“Kalatog Pinggan”

#Trainer #MinimumWage #firstjob

#ONETeam #SNAPS #SageandNotableAdvisesfromPatrickSalazar

My children asked me.. “Papa, since you are an accomplished professional in your career, we feel a bit pressured to immediately have a high-paying managerial job when we graduate from college or start a big business so you can be proud of us.”

I smiled and told them “Sweetheart, everyone starts from the start so please do not get pressured. The environment during my first job in 1994 is very different compared to the environment when you graduate. I will always be your #1 fan and always be proud of you.”

Let me tell you about my very first job…

My first job was a Trainer in a car manufacturing plant.

I remember waking up at 4am daily. I rode a public jeepney from Sampaloc Manila to Tayuman Light Rail Transit (LRT) Station and ride the train until Buendia LRT Station. My fellow passengers at that early time of the day are other workers, folks going to church or drunk people trying to go home.

When I get off the train, I walk for 15 minutes across the infamous Pasay Rotonda holding on to my life, praying my cheap watch, the 100 pesos in my wallet or my lunch pack cooked by my gorgeous wife Prudence does not attract the attention of the “interesting” people on the look out for a prey.

The employee shuttle of our company picks us up at the former “Kalatog Pinggan” hole-in-the-wall restaurant in EDSA avenue. You feel safe once you arrive in KP because all the other employees are there and the thieves and pick-pocketeers no longer follow you. When the non-air conditioned shuttle bus arrives, we let all our female employees ride first. I sometimes end up seating on a makeshift wooden bench and try to sleep during the 30 minute ride. If you miss this employee shuttle bus, you need to ride a jeep and run for 20 minutes in order not to arrive late at work. After work, my commute home follows the same route in reverse but this time its a 1-3 hour trip home depending on traffic and availability of jeepneys coz the trains are always overloaded during rush hour.

Your mom also started from the start in the banking industry as a New Accounts Clerk in Retiro QC branch. She also commuted for an hour or two to the office and back home via a TukTuk (tricycle) and 2 jeepney rides.

Both of us earned minimum wage as our first salary. We do our vey best to save every single penny. Every month we would count our savings and rejoice even if it is just a small amount.

So please don’t worry too much and don’t hurry too much. The first step is to start. Once you start, I am confident you will grow in your career or business of choice.

*About the photo

I still stand up in front of an audience. My first job was a Trainer in 1994 and I never stopped my vow to help others learn new things, develop their skills and be successful until this day in 2022.