I am Loraine, a native of Bukidnon. Our family is simple, my father is a tricycle driver and my mother sells vegetables in the market. We are seven siblings and I am the eldest, because my parents are always busy earning a living, I am always the one left to take care of my siblings. Everyday my situation is like that, I have to wash, cook, clean the house and take care of my siblings.
One night while my siblings and I were sleeping, I heard my mother and father fighting because my father had spent all his money on drinking again, my father almost didn’t bring any money home to us. That’s why my mother and my father is always argue. That’s what they often fight about. That’s why I feel sorry for my mother because she is almost the only one who takes responsibility for us when my father should have been working.
In the morning, my mother left early to the market and my father was still sleeping well because he had come home drunk the night before. I did my housework again and fed my siblings. After my housework, I saw a newspaper and I picked it up and read it. While reading, I saw something on a page that needed many domestic helpers in Dubai. That’s when my situation and our hardships in life came to mind. So a decision was formed in my mind to apply as a domestic helper abroad, so that our situation that was always difficult in life could be solved. In total, I was 19 years old, and I could probably handle being a domestic helper because here at home I was already used to doing housework.
That evening, after my mother came home, I told her about my plan to go abroad. Of course, at first she objected because it was far and difficult to be away from them and besides, I was still young and unexperienced. But because I guaranteed that our lives would be better if I went abroad, my mother eventually agreed.
The next day, I immediately left Manila and went to the Agency where I would apply. I didn’t have any trouble finding it because if you ask with someone, you won’t be lost. When I arrived there, they immediately interviewed me, and submitted my documents. I was very grateful because I didn’t have to spend anything because my Agency had already answered. After submitting my documents, I was very surprised and grateful because they said I would only have to wait a week and I would be able to fly to Dubai immediately.
A week passed and this was the day I had been waiting for to leave for another country. While I was at the airport, my emotions were mixed with fear and hope that I would be able to get my family out of trouble. I arrived in Dubai, and my countrymen met me to take me to my employer. When we arrived at my boss house, I couldn’t help but feel nervous, but my nervousness disappeared when I met my boss, who was a woman. She was the only one at home and it was a good thing because she was kind to me.
I send my family money every month and sometimes I also send a balik -bayan box. My family is very happy because at least they are no longer hungry and I can give them what they want. My father has also stop drunk. I have repaired our house and I have also built a store for my mother, it is only in the house and that way she can look after my siblings even though she is a vendor.
Now I have been in Dubai for 3 years, and I continue to work for my family, it is difficult because I am far from them but I am happy because I can give them the life I want. I can say that the Lord is very good to us, especially to me because he has not abandoned me but rather he has strengthened me in my situation.
