A Wrexham care home worker who brightens the lives of residents by bursting into song and playing dominoes has been honoured with a Smile Award.<\/p>\n
The award, decided by votes from staff and residents at the Pendine Park care organisation celebrates those who go the extra mile to make life brighter for others.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s winner, 37-year-old father-of-two Emmanuel Dela Cruz, was recognised for his warmth, energy and dedication to residents at the Bodlondeb care home.<\/p>\n
His manager, Arlene Elano, said: \u201cEmmanuel is the heart of Bodlondeb. He\u2019s always smiling, always singing and always ready to help. He truly represents what Pendine is all about.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u00a0 nominated by everyone here at Bodlondeb. For all of us here Bodlondeb is a real family. There\u2019s a closeness, friendliness and belonging and Emmanuel is a perfect example of that.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can ask anyone here and they\u2019ll say the same thing. Emmanuel is a positive spirit and a role model.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverywhere he goes he\u2019s smiling. He never complains and when we need him he\u2019s there. He\u2019s just a great staff member who works with dedication and commitment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s more, he\u2019s even a singer. He sings for our residents and when we need a singer for an event we know we can turn to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI and the family here at Bodlondeb are so proud of him. Emmanuel is a person with a great heart who inspires all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emmanuel, a business and marketing graduate, and his family came to the UK from the Philippines four years ago and he was working as a supervisor in a Primark store when his wife, a nurse, suggested he would make a good care worker.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI met Arlene at a Filipino community gathering in Wrexham and asked her about the possibility of working in care and she offered me the opportunity to join Pendine Park.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt first I was a bit scared because it wasn\u2019t anything I\u2019d thought about before but Pendine provide very good training on how to deal with people, including those with dementia.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have learned to play dominoes since I came to Bodlondeb. We have a resident who is a really good player and I learned the strategy of the game from him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emmanuel and his wife have two children, aged five and two, and love hiking and he also loves music and singing and he said: \u201cPeople from the Philippines like to sing so I sing for our residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey really like it, especially Elvis songs, and even the residents with dementia can remember the songs and I think it\u2019s good for them to sing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really enjoy my job with Pendine Park and I\u2019d love to progress my career here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah Edwards, Pendine Park\u2019s consultant artist in residence, helped organise the Smile Awards and she said: \u201cWe encourage everyone to vote and the Smile Awards are very popular.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always important to celebrate the great work we all do, and for everybody\u2019s contribution to be recognised.\u201d<\/p>\n