Denis Santos
- Street Sweeper in Heels went viral online
- The story behind Albay’s Rampadorang Street Sweeper
Her story was featured in ASAP’s “L.S.S.” segment where Jake Zyrus and Jolina Magdangal dedicated a song for her. She was dubbed as the “Rampadorang Street Sweeper” and made waves online when pictures of her went viral.
Get To Know
“Kapag naka-heels ako, ang ganda-ganda ko. Feeling ko Miss Universe ako,” Lourdes Punit said talking about how proud she is to what she does. Lourdes was just nine years old when her mother died since then, her family found it hard to break through poverty.
She became an out of school youth and started to make a living despite her very young age. The street sweeper cannot depend on her siblings, they have their own family and are struggling financially, too. She tried farming, selling vegetables, and even being a maid, just to survive.
Story behind the heels
According to her, she dreamt of being an actress or a model in her younger years, that’s why when she became a street sweeper, she released her inner fashionista. “Hilig ko po talaga ang magsuot ng sapatos na matataas kasi dream ko po ‘yun,” she said partnering her heels with equally lively clothes.
At 17, she met her first boyfriend that soon became her husband who was a vendor at the city market. Their love bloosommed with four kids, and one was born special.
“Yung isa kong anak, special child. Autistic. May maintenance talaga siyang gamot. Kahit mahirap ang buhay, kinakaya ko po para sa aking pamilya,” she said.
On being viral
It was a blessing in disguise when pictures of her all dressed-up went viral online. This was the time when she finally gets a spot on the national TV. “Hindi ko po lubusang akalain na makikita [ako] sa TV balang araw,” Lourdes muttered. Opportunities and help showered her family.
Her only wish would be the safety and security of her family. “Ang pamilya ko, mahal na mahal ko. Higit pa sa buhay ko,” she told ABS-CBN News. One can truly admire Lourde’s love for her family. To end her statement, she said,
“Hangga’t malakas ako, patuloy akong magrarampa at maghahanapbuhay para sa pamilya ko.”
This is a literal Street-Fashion!
