A small coffee shop owner from Bulacan received praises from the online community after introducing a special employee.
On social media, owner Rona Cayabat shared a photo of the employees of her small business—one of them is Kuya Bobby, a 41-year-old SPED student at Bunsuran National High School.
“This project po kasi with SPED students, it’s deeply personal to me kasi meron po akong dalawang pamangkin sa pinsan na may autism at ‘yung isa po ay may down syndrome. So, parang ‘pag tinitingnan ko po kasi sila, na-iimagine ko po anong future kaya ang pwedeng maabutan nila paglaki po nila,” she revealed in an exclusive interview with The Philippine STAR.
Adding, “So, naisip ko po, since nakikita ko na rin po sa internet na meron na rin po tayong mga restaurants or establishments na nagha-hire ng mga may special condition, naghanap po ako ng pwedeng makausap regarding po dito na mabigyan po ng chance na makapag-hire kami or maturuan po namin.”
It was in 2023 when Rona reached out to Teacher Anchallie for a possible partnership.
“Nag-come up po kami ng parang internship program po muna. Isang estudyante po muna ‘yung pinakanakitaan niya po ng potential, which is si Kuya Bobby nga po,” Teacher Anchallie Labao said.
Teacher Anchallie said that they were happy that Rona was willing to train Kuya Bobby for the job.
“Nandun din po ako during work immersion ni Kuya Bobby to monitor po nung kanyang mga ginagawa,” she said.
Rona admitted that it was not an easy journey but she was determined to help Kuya Bobby and other SPED students.
“May takot ako nung umpisa kasi hindi ko alam mag-handle po ng may special needs. So nung umpisa, since very reserved si Kuya Bobby,Hindi ko rin po siya pinagsuot ng nametag. Ma-include siya sa amin.So, nilagyan namin siya ng t-shirt na may quotation special children or special child. So, eventually po, nung nakakasalamuha na niya ‘yung mga barista, tsaka ‘yung mga customer po, nakikita po namin na nag-improve ‘yung social skills niya. Nakikipagbiruan na po siya,” she shared.
“May customer po one time na nag-chat sa amin, medyo na weirdohan daw siya dahil nakatitig sa kanya si Kuya Bobby. Pero nung nabasa niya daw po ‘yung nasa t-shirt, naintindihan niya and na-inspire po siya and na-admire niya,” she added.
For Kuya Bobby’s mother, Leonora, this is a big milestone for her son after he was diagnosed with mild mental retardation and even became the oldest student in Teacher Anchallie’s class.
“Natuwa ako kasi, iba ‘yun sa kanyang dating ginagawa. Mayroon pa pa lang iba siyang pwedeng gawin. Masaya siya sa pagwo-work. Natutuwa ako dahil umistep na siya nang higher. ‘Yung ibang ano talagang wala, hanggang bahay lang. Siya, talagang may social life ‘yan. Natuto siyang makipagsalamuha sa iba,” Mommy Leonora emotionally said.
As a parent, Mommy Leonora expressed gratitude for business owners like Rona who support individuals with special needs.
“Napakalaking bagay po sa amin ‘yon. Kasi, biruin ninyo, sino magtitiwala? Minsan nga, miski kamag-anak, ayaw magtiwala. Sila pa na hindi namin kaano-ano binigyan ng pagkakataon ‘yung anak ko, ‘di ba? Kakatuwa na meron palang taong ganon na talagang nagbibigay ng chance sa iba na kahit papaano, mag-improve ang buhay,” she noted.
“Napaka-importante sa mga parents na makita na ‘yung anak nila ay tinatanggap po ng mga establishment. Parang napakasaya po nila kapag po nakita nila na ‘yung mga anak nila ay nagwo-work. Kasi usually po ‘yung mga parents dyan, nasanay po sila lagi na ‘yung anak nila sa classroom-bahay lang. And then, nagkaroon po kami ng ibang route. Excited na po sila ulit kung saan kami mag-iimmersion,” Teacher Anchallie echoed.
Rona hopes that her initiative will encourage other businesses to hire people with special needs to help them have a better future.
“May potential po talaga at nakita namin na happy po siya dun sa pagwo-work niya. Magti-three years na po sa amin si Kuya Bobby. More on siya pagse-serve, paglilinis, paghuhugas ng utensils, and ‘yung pagse-serve po sa customer. Malaking tulong po ‘yung pagkaroon ng routine, minsan po Cmay mga nakakalimutan kaming task. Siya nagre-remind,” Rona said.
“Hindi naman po sila ganun kahirap i-handle. Basta po alamin lang po nila with proper coordination po sila with the teacher or with the school. Depende po kasi sa condition ng student. Kaya, huwag po silang matakot na mag-open ng doors po para sa mga [may] special needs,” she stressed.
