The Unsung Hero, Kuya Santi
by John Mathew Cabiltes (12A - ABM) | Published September 2021
Kuya Santi doesn't fly, doesn't shoot lasers,
But he is a superhero to me.
He is one of our school's janitors,
And he fills our life with glee!
He rises at the break of dawn,
when everyone else is still bloodshot.
He commutes all the way from the city of San Juan,
Yet he comes never tired, never distraught.
Every day, he comes two hours earlier than he ought to.
For in the life of a superhero, things will never be done.
There are evil forces he must battle
To save the students, to save the school, and to save fun!
First, by cleaning up the classroom,
Then by arranging the chairs as well as wiping the board.
He is skilled in the art of the broom,
So no dirt will ever be found on any floor!
He battles the putrid smell of the bathroom,
A stench so foul as if it came from a beast.
To others, it may be a sign of impending doom,
But to him, it isn't a problem, not even at the very least.
Then he takes the time to help us,
In affairs of the lost and found.
Nothing is truly lost,
As long as Kuya Santi is around!
He scans the school high and low,
For any specks of dust or disarray,
While doing this, he greets everyone,
Making sure to brighten everyone's day.
I ask unto you,
Are these not a superhero's deeds?
A selfless man indeed,
Constantly pushing the limits of his own needs.
When this hero comes to sleep,
He always grins.
He keeps smiling the whole night,
Until the new morning begins.
After his day of justice and duty,
He still finds a way,
To smile and to be happy.
What more can you say?
Kuya Santi is a hero
In every sense of the word,
If still, you don't believe me,
Then you are simply absurd!