allegedly threw a bomb. In the chaos of the moment, police officers responded by firing at the workers. This resulted in the deaths of seven police officers and at least four civilians, another sixty police officers were injured as were one hundred and fifteen civilians. Hundreds of labor leaders and sympathizers were rounded up. Four (4) were executed by hanging in a trial that was widely seen as a miscarriage of justice. Because of this, a series of succeeding events in other states also caused some deaths and injuries. Raymond Lavigne called for the commemoration of the Haymarket affair through an 8 hour work stoppage. In 1890, Labor Day officially became every 1st of May.
In the Philippines, May 1, is Labor Day. This is a regular national Holiday. A non working holiday, it gives workers and their associations the time and space to celebrate this special day in unison with all workers across the globe. Common to see are protests, marches and demonstrations to voice worker concerns and demands from both the government & businesses.
As a worker myself, I would like to celebrate Labor Day differently by giving tribute to some of the most hardworking people I’ve had the honor to work with despite challenges, both physically & emotionally, constraints both financial and capacity often times discriminated & frowned upon by social norms, that despite their challenges & personal circumstances, are worth emulating. I consider it an honor to have worked work with them in one way or another. Am continuously hoping to still meet more inspiring hardworking people in my current industry.
Anita Lazaro, was a barely out of her teens, coming from the Visayas with a very minimal amount of education, worked in SMK, a Japanese company in then located in Bulacan. She settled in Malolos City. Got married and raised a family. In 2013, she was eventually uprooted due to the company’s transfer and expansion at the Clark Freeport Zone. In the Clark factory, she was our utility person. One cannot be fooled by her minute frame though. On a daily basis, she was assigned to ensure the hygiene and cleanliness of the male & female toilets, upkeep the offices and mopping of hallways leading to cleanroom plus did waste segregation at the material recovery area. That was the daily tasks she did with the same level of enthusiasm and thorough work all through out the 13 years that I had been her co-worker as the head of GA & HR Department. What made me admire her was despite her domestic challenges and turmoil, due to a physically abusive husband and a long unaccounted daughter, she never stopped doing her best, religiously doing her tasks and did not hesitate to take on any extra work that came her way even to the point that even on Sundays, instead of resting her weary body, she would accept laundry chores from other co employees just to be able to provide for her family in Bulacan that now includes her grandchildren. She was also hands down the best “barista”. In the early 90’s, during my regular Saturday staff meeting or what we called “Pandesal Meetings”, I wouldn’t in any way trade her concoction with today’s Starbucks Coffee Latte her coffee concoction. In December 2023, had the opportunity to reunite with her in a gathering of old friends. A few months later she retired and had the good fortune of being able to track her long lost daughter who is now based in the United States of America. Who knows, she might already be on her way to the US.
Of the thousands of operators at Molex, Noime Manarang was a hardworker. She was bubbly, always efficient and very independent. She was one of our best “solderers” and was multi skilled that meant she is proficient in at least 5 critical processes. A mother of two (2), to save on transportation cost, she rode he motorbike from Concepcion to TECO, Mabalacat City. In our 2016 year-end party, I caught a glimpse of her asking her friends to take pictures of her as she posed in her blue cocktail dress seated in the hotel function room lobby of the old Royce Hotel.
In February 23, 2017, her fate would completely change. On her way from work, she was run over by a ten-wheeler truck. Though barely conscious, she was nearly run over again by the same truck were if not for her mental alertness and will to live, this freak accident could’ve killed her. Witnesses were in awe to the point of being shocked when she herself picked up her almost decapitated legs and asked bystanders to rush her to the nearest hospital. Sadly, her valiant effort, did not save her legs because they had to be amputated. This is when things started to spiral down for her. With no means of livelihood and emotional support, her recovery was a long and painful one. After a few months, when she was physically & emotionally ready, she reached out and said she wanted her old job back with no expectations on being treated differently. With the help of the company, co employees and her own effort, she bought a tricycle and asked er beloved father to driver her to and from work so that she can continue to provide for the needs of her two beautiful children. Her being a single parent and a person with disability did not stop her from maintaining her high level of craftmanship as she continued on to be one of the best workers in the company. When I left the company to join for another organization from another industry, I made sure I said goodbye to her because I had the highest respect and admiration not only for her craftmanship but also for her strength of character. Now I saw that she is now a vlogger and is an advocate for PWDs and continues to be an inspiration to all including persons who do not have any disability but the lack of faith in themselves.
Kharen Muli (a.k.a. Disney Princess) , though a graduate of AB Industrial Psychology started out as a timekeeping clerk. After a few years, she transferred to recruitment section then was promoted to be an HR Officer handling a building account with over 900 sewers. Seeing her potential, she was transferred to Legal Department initially as a paralegal. Intelligent, funny, a stunner and quite diligent, she was well on her way to her 24th year of employment until on April 2019, she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. She had to undergo chemo therapy every 21 days that lasted a full five (5) months of nauseating episodes after each session. Not the type to sulk over or be demoralized by her seemingly dangerous situation, Kharen was up and about immediately after her traetment, determined to get back to work. She gave the same level of dedication, efficiency and diligence as if she was not physically impaired by her condition and call it crazy, even run a 5K fun run. Though she lost her hair and her left breast, she nevertheless won bigtime her marathon for life. May 2024 will be her 5th year on remission and cancer free. She is now a Legal Officer of Verte.
Marlon Lacson, is perennial ExtraOrdinary Employees that was always recognized for his contributions to department KPIs and Verte company goals. “Denice”, is a 33 years old brown skinned Capampangan, a little burly, but don’t be fooled by the masculine features, for no other person is as soft hearted and gentle as this Spray Painter of Finishing department cum retouch, QC, stitching operator and many more. A proud member of the LGBTQ community, this multi talented spray painter is innately skilled has the keen eye and steady hands to be able to create the proper tone and life to a wear. A constant nominee of this company recognition program, Denice has gained the respect and admiration of peers and supervisors because aside from the high quality of work, reliability & dependability as a co-worker, remains decent and respectful despite challenges, at times bordering discrimination often faced in the line in a daily pressure packed day. Also popularly known for being artistically inclined, being a constant fixture during dances contests, group presentations and company events that mostly garnered the top prize. Indeed, Denice had opened opportunities for other members of the LGBTQ community to be recognized and respected at the same time through the good example and standard that set on how to be yourself with the proper demeanor without missing on work responsibilities.
These are the persons who mirror the true essence of celebrating Labor Day because not only are they laborers or craftsmen but artists “par excellence”.
GOOD MORNING HARDWORKING PEOPLE!
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