Yesterday, the first of May was Labor Day. A holiday dedicated to celebrating the rights, the achievements and the contributions of workers from all sectors to society and our economy. Regardless of one's job, he/she is a stakeholder and a contributor to the growth and development of our nation. Each worker deserves the same amount of respect. So whether your job gives you the privilege of taking the day off today, or not, know that you are valued, you are cherished, and you should be proud of your share and stake in our country’s progress.

Regardless of the industry you are in – private sector, business industry, government, healthcare, aviation, service, finance, education media, the list goes on – whether you are an entrepreneur, a business owner, a therapist, a masseuse, a salon worker; a waiter, a cashier, a sales associate, a yaya, a driver, a pilot, a flight attendant, a domestic worker, an Overseas Filipino Worker; a nurse, a doctor, an engineer, a technician, a secretary, a police officer, or a soldier, an astronaut, the list goes on – your role in the community is honored, valued and appreciated.

As workers ourselves, we seldom feel our impact to the greater community, although it is more visible and tangible in some sectors, versus others. What we must not neglect though is that our contributions to our own families is in, and of itself is enough. The family is a unit of society, and, your role as a provider to that unit fuels the rest of the domino effect – the ripple effect that thrusts our nation towards thriving.

Whether we work in the Philippines, or overseas, at the end of the day, we are a stakeholder of our Inang Bayan. Undeniably, some jobs pay much more than others, but that is irrelevant in the grander scheme of things. As an individual, what matters is that we do are duties as a citizen, and that we do our jobs with pride and integrity. There is no job too small, nor one that defines success more than another in my opinion. At the end of the day, we are experts in our own craft, and ultimately work towards the same goal. Yes, we do so mainly to provide and for an income, but a lot have also chosen passion over lucrative careers. It is a matter of priority after all. Regardless of what your goal is, as long as we carry-out our jobs with honor and valor, it is all that truly matters and counts.

Sa lahat ng mangagagwang Pilipino, saludo ako sa inyo!