DEL ROSARIO, EARLEEN H.

2013-10059-MN-0
Juris Doctor


Advanced English Grammar
Summer S.Y. 2014
Prof. Edelminda Rimando
Final Examination
May 21, 2014


The Old Street Sweeper

Some people dreams to be a doctor, a lawyer, a teacher or any kind of noble
profession that we are dreaming of but had you ever encountered a person dreaming to
be a street sweeper? She is Severina Ida, a 65 years old woman who sweeps in the
middle of the busy roads of Caloocan City. Roads in the city of Caloocan are dirty in so
many ways it's choked with cars, blanketed by smog but there's a legion of street
sweepers who are paid to flick away every last bit of street trash. You see them
everywhere you turn. How do they survive this? And most of all why does this old
woman proud of her dream job? And why does she love sweeping the streets despite of
her old age?
Severina was born January 8, 1949 at the province of Eastern Samar with
parents who are both farmers of kopras and coconut. Her parents strive hard for
survival, for their food and education. She was able to finish her studies up to third year
of high school but unfortunately she was not able to continue anymore because of their
financial situation and an event that happened in her teenage years. Like so many of
the province girls, Severina fell in love, she got pregnant when she was only sixteen
years of age. Eventually she got married to the father of her child and they settled down
at Manila hoping for good job opportunities to come. Her husband, Felix, is a half
American who was not given the chance to see his American father. Obviously, a half
American husband is so handsome. That is one of the reasons why Severina really fell
in love in her teenage years. Their love created seven children and she is very proud of
it, she loves them all and hoped for a better future for them.
Severinas husband became a jeepney driver and worked hard for her and their
children but an unexpected event happened. He got sick and had complications in his
spinal column due to the exhaustion in his work. Her husband was admitted at Jose
Reyes Hospital and it only took two months before he was taken away from her. She
got widowed at the age of 30. Some said that because of their financial situation the
management of the hospital conspired and administered drugs that led to the death of
her husband but she didnt manage to seek questions from just hearsay, after all she
believed that justice is expensive. After the devastating event, she managed to stand up
and focused on making a living for her children. That was the time when she met her
street sweeper friend.
She asked how much does the government pay and her friend said P4.00 per
month. She thought the job was easy because she only has to sweep and the P4.00 per
month is not bad, its just enough for their food. Ever since that encounter, she dreamt
to be a street sweeper, she knows what educational level she only had and that job
suits her. After so many attempts to apply, her dream finally came true. She was hired
as a street sweeper when she was 32 years old.
She works the sidewalks, she works the streets, she sweeps her way down the
highways, just inches away from cars barreling by. The heat of the sun, the heavy rain
pour, and the wind blowing the trash are some challenges that she endured. There was
also a time when her broom, dust pan and trash can was hit by a jeepney. It was really
a bad day but it was a good thing that the jeepney driver paid for the damages. Every
day of her job is almost the same story, she sweeps from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., she
always brought her water, she eats meals at the road, and she sits when she is tired,
this all happened for thirty three years. Today, she is now sixty five years old and still
sweeping the streets. She is nearly retiring and she felt sad that her dream job is about
to end. Although it looks unfortunate for some people, she is very proud of it and she
lived through it. After thirty three years, she was able to buy a house and lot at a low
cost housing and she already bought two tricycles for her two children.
Severina was never ashamed of her job, in fact it was her dream and it was the
highest paying job she was able to attain in her life. Without it she doesnt know how
she could have survived after her husbands death. When I asked what her lifes lesson
is, she said Wala kang pera kapag wala kang hanap buhay. I guess every one of us
needs a job for survival and thats what living is. The most important of all, that you are
proud of it, you are happy doing it, and you have a purpose for the betterment of our
country, regardless of your standing in life.