Raising a family, especially in today’s economy, can be considered no less than an act of sacrifice — it is putting one’s life in service of others, facing hardships and trials at every turn, all in the name of giving one’s children a better and comfortable future.

This has been Charly Rivera’s journey, a father of four in Rodriguez, Rizal, who works as a BIDA Fiber agent together with his wife Jonalyn. Life has dealt them their fair share of obstacles, and Charly, as the head of the family, is no stranger to struggles.

“Mahirap talaga maging tatay. Dati nagguwardiya ako tapos gumigising ako ng 4 o’ clock para pumasok. 7 a.m. ang pasok ko; Pagdating ng hapon, out ko naman ay 7 p.m. Dumarating kami sa bahay gabi na rin. Medyo mahirap talaga. Sakripisyo talaga sa trabaho para sa pamilya,” Charly said.

Charly, at 51, is no longer in the prime of his youth. He contracted an infection from hours of standing and roving as a security guard and was left untreated for two years.

“Nagdu-duty kami sa gabi tapos sa araw may training. Natatakot ako magtanggal ng sapatos kasi mape-penalty kami. Bawal magtanggal ng sapatos. Naipit ‘yong ugat sa paa ko, nangingitim pala ‘yong ugat at di ko napansin. After two years, kumikirot na. Namaga siya at pumutok ‘yong sugat habang naka-duty ako,” said Charly, sharing that he did not stop going to work even as he sought medical care.

Jonalyn, ever the reliable partner, didn’t let her husband struggle alone; She started as a Converge agent in 2017, selling its cable internet product which predated Converge’s flagship fiber-based postpaid products.

“Wala pang FiberX na 25 Mbps, andiyan na ako. ‘Yong Converge product na may kasamang cable, 5 and 10 Mbps, nagbebenta na ako noon at kasama ko si Charly,” said Jonalyn.

“Ang ginagawa ko kahit nasa duty ako pag-uwi ko, lalo na ‘pag panggabi ako, kinukuha ko ‘yong address kay misis para pick-up-in ko siya sa umaga. Nagpi-pick up ako ng client, nag-e-area, tapos tinu-turn in ko na sa team leader ko ‘yong benta tapos pahinga nang onti, tapos pasok uli panggabi,” Charly said, describing his everyday work routine.

Life took a positive turn when the couple started with Converge. Even as Charly still held on to his security job, he was earning more as a Converge agent and at least he had a better handle on his work hours.

“Simula noon, guminhawa na rin talaga kasi medyo kumikita na kasi may trabaho ako at asawa ko may trabaho din. Tapos nakakabili na kami ng gamit. ‘Yong bahay namin napapagawa din. ‘Yong mga anak ko, medyo guminhawa sila kasi kumikita naman kami sa trabaho kaya sakripisyo talaga para may pagkukuhnan kami talaga,” he noted.

While other fathers’ experience with raising a family and sustaining a livelihood may not be as difficult as Charly’s, there is always an element of sacrifice in every journey. Whether it be a more relaxed schedule or an easier lifestyle, there is always a cost to every father’s choice to build a loving, comfortable home for the family.

At the center of it, is a father’s unending love and devotion.

“Mahal na mahal ko ang mga anak ko. Misis ko, mahal ko ‘yan. Hinihingi ko lang sa kanila na mag-aral silang mabuti,” Charly ended.

The BIDA postpaid fiber is the most affordable postpaid plan of Converge. The product is now present in more than 95% of all the provinces and municipalities where Converge has presence in, and as of the first quarter of 2024, has 90,000 subscribers.

Converge