Blessings rain on honest janitress

Gifts and job offers began pouring yesterday for a 31-year-old janitress who returned to its owner an envelope containing $10,000, which was left behind at the Manila Domestic Airport the other day.

Florita Mondoyo, a native of Palawan, said she could not believe all the good fortune coming her way was real.

"I had to pinch my arms several times just to convince myself that I was not dreaming," Mondoyo said during a press conference at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The eldest of six children and the family breadwinner, Mondoyo is a contractual employee earning P180 a day as a janitress at the domestic airport terminal.

She found the envelope containing the dollars on a chair while sweeping the floor at the terminal last Tuesday. She turned over the envelope and its contents to airport officials, who promptly returned them to the owner, Indian national Nedhal Aldhalain.

For her honesty, airport general manager Edgardo Manda announced yesterday that NAIA management would be awarding Mondoyo P5,000 cash and P2,000 worth of gift certificates.

Mondoyo, who only managed to finish high school, will also receive a two-year scholarship in any vocational school of her choice as well as a permanent job at the arrival monitoring area of the domestic airport terminal.

During the press conference, the honest breadwinner said the first thing she wants to do is to go home to Palawan and visit her parents, whom she has not seen in years.

As if on cue, Manda offered Mondoyo a round-trip ticket to Palawan, courtesy of flag carrier Philippine Airlines.

Not to be outdone, Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon sent Mondoyo P5,000 in cash as well as lifetime free round trips to Palawan on board the Superferry.

Gordon’s gifts came with a message of hope that her honesty serves as an example to others.

"May your tribe increase," he said.

Manda told reporters that his office has also been receiving numerous phone calls from individuals wishing to help the honest airport worker.

He said a lot of businessmen and professionals have promised to reserve a slot for Mondoyo in their companies. Three foreign-owned corporations have also inquired about her, Manda said.

Foremost of the job offers came from Dr. James Dy, president of the Filipino-Chinese Charitable Association, who offered Mondoyo a permanent job at the pharmacy section of the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center in Manila.

"After reading her story in The STAR, I knew that Mondoyo is the person we are looking for," Dy said.

He said he can also find her work abroad since he has a lot of friends overseas who are looking for "good and honest people."

Dy said he wants to meet Mondoyo and personally offer her a permanent job that fits her.

"I also want to help her continue her studies," he said after finding out that the airport worker only finished high school.