Angela Pascua had always been known for her kindness. In her small town in Bataan, people described her as soft-spoken, hardworking, and generous with her time. She took care of her aging grandmother for years without complaint, waking early to prepare meals, giving baths, and even learning basic physical therapy techniques just from watching videos.
After her grandmother passed, Angela felt a deep emptiness. But she also realized something: she had a gift. Caring for others came naturally to her, and maybe, just maybe, it could open doors to something bigger. That’s when she applied for a caregiving job in Toronto, Canada.
It took almost two years of paperwork, training, and saving for agency fees. She completed a TESDA Caregiving course, passed her English proficiency tests, and sold her small motorbike to help fund her application. When the approval finally came, she cried. Not because she was afraid but because she knew this decision would change her life and her family’s future.
Her first winter in Canada was brutal. She had never seen snow before, and the bitter cold cut through her coat like needles. But what challenged her more than the weather was homesickness. Every morning, she took care of Mr. Samuel Foster, a retired teacher in his late 70s who had suffered a stroke. He was grumpy, demanding, and barely spoke during their first few weeks together. Angela stayed patient.
She prepared his meals, helped him with his medications, kept his apartment spotless, and assisted him with therapy exercises. Slowly, Mr. Foster began opening up first with a thank you, then with stories from his youth, and eventually, warm smiles that Angela learned to treasure. He began calling her Angel, saying it suited her better.
Despite her long shifts and emotional exhaustion, Angela made time to video call her family every night. Her mother would tell her how proud they were. Her younger sister, now in college thanks to Angela’s remittances, always asked, Ate, when are you coming home? Angela would smile, hiding the lump in her throat. Soon, baby. Soon.
One day, Mr. Foster’s daughter visited from Vancouver and was shocked at how well her father was doing. She hugged Angela and said, You didn’t just help him recover. You brought him back to life.
That nigh, Angela cried, not out of sadness, but out of quiet fulfillment. Her work, though far from home, meant something. After three years, Angela qualified for Canada’s Home Worker pilot pathway. She began the process to apply for permanent residency. Her goal wasn’t just to stay in Canada it was to bring her family with her, to reunite in a place where opportunities didn’t mean separation.
She still missed home deeply the mango tree in their backyard, the sound of jeepneys in the morning, her father’s corny jokes. But with every patient she cared for, every dollar she sent home, and every sacrifice she made, she was building a bridge back to the people she loved. Because for Angela, being a caregiver wasn’t just a job it was her calling, her mission, and her way of turning distance into devotion.
