The public has known Jobert Austria as a comedian who seems to just take things lightly. Not everyone knew that his life was full of difficult challenges. In this interview for Tonight with Boy Abunda, Jobert recalled the ordeals he had to brave with his son Myron.
The video opens with Jobert talking about how girlfriend Tiad Guzman and his son Myron stayed by his side during his days in rehabilitation. He is thankful that they never left him during one of the darkest seasons in his life, “Sila lang ‘yung mga tao na tumayo sa tabi ko. Na-realize ko na ang laki pala ng sakripisyo nila.”
Jobert and Myron used to live inside a jeepney for two years but even their little ‘home’ was destroyed by Typhoon Ondoy. They evacuated to a nearby chapel, making do with rice and ‘sabaw’ for their meals the whole day.
He turned emotional while relating his story. “Pinapanood ko ‘yung tinitirhan kong jeep habang lumulubog. ‘Yun ‘yung araw-araw na tinitirhan mo, doon ka kumakain. Tapos nandoon kami sa taaas ng chapel, wala kaming kinakain kundi kanin lang at sabaw. Yakap ko ‘yung anak ko, natulog kami na basang-basa sa ulan.”
According to the former Banana Sundae mainstay, he was forced to move out when his adoptive parents died, not wanting to depend on his siblings for survival.
“Ayaw kong maging pabigat. Noong namatay ‘yung Mama at Papa ko na mga umampon sa akin, kanya-kanyang buhay na rin kami. Ang dami naming magkakapatid, eh iisa lang ‘yung bahay namin. Bunso ako at may anak ako, so lumayo na lang kami.”
On most days, Myron would earn few coins by joining basketball games. They usually had Php20 to spend for their meals. “Minsan alam kong wala kaming pera, eh magaling mag-basketball ‘yung anak ko, pupusta ‘yan ng twenty pesos. ‘Pag may twenty pesos na kami, maghapon nakakabili na kami ng gulay tapos kanin at maraming sabaw.”
However, they would run out of luck in some days to the point of eating just ‘polvoron.’ Myron cried and complained about hunger, and it broke Jobert’s heart, “’Pag ‘yung anak mo nagrereklamo sa’yo ng ganun, parang kung pwede lang ipakain ‘yung isang parte ng katawan mo sa kanya para mabuhay siya.”
But if it were not for those difficult moments, Jobert wouldn’t realize God’s love. He saw how God moved in his life and how He listened to his cry. Jobert said the Lord did not forsake him.