She is happy at her job and it shows.
When asked if there is anything that could be done to make her working conditions better, kitchen head Jenny Barrequatro answers a firm “No.”
Jenny is happy with her staff of six and the spacious kitchen in which she cooks up nutritious, filling, and some would argue, fattening meals.
She has seen MPF-RBR grow in the 10 years she has been here and related that all her requests for a bigger kitchen and more staff have already been granted.
‘There used to be a small kitchen and the stove was small as well. I asked for a bigger one and I got everything I asked for,” she said.
The only challenge she has encountered in the time she has been serving staff and patients is the individualized meal plans that were created since the resident nutritionist came over in January 2008.
She explained that it is doubly challenging because they have to monitor the food that comes out of the kitchen to make sure they follow the nutritionist’s diet plan.
In addition, she said, patients need to be informed of the said diet plan.
“It is difficult to explain especially to patients why they had to be put on such and such a plan. Sometimes they start arguments asking why they were put for instance on a low sodium low fat diet. Sometimes I don’t know what to tell patients,” she related.
However, she maintained that she is generally happy that the hospital has grown and that it serves more patients now because it means more people suffering from mental illness are getting treatment.
Moreover, she said that the workload is light and the hours are not demanding.
Aside from being given the tools and thq manpower to perform her job well, Jenny also found satisfaction in her personal life when she met life partner Lito Lazaro, who is a nursing attendant, here three years ago.
She has a history of working for MPF-RBR executive director Dr. Benita Sta. Ana-Ponio’s family. Prior to MPF, she worked for Dr. Ponio’s household for four years. Ms. Barriquatro then left to look for employment as a factory worker but had no luck because she suffers from asthma, but came back when she heard MPF needed kitchen staff
If the bosses remain satisfied with her service, Jenny declared she is staying put here, where she is happy and satisfied.
