Rockford hospital’s ‘piano man’ is a Pinoy janitor

A Filipino janitor in a Rockford hospital has a different way of spending his 15-minute break at work: playing the piano at the hospital lobby.

Rolando Maaba, known as "Piano Man" at Rockford Memorial Hospital, was recently featured on ABC News' Good Morning America for spending his brief breaktime playing relaxing tunes at the hospital lobby.

The 55-year-old told ABC News that he wants to help guests waiting for their confined relatives "forget all their worries" and relax.

Maaba used to play at local nursing homes with his wife for the same reasons, only stopping after both of them started working for the Rockford Health Systems.

Maaba, who migrated to Rockford in 1999, carefully times his music to get back to work on schedule, and joked that he plays for "14 minutes and 39 seconds a day".

"I feel so comfortable when I play... I can help these people to be happy," he told CBS 23.

CBS affiliate WIFR said Maaba also plays at Francesco's Ristorante, a local restaurant in the Rockford area. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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