The unnoticed

Now that we are all officially “bondat” or satiated from all the food and drinks over Christmas, it will soon be time to deal with actual hangovers or those induced by regret from doing a “cheat week” instead of just a “cheat day.”

But more than dietary violations, some people may have been so busy preparing for the celebration that people who have provided vital services may have gone unnoticed.

Consider for instance the horn honking garbage truck driver and his crew of four or five guys, the barangay tanods who regularly stand in the middle of traffic to make things a little easier and lessen your potential for road rage.

Or perhaps that familiar street sweeper who sweeps the litter and leaves, cigarette butts, as well as dog poop that stray dogs dump on your path.

Practically 365 days of the year, they show up in your street and in front of your house to collect your trash that generally doubles, even quadruples, during holidays and birthdays. Regrettably, people don’t think much of the value and relief they provide in our daily lives.

Anyone who has lived in the US or Europe can tell you that trash and garbage disposal in these places are far from convenient. They have rules, and for the most part you do the sorting, bagging of garbage.

You don’t just leave your trash over night or when you feel like it. You adjust your personal schedule to match that of the garbage truck and no, they don’t show up every day in many places.

They don’t accept garbage that does not qualify as standard residential trash. Any chemical, flammable or toxic garbage or odd-size garbage is your responsibility to bring to a disposal facility, where you pay.

Here in the Philippines, just about everything is up to our basureros to pick-up, sort and dispose of, except for remains of pets or humans. Ironically, many of us only appreciate the garbage crew right after a typhoon, flood or the holidays when packaging pile up.

The question is, do they have a special place in your “grateful for list” as well as your pamaskong handog? Once a year, they leave a white envelope with their truck number on it. Do you mechanically look for a hundred-peso bill or are you more intentional about showing your appreciation?

There is no obligation to give money, but please don’t give a tiny sum and justify it by saying “everybody on the street of the village will surely contribute.” It may shock you that many residents don’t. “Love your neighbor as you love yourself” is something we all need to relearn and revive.

It’s ironic how many of us go out of our way to look for presents and spend quite a bit of cash to express gratitude to a boss or someone higher in spite of the fact that you actually did work and supported them all year long.

They did not take out your trash and, in some cases, they actually dumped their “office trash” on your lap while sweeping all their faults under the rug. The street sweepers actually clean up the mess, just like you do at work and at home.

A week before Christmas, I received a message on FB from a sekyu in the province. I am reprinting the message in the hope that DOLE Secretary Bienvenido “Benny” Laguesma gets a chance to read it and do something about a persistent and common problem among security guards or sekyus.

12/17/25 – Gud am sir nana nawagan po kami sa taga DOLE, lalo na po dito sa region 6, yong ibang mga Security Agency at ang client hindi pa rin sila sumusunod sa batas ng gobyerno yong 37 pisos na increase sa minimum, hindi pa nila pina pasok sa sahod namin hanggang ngayon. 513 pisos pa rin sir. Sana makarating ito sa DOLE yung mensahe namin. Maraming Salamat.”

In short security guards, particularly in Region 6 continued to be paid P513 a day (not to mention 12- to 16-hour shifts without overtime pay). The government-mandated P37 wage increase is being ignored.

This has been a long term-challenge for security guards who are generally ILLEGALLY underpaid, made to work overtime and are required to pay for their uniform, documentation, as well as alleged infractions for improper use of uniform, etc.

On top of all that, many “clients” make their security guards pull double duty as clerks, parking assistants or regulating the flow of customers inside banks, malls, etc.

I hate to say it, but I suspect that in many regions, provinces and cities where security guards are deployed, DOLE officers do not actively monitor compliance on the part of security agencies. I know this because I regularly interact, interview and connect with security guards who are a journalist’s eyes and ears on the ground.

I humbly suggest to my dear friend Sir Benny to require independent audits or interviews and for DOLE officers to find out who among security agencies are compliant. It is disturbing if not sickening to know that many of these agencies are owned or operated by former officials of the AFP or PNP!

Instead of showing respect and compassion for these people under their command, they are actually exploiting them. That Sir, is not OK!

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