Courage in silence

MANILA, Philippines - “I want to earn my own money and work hard for it,” Castillo said.

A fruit shake company hired Castillo in January as sales lady for their branch in a mall in Manila. She has done so well the company has renewed her contract.

Despite her disability, Castillo engages efficiently with her customers. One of them, Sarah Joy Mella, was deeply touched by their encounter in May.

“I was overwhelmed by the fact that she chose to work despite her disabilities. That’s really brave of her,” Mella said.

Mella was waiting for a friend when she bought a smoothie from Fruitas. She gave her order to Castillo, who was alone in store.

Castillo came out of the stall and, with a big smile, flashed her identification card that read: “Hi! I’m Jean. I’m deaf.”

Mella took Castillo’s picture and posted it on Facebook. The photo has gone viral and touched other people, too. In Facebook alone, it reached 15,172 shares and 259 likes.

Castillo was born to Herminigildo and Bienvinida Albania of Nangka, Marikina. They didn’t know their daughter was deaf until she turned two.

“She never responded nor looked up every time I called her name. So we brought her to the doctor and we were told that our daughter has only about 70 percent chance of hearing,” said Herminigildo.

The news broke their hearts. What made it worse were the choices presented to them: Buy a hearing aide that costs P25,000 or an operation that will cost a minimum of P30,000.

“Where will I get the money? That time I was only earning eight pesos a day as a factory worker,” said Herminigildo.

He wanted to go to a television network to ask for help but his wife stopped him. “I don’t like to beg,” she said.

The couple took care of their daughter as best they could. The father brought her to and from a special school in Aurora Blvd. from kinder to sixth grade. For high school, Castillo transferred to the Philippine School for the Deaf in Pasay City.

After dropping out of college after two years, Castillo decided to look for a job.

“I dissuaded her but she was adamant. I told her to just man the store but she said she wanted to work outside of the house, even if that means working as a janitress,” Bienvenida said.

Castillo used her salary to buy food, appliances, and furniture. She would also give her mother P500 every month. Whenever she was out of work, Castillo would gather plastic bottles, papers, wood, and scrap metal and sell them to make some money.

Castillo has worked for four companies. She left one of them because of the low salary, while her five-month contracts with her two other employers expired.

Her contract with Fruitas ended last July 18. “I am very sad. I always pray to God to help me find employment,” she said. “Work is the only thing that makes me happy.”

Fruitas supervisor Levi Escumbido said the company would rehire her this month.

“She’s diligent and a good follower. She’s even better than her ‘normal’ counterparts who are pasaway,” Escumbido said, adding that unlike her co-workers, Castillo goes to work in complete uniform.

According to Escumbido, he saw in Castillo her “eagerness to work.” She was never absent or late – except in emergency cases, but she made sure that Escumbido was informed.

“From her, you will understand the meaning of ‘love for work.’ She deserves to have her contract renewed,” he said.

What impressed Escumbido and Mella further was how Castillo never used her disability as an excuse to bum around or give up on life.

Mella said Castillo was “patient” in taking her customers’ orders. “I even saw her reading my lips while I was explaining the price of my smoothie.”

Aside from reading her customers’ lips, Castillo also asks them to write down their orders or point them out in the menu.

By the way, she only understands English.

Escumbido said Castillo should inspire the disabled as well as the companies who hesitate about hiring them. It should also serve as a wakeup call to the lazy.

“Disabilities should not hinder anyone from getting a decent job, nor should it be a reason for companies to shoo them away. There are plenty of disabled persons who can provide better service to your companies. Give them a chance,” Escumbido said.