Republic Cement salutes everyday heroes

MANILA, Philippines - Everyday heroes walk among us. Unheralded, they strive to turn their dreams into reality in the face of various limitations and challenges. Armed with “tibay mula sa loob”, they triumph over their circumstances every day and uplift the lives of their families and communities.

Three such heroes were recently recognized by top cement manufacturer Republic Cement as part of its Tibay Hero search, for their inspiring stories of fortitude and perseverance.

Septuagenarian Marcial Tan Angkok, 62-year-old Mateo Doctor, and 28-year-old Jeffrey delos Santos are an inspiration to their respective families and communities, overcoming formidable challenges in the pursuit of their dreams.

Angkok, who suffers from cerebral palsy, braved the everyday commute between Caloocan and Bulacan just to ensure that his two daughters got to school safely. Even simple tasks like taking public transportation were a struggle for Angkok due to his speech and movement problems. He was undeterred, however, and even established an organization for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in his community, organizing livelihood seminars and actively soliciting assistance from government offices and various organizations.

Doctor, meanwhile, strived to achieve a better life despite his family’s poverty. The youngest in a brood of six, he learned to support himself at an early age, often juggling work and school. In the turbulent ’70s, he moved from Lucena to Manila and landed a dishwashing job at a nightclub in Ermita.

His life began to turn around when he enlisted as an Airman in the Philippine Air Force in 1977. He underwent training with the Philippine Marines and was eventually assigned to the Presidential Security Command. He completed his Public Administration degree while he was on active duty and then became a reserve officer in 1984. He served in different units around the country and abroad including a peacekeeping stint with the United Nations in 2005, before retiring as a colonel.

As for Jeffrey delos Santos, though he lost his eyesight when he was only nine years old, he never lost his drive to succeed. He continued to go to school despite his disability, learning Braille from the Resources for the Blind, a non-government organization serving blind people, finished high school, and eventually completed an Access Technology English Communication and Music Transcription course from STI. He currently works as a massage therapist for Vibes Massage, a social enterprise that aims to provide gainful employment for the blind.

Despite his disability, the 28-year-old accepts home service requests even on his rest days. It was through his hard work, in fact, that he was able to send his sister through college and regularly helped in the treatment of his father who suffered from hypertension and had an enlarged heart.

These everyday heroes are just three of so many others who submitted their stories to the “Republic Tibay Mo, Inspirasyon Ko” contest, which salutes Filipinos who persevere against all odds for their loved ones and causes they believe in.

Lafarge Republic Inc. president Renato Sunico says the stories of Angkok, Doctor and Delos Santos, which were selected out of 1,671 entries, personify the “tibay” legacy of Republic Cement .

“Angkok’s, Doctor’s, and Delos Santos’ perseverance will leave a lasting legacy among their families and communities, like the durable structures built with Republic Cement  that last generations,” he said.

These three everyday heroes’ lives are extraordinary stories of determination that inspire others to overcome their respective challenges.

Visit tibayrepublic.com and Facebook.com/republiccement to know more about Angkok, Doctor, Delos Santos, and Republic Cement.