Ever since as a little child, Quintina Calderon already wished of becoming a teacher. Having a little hope of finishing even her high school studies, of her coming from a humble family of a farmer, Quintina tried out almost all she could do in order to pursue her dreams. And now, at the age of 51, she’s now attending her work in the University of the Philippines in Mindanao. Yes, rightly heard, she’s now working in a university, but not as a teacher, but as a university dormitory janitress. But every time this stout woman smiles showing her lost teeth in front, no pint of frustration could be seen in her, instead, a completely cheerful satisfaction in life.

Manang Tinay as the student dormers commonly know her, has become the second mother of the dormer’s staying away from their original nurturers. Not one of the student dormers missed of knowing her, even by face only, since she’s the most controversial woman in the dorm especially when the Wing B hygiene is concerned. Most of the dormers who even knew her for years already may not have known her real name yet.

“Tinay na kay tigulang na man. Kadtong bata pa Qunitina. Kung datu, Tintin.” She jokingly answered about her real name while in chuckles.

“Ay te maayo kay naa ka. Gibilin na nako ang akong mga sinina sa gawas, pakilaba na lang. Salamat daan. Sige te, bye !” (“Ay Te, good that you’re here. You can already pick my dirty clothes I placed just outside our room. Kindly wash them te. Thank you. Good bye!”) The usual sound of business in the ears of the chubby middle-aged janitress of the dormitory, who aside from being a janitress, also sidelines on washing the clothes of the dormers.

On her usual t-shirt and denim pants folded up to her knees together with the pair of blue boots, Manang Tinay is now ready on her way to the upper Wing B section of the Elias B. Lopez dormitory. Armored by a mop, a broom, a pail and a ‘tabo’, together with a huge, yellow Orocan pail, where she places all the garbage she collects, Manang Tinay could already start her daily routine of keeping the whole wing tidy most especially the Comfort Room Area.

“Hi, Manang Tinay! Kamusta man?” (“…How are you?”) One lady dormer approached Manang Tinay who was mopping the tile floor of the upper wing A aisle.

“Okey lang. Buhi gihapon.” (“Just fine. Still breathing.”) Answered Manang Tinay as she paused to let the lady pass by.

Since the age of thirty-one Manang Tinay already worked as a dormitory aide first at the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) when there would be seminars held at the said dormitory. She transferred to U.P. dormitory on the year the said building was established (on the year 1996).

“Pipila na sab o ka tuig ,diri oy. Halos nakaila na nako tanan estudyante diri especially ang first batch pa gyud diri nga 80 lang ka buok. Mura na man nako ni ug pamilya ang mga tawo diri.” (“I have been working here for how many years already. And I was able to know almost all o f the students here especially those of the first batch which just consisted of 8o students all in all. I consider the people in here as part of my family already.) Manang Tinay proudly recounted her experiences, smiling once in a while, showing her toothless gums in front.

“Hay, kadaghan na nako ug kaila diri. Ang uban mga teacher nga wala na diri kay gipatalsik. Kahibalo mo ato kadtong nasakpan sa ginikanan nga gipagawas ang ilang anak? Naa pa gyud mga estudyante nga nasakpan sa may sagbutan. Na kuyaw lagi.” (“ I already knew a lot in here. There were teachers who weren’t already working in here. You know that one teacher who was caught of going out with a student? And there were also students caught in the bushes. It was really terrifying,,,”) Manang Tinay recounted in whispers some information she got from her previous acquaintances and friends while throwing out the garbage from every little trashcans outside every room into her big Orocan pail.

“Hi Manang Tinay. Kuhaon na nako ang akong mga nilabhan.” (“ Can I get my shirts now Manang Tinay?” ) One student dormer, who, just went out from one of the rooms, approached Manang Tinay.

“ Aw. Sige uban na lang ta sa ubos human na man ko.” (“Yes, Since I’m through already, you can go with me downstairs.”) Manang Tinay answered in smiles as prepared up her things.

“Oy, Tinay hindi pa ba tapos ‘yung mga pinapalabhan ko sa’yung basahan?” (“Tinay, do you already finished washing those rags I ordered you to wash?”) A middle-aged woman, looking younger than Manang Tinay, with short and curly hair, of a slender body with pimples on her bony face, in a plain white shirt and denim pants. Both her hands were on her waist while trying to soften her voice in a real Filipino accent as she talked to Manang Tinay who was checking on the clothes he hung at the back of the dormitory.

“Hindi pa po Mam.” (“Not yet ma’am.”) Manang Tinay answered in a soft voice.

And both of them laughed voraciously as their voices echoed at the open area at the back of the dormitory building. “Kuha gyud kaayo Elma.!” (“You really get it Elma.”) In grin and giggles, Manang Tinay cheered on the way Manang Elma, the janitress on the other wing of the dormitory, who nearly perfected the soft the voice and acts of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of the university who was staying at the same dormitory.

“Sige oy, mulakaw sa ko kay ilabay sa nako ang mga basura. “ (Ok, I’ll be going now. I still have to throw the garbage I’ve collected.”) The slender woman of curly hair told Manang Tinay after they laughing at each other.

“Manang Tinay! Naa ko ipangutana sa imoha unya ha.” (Manang Tinay, I need to talk to you later.) One male student dormer approached Manang Tinay as they met at the aisle on the side of the Wing A part of the dormitory.

“Ay, mga problems ug tsismis.” Manang Tinay answered in titter when ased about the possible reason of her talk with the dormers.

“Naanad na man ko ana. Sukad pa sa una, daghan na musolti sa mga problema sa akoa. Maghinilakay pa.” (“I have been used to it. Ever since in my work in her, some students would open up with me. Some would even cry.”) The stout motherly looking woman nodded as she recounted some of her side duties as a dormitory janitress.

“Ana man gyud na. Labaw pa gani ko sa teacher kay dili lang academic problems ang ginasulti sa ako pati emotional ug problema sa pamilya. Tanan.” (I think life is just like that. Me? I think I’m far better than the teachers since I entertain not just academic problems, but also emotional and family problems. The chubby face of Manang Tinay widened as she proudly explained her work, following a big laugh from her.

The lost teeth of Manang Tinay, an apparent distinction of her, every time she smiles or laughs, was already painted on my mind. Truly enough, she may not have been able to achieve her dream as a teacher, she wasn’t able to finish even her high school studies, but she had somehow achieved her dream of working in a university. In addition, she may not been able to work as a teacher, but the sacrifices, advises and experiences she imparted and learned to and from the students and other people she was working with, brought the same and even better satisfaction to her.