Ramon grew up in a small town in Laguna, where he spent most of his teenage years working part-time as a gasoline boy at a local station. The job was simple refueling vehicles, cleaning windshields, and offering friendly greetings to customers. Yet, Ramon always treated his work with pride. He believed that no job was too small if it was done with honesty and dedication.
But life was never easy for his family. His father was a tricycle driver, and his mother sold vegetables at the market. Ramon, the eldest of four siblings, knew he had to take responsibility to help them. After high school, he continued working at the gasoline station, but the minimum wage wasn’t enough to cover his siblings education and daily household expenses. That’s when he started thinking about working abroad.
Through a recruitment agency, Ramon applied for a job as a fuel station attendant in Qatar. Many people underestimated the role, thinking it was insignificant, but for Ramon, it was an opportunity a chance to provide for his family while continuing a job he already knew well. When he finally received his deployment papers, he bid goodbye to his family with mixed emotions of hope and sadness.
In Qatar, Ramon was assigned to a large fuel station along a busy highway. Unlike in the Philippines, the station was much bigger, modern, and fast-paced. He had to adapt quickly learning new safety protocols, understanding the types of fuel, and assisting customers from various nationalities. Communication was a challenge at first, since many customers spoke Arabic or English, but Ramon relied on gestures, simple words, and a polite smile to bridge the gap.
The work was physically demanding. He often stood for long hours under the scorching desert sun, pumping gas for endless lines of cars and trucks. During peak hours, the station buzzed with activity, and mistakes were not tolerated. He had to be careful, alert, and precise, especially when handling cash transactions. Despite the exhaustion, Ramon always reminded himself that every drop of fuel he pumped was a step closer to his family’s dreams.
What kept him going was the thought of his siblings. Each payday, he would send money home, making sure their school fees were covered. His youngest sister often sent him voice messages saying, Kuya, thank you! I promise I’ll study hard. Those words fueled Ramon’s determination more than anything.
Over time, Ramon earned the respect of his supervisor for his reliability and dedication. He was promoted to shift leader, tasked with training new attendants and managing daily operations. It wasn’t a grand title, but for Ramon, it was proof that hard work, no matter the job, always pays off.
After three years, Ramon returned home for a short vacation. The gasoline station where he once worked in the Philippines still stood, and his old coworkers welcomed hi warmly. But this time, Ramon stood taller not just as a gasoline boy, but as someone who had braved the challenges of being an OFW.
When asked if he was proud of his job abroad, Ramon simply said, Yes. Because it wasn’t just fueling cars it was about fueling my family’s dreams.
