SunStar
+ January 18, 2021 POLIO-STRICKEN Jay Argana Espeleta has been awarded twice as an Outstanding Employee in 2019 (runner-up) and 2020 as the outstanding employee of the year.
At age 5, Jay, a native of Muntinlupa, was afflicted with polio, which severely deformed his left leg and left foot. Although he underwent a successful surgical operation, he continued to suffer severe pain. Worse, Jay suffered from bullying because of the way he walks, moves and talks. He became self-conscious and initially indulged in self-pity. He imagined people staring at him while he awkwardly walked in streets and hallways and while he rode jeepneys.
But Jay overcame these challenges. Quitting medical school, he started to work in the city government of Muntinlupa in 2000 as a medical assistant. He just applied himself to his work. No job was too difficult for Jay and he eventually he was loved and cheered by colleagues because he was always ready to lend a helping hand.