Ligaya & Working at McDonald's
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Jayson
Jen and I both had a chance to work with Mama at McDonald’s. Mama was very protective of me when we were working at the grill. She would often tell me to "let the other workers do the work" so I wouldn't have a hard time.
Sometimes, when it got busy, she would get frustrated because there weren't enough crew at the grill. She'd ask for help, but no one would come. So, when the oven with the apple pies would beep or it was time to attend to the fried products and meat on the grill, Mama would tell me to let them burn. She'd get mad if I didn't follow her instructions. If I let things fall apart, she said that would be a sign for the managers to help out.
Sometimes it would get so busy, yet the manager would still want us to sweep the floor. Mama's idea was to kick the lettuce, buns, and other debris under the prep table—at least the floors would look clean. Once it was no longer busy, we'd deal with the mess.
That's the problem: managers focus on the window and drive-thru. They forget that all of the food originates from the grill.
Mama became employee of the month a few times, but not often because she was always advocating for the workers. She and "Commander" Andrea were partners. As long as they were there, the managers had nothing to worry about. The work got done even though they were exhausted.
Mama got a lot of free meals and brought home a lot of McDonald's foods.
These are the pins that I kept from my time working there. I was named employee of the month once and received an analog Roots watch with the McDonald's logo. I also got a crew of the month pin and free meal. I bet Mama has a ton of pins. She recently celebrated 25 years at McDonald’s.
Originally, we worked at the McDonald’s at No. 2 Road. At the time, whenever our shifts would coincide, the people there would say, “The whole family is here!”
Jovert
I'm the only one in our family who never worked at McDonald's, so I don't know firsthand what it's like to work there.
However, I know the work was gruelling because Mama often came home tired and would fall asleep on the sofa while she rested and watched TV. Even though her job was neither glamorous nor high-paying, it was that job—and Mama's hard work—that helped her pay for so many things that increased our family's happiness and well-being over the years.
Mama was a hard-worker. After she had her pacemaker installed in November 2013, I suggested she stop working, but she refused. At the peak of COVID, I wanted her to retire, but she again refused. Even as she recovered from her heart attack in July 2023, Mama had every intention of returning to work, possibly on a part-time basis.
Mama said she didn't want to just sit at home and be bored. She wanted something to do and to chat with her friends and coworkers. Even though she could be a little grumpy on the outside, I think all of her coworkers knew she actually had a "heart of gold."
Jayson
Working at McDonald's was a job of service.
Mama made countless "happy" burgers that fed thousands of people of all ages. She said that when she and her closest workmates at No. 2 Road branch transferred to the one on No. 3 Road, even some of their regular customers followed them there.
The customers preferred how Mama's team assembled the food with good quality care.
I think it's the same for all of us: we choose to go to the place we feel has the best service. And it's the people who work there that make it all possible.
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