Rogelio was born in Bohol, where his family lived in a small nipa hut surrounded by coconut trees and rice paddies. As a boy, he loved working with his hands, tending to their little backyard garden. He found peace in planting vegetables, watering them, and watching them grow. While many of his friends dreamed of becoming seafarers or engineers, Rogelio dreamed of turning empty spaces into places full of life and beauty.
After finishing high school, he worked as a gardener for a local resort. There, he learned about landscaping how to design gardens, arrange plants, and maintain lawns. Guests often praised his work, and Rogelio realized that his skills could take him farther than he imagined. Still, his pay was barely enough to support his growing family. When his eldest child was about to start school, Rogelio knew he needed to make a bigger sacrifice.
Through an agency, he applied for a job in Qatar as a landscaper. It wasn’t easy to leave his wife and children, but he promised them, I will go abroad not just to plant gardens, but to plant our family’s future.
In Qatar, Rogelio was assigned to a company that designed and maintained landscapes for hotels, villas, and public parks. At first, he was awed by the grand projects vast lawns in the middle of the desert, fountains surrounded by flowers, and palm-lined boulevards. His tasks ranged from planting shrubs and trimming hedges to installing irrigation systems and laying down turf.
The work was exhausting under the desert sun. Temperatures often soared beyond 40 degrees, and he had to wear protective clothing while pushing wheelbarrows, hauling soil, and operating landscaping equipment. Some days, his body ached so much he could barely stand. But whenever he saw a barren patch of land transformed into a green, thriving garden, he felt proud. Even in the desert, he thought, I can help create life.
Loneliness was another battle. After work, he returned to his shared accommodation with other workers. Meals were simple rice, canned goods, sometimes dried fish from home. What kept him going were the nightly calls with his family. His children would excitedly tell him about school, and his wife would show him the small vegetable garden she was maintaining back in the Philippines. Those moments reminded him that distance could never weaken his love for them.
Over the years, Rogelio’s dedication paid off. His company recognized him as one of their most skilled landscapers, often assigning him to prestigious projects. He even earned extra income by designing small gardens for private clients. The remittances he sent home allowed his family to renovate their house, buy a small motorcycle, and ensure that his children stayed in school.
During his first vacation, Rogelio was welcomed home like a hero. His children hugged him tightly, and his wife proudly showed him the small flower garden she had planted in front of their house as a surprise. This is for you, she said, smiling. Rogelio realized then that while he had been creating landscapes abroad, his family had been creating a home filled with love and hope.
Rogelio’s journey as a landscaper was more than just planting trees and trimming lawns. It was about resilience, sacrifice, and growth. Just as he nurtured gardens in the desert, he also nurtured his family’s dreams making sure they bloomed despite the distance.
