Street sweeper tutors children under lamp post

A street sweeper in Quezon City has been tutoring his three children under the lamp post near their house as they have no electricity.

According to Darlene Cay’s report on “24 Oras” on Thursday, Rolando Eugenio, 54, has a budget of only a little over P100 daily for his family’s needs as he earns P3,500 monthly as a street sweeper in Barangay Immaculate Concepcion.

Rolando’s wife has passed away leaving him to take care of their children Roselyn, 10; Mark, 7; and Jeth, 6.

As the country transitioned to blended learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rolando had been hands-on with his three children. However, it was also a challenge for him as they don’t have electricity and had to rely on the light from under the lamp post near their house.

“Ang ginagawa ko po sa araw, dinadala ko po sila sa may trabaho ko. Doon po sila nag-aaral online po, tinutulungan po ako noong amo ko ng libre po. ‘Pag dating ng gabi, dito na kami, ganito po sitwasyon namin,” Rolando said.

“Napakahirap po. Kung minsan talagang inuutang ko sa kapitbahay ko makaraos lang ‘yong pang-araw-araw na pagkain nila,” he added.

Rolando said he does not have enough money to pay their electricity bill, more so a gadget and internet connection for his children.

“Ang hirap po pero may paraan po kung talagang desidido ka po,” he said.

Rolando said poverty became a hindrance for him to finish his studies, but he said he won’t let the same thing happen to his children.

“Kailangan po ‘yon dahil pagdating ng araw na lumaki na sila, hindi sila gaano hirap sa pamumuhay nila ‘di katulad ko, umabot po ako ng high school. Para ‘pag lumaki po sila, may pinag-aralan sila,” he said.

Roselyn said she wants to be a teacher someday, while Mark aspires to be a police officer.

Meanwhile, Rolando’s neighbors admired him and posted it on social media.

“Naisip kong picture-an kasi na-touch ako sa pinapakitang larawan noong mag-ama,” Jonathan Lucero, the uploader, said.

Due to his post, the family started to receive donations from several good samaritans.—Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News