Beyond Worries: Heroic Paths of OFW Dads
We honor and celebrate the winners of Golden Future Life Plans’ online activity entitled “Beyond Worries: Heroic Paths to a Worry-free Future (OFW Edition)”. This activity aimed to highlight the amazing stories and sacrifices of our dedicated Overseas Filipino Workers a.k.a. OFWs. It is also intended to inspire others and celebrate their resilience.
We received responses from across the globe from OFWs or our Kababayans and the three winners are OFW fathers from all walks of life who shared their heartwarming stories of dedication, sacrifice, and unwavering love. Let’s take a look at the extraordinary role these fathers play in shaping the lives of their family and the remarkable journeys they undertake in the pursuit of their loved ones’ happiness.
Year 2012 nakipagsapalaran na ko sa ibang bansa bilang Passenger Boarding Bridge Operator sa UAE 4 years old palang anak ko noom, gayon din sa Riyadh at sa Qatar. Ngayon 4 years din ang aming bunso kinailangan ko na naman ulit mangibang bansa at kasalukuyang isang welder Dito sa Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Kailangan kasing kumita ng mas malaki at dito ay nabigyan ng pagkakataon muli. Gusto Kasi namin makaipon para sa pang kolehiyo ng aming anak na panganay. Mahirap na malayo sa pamilya , na yung sanang oras na kasama ko asawa ko sa pagpapalaki sa mga anak namin ay ito ako malayo sa kanila. Yung mag okasyon na dapat sama-sama naming pinagdiriwang ay wala ako sa tabi nila. Lahat ng pagod at lungkot na malayo sa kanila ay tinitiis ko para mas maginhawang buhay ng aking pamilya. Di bali nang malayo ako basta napoprovide ko sa kanila ang kanilang pangangailangan.
Umaasa at nagdarasal na lang ako na pagdating ng panahon ay di ko na kailangang umalis para sama-sama kami N ng aking asawa at mga anak.
Lumaki ako sa mahirap na pamilya kaya naman ay hindi ako nakapag tapos ng pag aaral, pero dahil gusto kung matulungan ang aking magulang pangarap kung makapag trabaho sa ibang bansa at pinalad naman na makapag trabaho sa Saudi Arabia bilang isang Steel fixer/steel man at pinalad naman na ma promote bilang isang office clerk at secretary ng aking boss. Subalit pagkatapos ng mahigit dalawang taon kung kontrata ay umuwi na ako at nagbaka sakaling mag apply sa New Zealand pero hindi pa pinalad at dumating naman itong magandang opportunity na magtrabaho bilang isang farmer worker dito sa South Korea at kasalukuyang nagtatarabaho ako dito ngayon. Hindi naging madali ang aking mga pinagdaanan sa buhay kaya naman nagsumikap ako para maiahon ko sa hirap ang aking mga mahal sa buhay.
Bilang isang farmer worker ay dito ko naranasan ang magtanim ng ibat Ibang gulay, prutas at mag alaga ng mga baka dito sa South Korea, at thankful ako sa Panginoon na binigyan niya ako ng mabait na amo kaya mas lalo ko pang pagbubutihin ang aking trabaho, pagsisikapan kung maiahon sa hirap ang aking pamilya, gagawin ko lahat ang aking makakaya para matupad ko ang aking pangarap na magkaroon kami ng maginhawang pamumuhay kahit na mahirap ang mapalayo sa aking mga mahal sa buhay ay handa akong magtiis para sa aking pamilya.
Masaya ako sa aking trabaho kahit na may kabigatan ay hindi ko inaalintana dahil nandyan ang aking pamilya na aking sandigan at inspirasyon sa araw-araw ng aking pagtatrabaho.
Kapag may pangarap ka na gusto mong makamit sa buhay ay walang imposible Kay Lord basta’t manalig at magtiwala lang tayo sa kanya at samahan ng sipag, tyaga at determinasyon.
Basta palagi po tayong mag iingat kahit san man naroroon❤️
Just believe our self, work hard, pray and success 🙏
“It’s hard, but you can do it. I believe in you, so be strong, always choose to be kind, love your mother, and always Pray to God. I may not be always by your side but you are always in my heart and prayers” That’s what I used to say to my son.
My son was still small when I left to work abroad. He was crying so hard at the airport and holding me back. I was so sad because I know I won’t be able to be with him anymore. And on our first chat, I still remember we both crying because we missed each other terribly, but I am very happy because I got to see him over the internet, I may not be able to kiss him and hug him personally, but he is always in my heart.
As an OFW I entail a lot of HARD WORK and SACRIFICES, I am MOTIVATED only by the thoughts of my family, I WORK LATE HOURS, MULTIPLE JOBS, and BUDGETED my MEALS just so I could send enough money for them to have 3 meals a day.
My STRUGGLES were real, whenever I stepped inside the airport my anxiety and stress started to kick in. I wanted to go abroad to EARN MORE for a BETTER LIFE for us and further my CAREER, but at the same time, I doubt my reasons whenever I kissed my son goodbye and saw him crying while holding me back. For both of us, it was very heartbreaking that we had to endure until I comes back home.
Sometimes I wanted to give up, especially when I had small accidents at work (cuts, bruises) and worst when I was infected with COVID twice and was taken to a health facility, with all those quarantine and isolation, being sick in a foreign country with cultural differences and language barriers, was the worst experience/feeling ever. I have not come home for 4 years because of the pandemic. The thought of not seeing them again and the fear for my well-being, with no family to take good care of me, I was on my own, prayers and the thought of them becomes my strength.
I thought of giving up is a much easier option than waking up in the morning knowing you won’t be seeing your family. I am so close to that breaking point that I just want to book my ticket home, pack my bags, and leave for good. Yet, in my darkest thoughts, I find the motivation to keep on going. Because I know that they rely on and need me.
My son is still young, but he knows all the tears that I shed and all my sacrifices, and I am lucky and grateful that I have my wife on my behalf to take good care of the family I left behind.
For many years I endured and worked hard to provide for our needs. Behind the balikbayan boxes, the paid bills, the super late night video calls, the smiles, and the sadness, that everyone sees, I am a FATHER who is WILLING TO SACRIFICE for my family’s future. I AM SO PROUD TO BE AN OFW but my heart aches and always longing for my family.
I am looking forward to the day that I don’t need to go abroad anymore, to find many opportunities in our land, that don’t require high standard qualification. And that the salary could afford a decent living for a family. I hope our government will continue to find better jobs for us Filipinos in our own country. Golden Future Life Plans — tagging Riza Reyes Ana Tome Jennifer Reyes
Congratulations to these three winners. Their incredible journeys, leaving behind homes and loved ones, have inspired us all.
Salute to all of our modern-day heroes, our Kababayans, around the globe! And, to all the fathers across the globe, we honor your unwavering commitment to giving your loved ones a worry-free future. 