FELICIANO RIVERA

It was a wish that may come off as too simple. But for someone like Feliciano Rivera, who has worked hard all his life to ensure his family’s survival, no wish or gift for that matter can ever be too simple.

The story of this 66-year-old all around worker, who is one of Suntrust Properties’ oldest employees, may sound no different from the others who similarly want nothing but the best for their loved ones—except that in Ka Momoy’s case, he lost a child.

“I’ve been with Suntrust for quite a long time—this is where I had gray hair. My life is similar to the others who had experience a few ups and downs except only that I lost a child,” Rivera related.

“We didn’t have enough money to spend and the really sad part was that we weren’t able to go to the hospital which could have saved the life of my child. When I got home, my child was already gone, and so all I could do was to say sorry. Recently I’ve been having dreams wherein my child is asking me to look after my grandchildren. That’s why now, more than ever, I am more determined to work hard and provide a secure future for them,” he further added.

It was Rivera’s wish to have a pangkabuhayan or grocery package that could help him start a small sari-sari store business. He believes that through such endeavor, he could provide better for his grandchildren, even after he retires.

Suntrust Properties senior manager Christine Bellen did not waste time in granting the wish of Rivera. After hearing his wish, Bellen went out of her way to personally hand over her surprise to Ka Momoy.

The surprise of a grocery package that Bellen gave signaled the start of a better future for the hardworking Ka Momoy—indeed a fitting reward to a loyal, hardworking employee.