By Tatiana Onofre
It’s 7:30 in the morning.
A Monday morning when students race to the gate for their morning classes, some with pregnant eyebags, some imitating the living dead – lost in their thoughts just hoping for a decent day ahead. Between the road and the steel gates of a concrete abyss stands a familiar sight that infallibly ushers warmth into students’ days.
Kuya Happy Guard!
That’s what they call him —his real name is a mystery to most but to those who still don’t know him, he is SG Floriano Corsame, also known as Paul. You may not recall his name but you, without a doubt, must recognize his well-known exuberant greetings. His signature “Good morning ma’am/sir!”’s paired with a salute and a smile you can see through his mask and glasses.
It’s not just his smile but the way he takes the time to acknowledge each person. There’s a kindness in his gestures that makes you feel like you’ve been seen, like you matter.
His shift sets into motion before most of the students even think of getting out of bed. By early morning at Katipunan Hall gate, he’s already standing tall at his post, his signature salute and wave ready to greet the morning rush.
Students pour through the gate, sometimes in waves, but Kuya never misses a beat. He stands guard, not just over the school’s security, but over the moods and spirits of everyone who walks past.
There’s a jubilant roar in his voice and each greeting he gives comes with genuine care. His shift may end at 2:00 p.m., but the joy he spreads often lingers long after he leaves his post.
Despite being hidden by his accessories, his mysterious facade is just a trick of the light as his buoyancy reflects through the importance he places on happiness. “Mao pud ning akoa. Ganahan ko nga happy kos akoang kaogalingon, happy ko sa trabaho, happy ko sa akong life– happy ra tanan. [That’s what I want to be: happy with myself, happy with my job, happy with my life– happy with everything],” says Kuya Happy Guard.
He shares how he realized that there is no reason to focus on issues, “Mao man nay pinaka importante sa tao happy ragud ka di ka mangita ug mga problema sa imong kaugalingon. Dili ka maguol-guol. [That’s the most important thing for a person, to just be happy and not go looking for problems within yourself. Do not dwell on worries.]
Kuya Happy Guard, with his contagious energy and warm words, has become a part of the Sillimanian life experience. His simple act of altruism transforms the Katipunan Hall gate from a mere passageway to school into a space of warmth and connection.
And as students walk away, ready to face their classes, they carry with them a little bit of Kuya’s joy —proof that sometimes, all it takes to brighten someone’s day is a smile.
