This nurse from Davao couldn’t help but become emotional after her co-workers surprised her with a retirement party last August 15, 2024.
In a viral video uploaded by fellow nurse, Stephanie Joy Butac, 65-year-old Lolita Alcazarin, was seen crying while watching the message from her former and current ICU nurses.
“Gusto ko simple exit, para at least hindi emotional masyado. I am surprised sa lahat ng mga ginagawa nila sa akin and I am very thankful sa kanilang lahat. Feeling ko na love talaga ako ng mga staff na kasama ko sa work. Contented na ako sa lahat ng mga bigay nila sa akin,” Lolita emotionally shared with the Philippine STAR.
According to Stephanie, their team planned the surprise to mark the retirement of their “Mama Lolit” after working at the hospital for more than two decades.
“Gumawa kami ng GC for the surprise of Mama Lolit. So, meron ‘yung mga assigned na mga staff in terms of flowers, sa decorations, sa cakes, sa foods, and also the video.W e made a video, a short clip. Merong mga compilation video for her. Nag-prepare kami ng food and everything,” she recalled.
“Tapos, do’n sa part na naging emotional siya, ‘yun ‘yung surprise video namin. ‘Yung mga old staff, nag-send ng message kay Ma’am Lolit. We have tokens para sa kanya and flowers. So, ayun, naging emotional,” she added.
Lolit said that the hospital became her second home and she already treated her workmates as her extended family.
“Hindi ko akalain na at least na na-remember pa talaga ako nila the way we are together for 21 years. Marami nang nag-alisan, maraming nang nag-incoming mga new staff. But then, na-remember pa talaga nila ako, so I am very thankful for them,” she noted.
For Stephanie, Lolit became her mentor and second mother inside the hospital.
“2023 lang po ako nandito, January. Tapos, si Mama Lolit akala namin like, she’s very strict, ganun. But ano po, she is very hardworking na mama, hindi makita sa age niya. She is very helpful sa mga newbies na mga nurses. Tapos, she’s a mother talaga, tinuturuan niya kami how to handle patients. And also, ang pinaka-favorite namin sa kanya is puntahan niya ‘yung patient, then kakantahan niya. [Binibigyan] niya [kami] ng words of wisdom na kaya mo ‘yan, ganyan,” Stephanie recalled.
Adding, “I’m so lucky that mayroon akong environment dito na like Mother Lolit, mga seniors namin na they teach us kung paano maging mabuting nurse. And they also teach us how to be like professional na nurse, makipaghalubilo ng patients and watchers.”
Lolit said that her retirement was long overdue after it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She now navigates the next chapter of her life after working for more than 20 years.
“Iba na talaga ‘yung retiree mas okay pa ‘yung mag-work ako kasi I’m happy dealing with patients. Tapos mawala ‘yung mga problems mo, ma-feel mo ‘yung agony nila parang gusto mong maka-help sa kanila,” she said.
Stephanie was teary-eyed when asked about her message to Lolit, her “second mom.”
“Ma, I wanted you to know na we are very grateful to have you as our senior nurse and as our mother in the unit and sa buong hospital. And right now, na retired ka na, just enjoy ang lahat ng pinag-hirapan mo. Babaunin namin lahat ng mga tinuro mo sa amin. Pagiging compassionate at saka loving na nurse,” she said.
