I’ve always loved to eat…and that’s what pushed me to work hard way back college.
Just when I knew that a fast food chain is in need of service crew, I applied right away.And this is the first time that I lied.Told them that I’m 18 where in fact, I just turned 17.Maybe my charming answer convinced the interviewer that I’m really 18(but hey, she should have found that out since part of the requirements that time is a birth certificate…and an applicant should be 18 y/o as this is a strict requirement by dept. of labor…oh well maybe, she didn’t have time to check anymore)
“Welcome to
Orange Julius stall in Greenhills was beside Luk Yuen that time and fronting Greenwhich.I used to be the opening crew…should be there before 7am…defrost some hotdogs, crush some ice, ready the vendo machine, have the grill hot ready, chopping some onions and tomatoes, prepare all the condiments, fold some tissues, clean the counter top, etc.I’m alone doing all those stuff (usually, the opening and closing crew should be a male since it’s the hardest job to be done) and so before the official opening time starts (that’s 8am), you’ll find out that a long que of customers already lined up.
It’s very tiring but I’m enjoying it.I’m a fast worker and I can serve 10 customers at the same time (serving their hotdog sandwhiches and smoothies in a blast!).It’s during my OJ time that I learned the systematic way of doing things fast and easy.And I’m very inspired to work…for me to earn so I’ll get to buy my own hotdog with bacon sandwhich soon.I cook lots of them in a day, smell them but never had the chance to taste them…(sigh!)
Days passed by and I’m counting my working hours and computing my supposed to be earnings.Then a very sad experience happened on my 12th days at work.I ran out of bills one morning that I needed to have it changed in the nearest resto.A familiar guy who I exchanged nod with came to the rescue.Instead of running to Luk Yuen so I can personally ask for bill change that time, I end up giving in to the volunteered help by the familiar angelic faced guy whom I only call “kuya” (I didn’t even know his name).All I can remember is he’s wearing a white shirt that I’m pretty sure he works inside Luk Yuen’s kitchen.“Let me do the bill change for you”…pointing to Luk Yuen resto…)So since I can’t leave the store due to long lines of customers, I added another 500 for the bill change.
Almost an hour but no familiar angelic faced “kuya” in sight…and my heart throbs and I can’t concentrate with what I’m doing anymore.Moreso, the customer is waiting for her change on the 500 peso bill she paid me.She was so nice that she volunteered to stay for a bit longer, look after my counter and gave me chance to check for “kuya”.And I returned pale and weak.I can’t find “kuya” anymore.Luk Yuen management didn’t know the person I mistakenly thought of working with them.
And so the hotdog and bacon dream is far possible at this point…and the 1,000 pesos?That I have to pay due to my carelessness.And so my first payroll arrived…a 200 pesos inside that tiny brown envelope. I’m still thankful that I’m 200 pesos richer that time…but I’m poorer andpiteous in reality.Moreso, I won’t be able to give my nanay the 500 pesos paycheck that I planned of giving her (My expected take home pay suppose to be is 700 pesos and my plan is to keep the 200 for my own expenses and 500 for my nanay).
Strategize…strategize…strategize…The 100 pesos should be enough until I’ll have my next payroll. (I managed to give my nanay half of 200 that’s why I have to stretch the remaining 100 pesos).And so after my OJ part time work in Greenhills, often that I don’t pay my jeepney fare on my way to School.(Who would think that a skinny_honest looking_lady an expert of 123 already?)Though there are times that I’ve been honest in telling the driver that I don’t have money to pay for my fare and that I’m willing to sit in the aisle of the jeepney (funny though since there’s a lot of vacant space to sit…and the Manong driver will just tell me to sit down while there are no passengers and just requested me to give way… meaning sit on the aisle again when a paying passenger comes in)I survived my embarrassing_free fare_best forgotten_episode of my OJ Greenhills part time job experience.And just when I ended my contract in Orange Julius, I never had the chance to buy my own hotdog with bacon sandwhich (sigh again!)My 6 months contract left me only P300 pesos savings, (should have been 1,300 if only “kuya” spared me with his evil slogs.But lessons learned…”Be vigilant at all times.Looks can be deceiving…”
And so, another part time job opportunity came…another fast food chain.Not that easy to be part of the company actually.I failed in the height requirement suppose to be but I managed to work it out.Spray net saved me.With the help of the magic spray, my bangs went 2 inches higher and I was 5’3 when the height test came(5’2 is the passing height requirement) Now I have to pass the interview proper and luckily, I made it! I’m well loved Jollibee counter crew during that time.I had received several awards..”Ms. Hustle”(I work/move energetically and rapidly)Ms. Suggestive seller(I was able to sell a thousand of peach mango pie on that month’s campaign), Ms. Smiley (for having a perfect sale…no excess or shortage in my sales remittance) and Ms. Perfect attendance (no tardiness and absences).And all these awards would merit gift certificates of free Jollibee products.
Often that I worked double shifts 5 days a week (I’m the opening and closing counter crew that time…6am to 12nn then 7pm to 12midnight) I have to attend school at 1pm to 6pm in PUP.Tuesdays and Thursdays is a whole day in school so no Jollibee in these dates.The savings is a lot faster this time.But still no hotdog and bacon for me yet.My priorities changed as I need to save money for my new rubber shoes (I’m dying to have my tretorn rubber shoes…PUP campus is flooded with girls on their “trets”…while im sporting my worn out black “kungfu” shoes…my school shoes and Jollibee working shoes at the same time.)
It was only after 3 years when I had my first taste of hotdog with bacon sandwhich by Orange Julius.I’m already working with Pocketbell that time and happened to visit Greenhills to shop for affordable Christmas gifts for my numerous Godchildren and loved ones. Surprised to see that OJ stall where I used to work way back 1990 was not there anymore...Greenwhich not in sight,too…only Luk Yuen was left standing in the corner.I found out later on that OJ was transferred inside Unimart.
Now that I have extra funds to buy my hotdog bacon sandwhich, I ordered3…the 2 for take out (for my nanay and tatay to taste).I wolfed down my share slowly…trying to bring back the time when I keep on dreaming to have my first bite of this sandwhich … then, I can’t help but smile while chomping and biting every bit of it…the taste is so familiar…not that extra ordinary taste…only because the hotdog and bacon are products of SWIFT.Whew!All the while I thought it’s imported from other countries…from Chicago maybe…the producer of super premium vienna beef franks.Hahahha!Should I have known!
Still there’s so much to be thankful for.Hotdogs and Bacons fueled my desire to be successful…earn enough money…so I can have bags and packs of hotdogs and bacons in my ref…Call it ridiculous and petty but my yearning for these "trophy" food is where I learned my first lessons in life…lessons on discipline, patience, humility, perseverance, determination, being hungry for success, etc…It is through these lessons that made me who I am now.
“So hotdogs and bacon anyone?I have some in the fridge ;-)”
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