Gilbert Esteban
When Gilbert Esteban was 16 years old, he was recruited from Capiz to work in Manila as a helper/waiter in a dormitory for students. He held that job for 15 years, then worked for a review center as a janitor/ clerk for seven years. When the review center closed, his employers took him to Bacoor as a house helper and he took care of the dogs for seven years.
His employers opened a review center in Cotabato and wanted to bring him along, but Gilbert thought it was too far away. So he asked permission to take a vacation in Capiz instead.
He said, “While waiting for my ferry to depart, I took a walk on Baywalk along Roxas Boulevard and fell asleep on the seawall. A group of half-naked tattooed men took my wallet and my fare money; I could not travel. I was too embarrassed to return to my employers, so I became a street dweller and a scavenger. I sold whatever I found to recyclers in Sta. Cruz so I could buy coffee and breakfast.”
Scavenging wasn’t easy and Gilbert soon got tired of it and began to starve. As he walked around in a hunger-induced daze, Gilbert almost got hit by a car. The driver yelled that if Gilbert wanted to commit suicide, he shouldn’t make him his killer.
A homeless couple he met in Luneta took pity on me and brought me to a feeding center run by nuns near the University of Sto. Tomas. They also took me to Hospicio. He attended the talks and the feeding, all the while living on the streets and in parks like Lawson.
When Hospicio launched Operation Linis, 11 street dwellers cleared the grass at the rear of the island and were to stay and rice, canned goods, and biscuits. When the work was done, they were asked if they were willing to train in Bulacan to become gardeners. Four went and were taught tomatoes, pechay, and other crops. When they returned to Hospicio, Sr. Marcie assigned Gilbert to the garden. That was 2016. He was given free food, a place to stay, and an allowance. He was regularized in October 2018. He still stayed in but no longer got free food because he received a standard wage.
“I was grateful that the DC got me. I thank Sr Marcie, Sr. Corrie and Sir Zaldy also. They are have been kind to me. I was working in the garden and climbed up a ladder. It was able to fall, so I jumped 15 feet. My hernia started to hurt. I crawled. I could not walk because of the pain. Sr. Corrie sent me to San Juan de Dios Hospital for an operation. I was confined for three days. I rested and my load was lightened — like I had a family taking care of me here. So I do my best, my way of showing my gratitude.”