Father raises 3 kids with 'obsolete' job
Published Jun 18, 2023 01:56 am
In a busy street in Manila, an old man now known as a legend in fixing obsolete cameras, sits and continues to go on with a craft that has sent his three children to school, two of them now nurses, and the youngest waiting for the engineering board exam.
*A SMALL hidden stall along Hidalgo street has been Mang Dado’s workspace for over 30 years. (Pancho Parian)*
Diosdado San Juan, 61, “Mang Dado” to customers and friends, has worked every day for 30 years as a camera repairman in a hole-in-the-wall stall at R. Hidalgo Street in Quiapo, Manila. Through many typhoons, floods, and when restrictions allowed during the pandemic, Mang Dado would be there fixing old film cameras and recently also digital cameras and watches. It is his patience and ability to comprehend the way a small machine works that is making him a legend among those who patronize his services. “My eldest son was only one year old when I started my camera repair business,” Mang Dado said in Filipino. He would bring his children to his workplace and although no one took after him, they imbibed his faith in God.
*WORKSTATION of Mang Dado, a camera repairman in Hidalgo, Quiapo. (Pancho Parian)*
Mang Dado’s first job in Manila was sacristan in a parish church in Tondo after he ran away from his home in Bicol in the early 80s. It was there where his interest in photography started. His two children Jerhome and Nikko San Juan, both nurses, recalled how their father would occasionally bring them to his place of work in Quiapo, and to attend church. “He used to take us to Quiapo on weekends so that we could attend a mass,” they said in an interview. The eldest, Jerhome, is a devotee of the Black Nazarene.
To his children, Mang Dado serves as a strong inspiration and role model for his work ethic of persevering through challenging times. “Every time I feel tired or stressed at work as a nurse, I motivate myself by thinking about the sacrifices our father had done to put us where we are now,” Nikko said. Mang Dado shared that there would be times he had to resort to money lenders just to put food on the table, and to pay for their daily needs because his earnings did not provide enough. He said they used to live in a crowded area in Valenzuela City where not very good characters lived, but thankfully, he said that through discipline, his children did not go with the wrong crowd. “I’m very proud because we were able to raise them without any problems,” Mang Dado said. Recently, Mang Dado became a grandfather with the birth of his first grandson last February, from his eldest son Jerhome. Despite the success of raising children, who are now all busy living their lives as professionals in their respective fields, Mang Dado said he will continue to fix cameras despite his age and poor eyesight “for at least another 20 years,” to help those who need to have their cameras fixed.
*A SMALL hidden stall along Hidalgo street has been Mang Dado’s workspace for over 30 years. (Pancho Parian)*
Diosdado San Juan, 61, “Mang Dado” to customers and friends, has worked every day for 30 years as a camera repairman in a hole-in-the-wall stall at R. Hidalgo Street in Quiapo, Manila. Through many typhoons, floods, and when restrictions allowed during the pandemic, Mang Dado would be there fixing old film cameras and recently also digital cameras and watches. It is his patience and ability to comprehend the way a small machine works that is making him a legend among those who patronize his services. “My eldest son was only one year old when I started my camera repair business,” Mang Dado said in Filipino. He would bring his children to his workplace and although no one took after him, they imbibed his faith in God.
*WORKSTATION of Mang Dado, a camera repairman in Hidalgo, Quiapo. (Pancho Parian)*
Mang Dado’s first job in Manila was sacristan in a parish church in Tondo after he ran away from his home in Bicol in the early 80s. It was there where his interest in photography started. His two children Jerhome and Nikko San Juan, both nurses, recalled how their father would occasionally bring them to his place of work in Quiapo, and to attend church. “He used to take us to Quiapo on weekends so that we could attend a mass,” they said in an interview. The eldest, Jerhome, is a devotee of the Black Nazarene.
Words of wisdom
Brothers Jerhome and Nikko said that their father is always quiet, yet still managed to teach them lessons through his words of wisdom every dinner time – the only time they can be together as a family. The most memorable lesson Nikko learned was how he should “always try to anticipate what could happen next to avoid future mishaps,” a piece of advice that he continues to apply today as a nurse working abroad.
To his children, Mang Dado serves as a strong inspiration and role model for his work ethic of persevering through challenging times. “Every time I feel tired or stressed at work as a nurse, I motivate myself by thinking about the sacrifices our father had done to put us where we are now,” Nikko said. Mang Dado shared that there would be times he had to resort to money lenders just to put food on the table, and to pay for their daily needs because his earnings did not provide enough. He said they used to live in a crowded area in Valenzuela City where not very good characters lived, but thankfully, he said that through discipline, his children did not go with the wrong crowd. “I’m very proud because we were able to raise them without any problems,” Mang Dado said. Recently, Mang Dado became a grandfather with the birth of his first grandson last February, from his eldest son Jerhome. Despite the success of raising children, who are now all busy living their lives as professionals in their respective fields, Mang Dado said he will continue to fix cameras despite his age and poor eyesight “for at least another 20 years,” to help those who need to have their cameras fixed.
Father’s Day messages
His children sent him the following messages on Father’s Day: “Papa, thank you so much for all the hard work and perseverance so that my siblings and I could finish school – for all the sacrifices you made just to give us a good life. We love you so much. We will repay you for all of your sacrifices. Thank you for your never-ending love,” Nikko said. “You are my idol. I love you, papa,” Jerhome’s message said. (Pancho Parian)