Carlos Ibrado

At the age of 16, Carlos “Caloy” Ibrado started working as a delivery boy in his home province of Negros Occidental. When he was about 30 years old, he was recruited by their neighbor to work as a house helper in Imus, Cavite. There he took care of two children, ages 5 and 3. After two years, his employer was pregnant again. Caloy decided to leave since the family was growing and so was his work, but his salary was not increasing.

He left Imus with hardly any money and no other job to go to. Not unexpectedly, he ended up in the streets. For 10 years, he took odd jobs as part-time dishwasher and attended feeding activities around Manila. In June 2012, he started attending Hospicio de San Jose’s Food for Life Program. The food sated his hunger and the lectures filled his heart.

In 2013, he was employed as a reliever laundry staff at Hospicio. For another three years, he slept in Luneta and attended feeding programs when he was not working at the laundry. In 2016, he attained volunteer status and merited free food, an allowance and a space in the dormitory in Hospicio. He no longer had to live on the streets.

In August 2017, still on the laundry’s staff, he became a probationary worker. He told himself then, “This is hard work, but I’m going to persevere. I don’t want to end up in the streets again.” His perseverance paid off as he was regularized in February 2018.

Caloy said, “I thank God that I finally became a regular employee. God sent people to help me. He sent the Daughters of Charity and the staff of Hospicio to help me. I most grateful to Sr. Corrie, Ms. Jo (the HR Officer) and other employees who helped me overcome my problems.”

Caloy is working diligently to return the favor to Hospicio. With tears in his eyes, he said, “Here in Hospicio, I feel I have a family that loves me. Working here has changed my life.”

For more than 30 years, poverty had prevented Caloy, now 50, from visiting his family in Negros Occidental. However, in 2018, he was able to go home for a visit and now plans to return home regularly.

To other street dwellers, Caloy advises, “Strive hard, avoid vices and have faith in God.”