The New Manager Humiliated an Elderly Janitress After Her Shoes Got Dirty — But She Nearly Fainted in Fear When the CEO Knelt Before the Old Woman and Called Her “Mommy”
Brenda was a newly hired Department Manager at Alcantara Corp, one of the largest companies in Makati.
She was talented — but extremely arrogant. She cared obsessively about her appearance and hated being close to people she considered “low class.”
During her first week, Brenda arrived at the office wearing her brand-new Gucci shoes. She was rushing because she had a meeting with the CEO.
In the lobby, Nanay Cita was mopping the floor.
She was already 70 years old, with white hair, wrinkled skin, and an old janitor’s uniform. Her movements were slow.
Because Brenda was busy texting and in a hurry, she failed to notice the Wet Floor sign.
She stepped on the wet floor and slipped slightly. She didn’t fall, but dirty water splashed onto her expensive shoes.
“ARGH!” Brenda screamed.
“Look what you’ve done!”
Nanay Cita was startled.
“Oh my, I’m so sorry, ma’am. I’ll clean it right away.”
She bent down to wipe Brenda’s shoes with her cleaning cloth.
“Don’t touch me!” Brenda snapped, kicking the old woman’s hand away.
“Your rag is filthy! You’re filthy!”
Other employees in the lobby began to stare.
“Are you stupid?!” Brenda shouted, her face red with anger.
“Do you know these shoes cost 50,000 pesos?! Your whole year’s salary couldn’t even pay for this!”
She continued cruelly:
“Why is a useless old woman like you even working here? You should be at home waiting to die! You stink — you smell like dirt!”
Nanay Cita trembled in fear, tears falling.
“Ma’am… I’m really sorry… I didn’t mean to…”
“Sorry is useless!” Brenda snapped.
“I’ll call HR and have you fired today! People like you don’t belong in this company!”
Then the elevator doors opened.
Out walked Sir Alexander Alcantara, the CEO and President of the company, accompanied by board members and security.
Brenda saw him and instantly changed her tone. She smiled sweetly and approached him.
“Sir Alex! Good morning!” she said brightly.
“Sorry for the noise. I was just disciplining this janitress. She dirtied my shoes. I’m firing her now so you won’t be stressed.”
Sir Alex didn’t answer.
His gaze wasn’t on Brenda.
It was on the elderly woman kneeling on the floor, crying.
His eyes widened.
He rushed forward.
He pushed Brenda aside.
And in front of hundreds of employees in the lobby, the billionaire CEO knelt down and embraced the janitress.
“Mommy?!” Sir Alex cried, filled with worry.
“Mommy, what happened? Why are you crying? Who hurt you?”
Silence.
It felt as though the world stopped for Brenda.
She froze.
The color drained from her face.
Her knees trembled.
M-Mommy?
“A-Alex, my son…” Nanay Cita sobbed.
“I just dirtied her shoes… she said I smell like dirt… she said I’m stupid…”
Sir Alex stood up and gently helped his mother to her feet. He brushed the dirt off her uniform using his expensive handkerchief.
Then he turned to Brenda.
His eyes were burning with anger.
“You…” Alex pointed at her.
“You called my mother stupid?”
“S-Sir… I didn’t know…” Brenda stammered.
“I thought she was just a janitress…”
“She was a janitress!” Alex shouted.
“This company was built by this woman — starting from cleaning bathrooms! She worked as a janitress for 30 years so she could send me to school! She is the Founder of the company you’re standing in!”
He continued fiercely:
“She chooses to clean sometimes so she never forgets where she came from.
And you? Who are you to step on my mother?!”
“You said she smells?” Alex added.
“That smell is the smell of sweat and sacrifice. It’s far more honorable than your rotten attitude!”
Brenda collapsed to her knees.
“Sir, please forgive me! Mommy Cita, I’m sorry!” she begged.
“I need this job!”
Nanay Cita looked at her gently despite the pain.
“Alex, my son… let it go…”
But Alex shook his head.
“No, Mom. We are kind — but we do not tolerate people who disrespect the humble.”
He faced Brenda.
“Brenda, you are fired.
And I will make sure no company in the Philippines ever hires you again.
Get out of my building. Now.”
Security arrived and escorted Brenda out.
Her Gucci shoe fell off and was left on the floor beside the mop bucket — a silent reminder of her humiliation.
As she left in tears, Nanay Cita was escorted to the elevator by the CEO, while the employees stood in respect.
That day proved a powerful lesson:
Never judge a person by their job or clothing.
Because the hand holding the broom today…
might be the same hand that signs your paycheck tomorrow.