LIKE most working adults, 58-year-old Magdaleno Borces leaves home before sunrise and comes home late at night.
Only that his condition is more special than others. Borces was born with amelia, a birth defect resulting to shrunken, deformed or lack of limbs.
Despite this, he braves the weather and smoke while manning traffic along F. Cabahug St. in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.
He has been doing this for five years now at P100 a day.
“Wala tuod koy mga tiil, pero wa na nagpasabot nga wala na pud koy paglaom sa kinabuhi (I may not have legs, but it doesn’t mean I have lost hope),” he told SunStar Cebu.
From Mondays to Fridays, Borces is seen managing the traffic in the area for the safety of kids who are studying in a private school in the area, and whose family are paying for his salary.
“I’m working here rain or shrine from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. It doesn’t pay much, but it makes me happy,” he said.
The traffic enforcer rides a trike from his house 200 meters away from his work area all by himself every day.
The trike, donated by his American friend who previously resided in a village close to where he lives, has been of great help to him for the past five years.
Borces recalled how he had to battle fatigue on a daily basis as he had to walk alone.
But despite getting tired, not to mention being watched peculiarly by passersby, his special condition made him stronger, he said.
His workmate, Daniel Jakosalem, 51, said manning the road situation on the street, despite the heat and smoke have been “enjoyable” because of Borces.
“He inspires me to work harder because he is really passionate with our job,” he said.
Jakosalem said that during their lunch breaks, Borces is sometimes seen reprimanding mendicants, telling them that poverty and disability is not a hindrance to helping oneself and society.
“I am only unable to walk, not unable to live. I hope those who go begging in the streets will also think that way. We are all capable of doing something great because our challenges will only make us stronger,” Borces said.