Everybody who has been visiting the Philippines, or is living in this beautiful country has seen them. Mostly young men dressed in a uniform from a cleaning company with a mop in his hand to clean the floors and stairs: the JANITOR. A lot of shops but all malls and restaurants have them. Hired for only one thing: keeping the floor clean. Sometimes they are in the way where shoppers walk, but often they do not mind, or put the well known sign: ‘wet floor’.
Today I was in Santa Lucia East Mall, not far from our house, having coffee in a small coffeeshop. On a certain moment the janitor on duty of this section passed by sweeping the floor a little but more watching the girls passing by.
I had noticed already before that one of the garbage bins has some coffee or other liquids leaking from it. I completely ignored that fact untill this janitor came with his mop. He was wiping a little here and a little there and I was watching him from behind my newspaper and coffee.
At the moment he came close to the garbage bin and saw there were stains on the floor he just gave the bin a kick so it was placed on top of the leaking liquid. Like that it wasn’t that visible anymore. He mopped a little around, not knowing that I saw him doing what he did. What he also didn’t know was that I noticed that where he was mopping: the floor stayed dry . . . !
And regular readers of this website know that I (almost) always bring my camera. At this time my camera wasn’t ready yet; it was still packed into the camera bag, but after I took it out I could make the shots published here.
I was first thinking of reporting him to the management, but I realized it is only a few weeks before Christmas and him being without a job ……. So I just ignored it and took the picture how it was after he left.
I took another picture after I moved the bin a little to show you what I am talking about.
Why is this young man working the way he does? Is it because the low wages these people are paid? Or is it just because he was tired of sweeping whole day? Maybe he didn’t like to make his mop dirty so he had to rinse it and make his hands dirty?
Actually I think it is a matter of wrong attitude: The guy needs a job, maybe he even has a college degree, but has problems finding a better paid job, and just accepted this one to stay alive ….. ??
Who knows, and I haven’t asked him.
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Nov 28, 2010 @ 01:35:11
That would be interesting to watch. I guess you have people like that everywhere. The job market is impossible in the Philippines. So many college educated people and no jobs for them.
It still is a little irritating. After all he is getting paid and he did sign up for the job!
Nov 28, 2010 @ 08:15:42
Randall,
For sure if I reported him he would have been fired at once. But I am a good man and was thinking of the hard times many Filipinos have to endure. It is an expensive time of the year.
Of course it is irritating when you see people working like that. In my house I wouldn’t accept it.
Dec 05, 2010 @ 10:01:18
See this is what I don’t understand, the pride that is given to Christmas decor every year but yet it can’t be translated into having the least bit of pride in the everyday life…just toss your garbage in the streets or out your back window.
Dec 05, 2010 @ 17:15:48
Yes, Christmas decors are extravagant, except for your humble tree.
Filipinos are spending a lot this time of the year, you should see the exits of the supermarkets and department stores. There you do not see that you are in a third world country and all people are poor …… Loading all the purchased items in big brand new cars.
Dec 05, 2010 @ 22:35:41
i think that’s a good decision not reporting the janitor whose not doing he’s job well. we don’t know the people who are hoping for his salary.
Dec 05, 2010 @ 23:39:18
Anjo,
Thanks for visiting my website.
When I took the pictures one of the employees from the coffee shop asked what I was doing, so I explained to them that there was a hole in the trash can and the janitor didn’t clean it well. maybe it will be reported by them.
It’s not up to me to do so.
Dec 06, 2010 @ 00:47:50
If my father would have seen that, I’m sure he would have said, “Puta ina!” under his breath followed by “Bahala na!” Ah, Pinoys!
Dec 06, 2010 @ 08:12:05
Lots of Filipinos would say the same, but after that just ignore it and continue the way they live. It will never change in the Philippines.
The same goes for throwing garbage in the street. They all complain about it, but they keep on doing it themselves as well. They expect the government to solve that problem…… Philipinos are good in blaming the government for everything. Like flooding streets after heavy rain? The people throw their garbage everywhere, which goes into the sewer system and gets clogged. And the government has to take care for it.
They seem not to understand that the do this to themselves.
Start bettering the world, start with yourself !!!!