My name is Rowena, a mother of three from General Santos City. Before I left the Philippines, I was a full-time housewife, relying solely on my husband’s income as a tricycle driver. Life was hard, but we managed with what little we had. However, when my eldest child had to stop school due to lack of tuition, I realized I couldn’t just stay home anymore.
I made the hardest decision of my life to leave my children and work abroad as a domestic helper. I applied through an agency and after a few months of training, I was assigned to a household in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The pay was much higher than anything I could earn back home, and I knew it was the only way to give my children a future.
Saying goodbye at the airport was heartbreaking. My youngest, who was only five then, clung to my leg crying. I remember forcing myself not to look back, afraid that if i did, I would never be able to go.
The family I worked for was kind, but the adjustment was still difficult. I was up by 5am and worked until late at night, cleaning a large house, preparing meals, and taking care of three children who barely spoke English. The language barrier, cultural differences, and homesickness weighed heavily on me. There were nights when I would cry in silence, hiding my tears in my pillow so no one would see.
But despite the challenges, I focused on my goal to provide a better life for my kids. Every month, I sent money home for their school fees, groceries, and bills. On weekends, I would video call them, even if only for a few minutes. Seeing their faces gave me strength to keep going.
During my second year, my husband got into a motorcycle accident and couldn’t work for several months. I was devastated, but I took extra jobs on my day off doing laundry or cleaning for other families just to send a bit more. I was tired, but I never gave up.
Three years passed. When I finally returned home, My children had grown taller, and my youngest almost didn’t recognize me at first. My heart broke and healed at the same time. We hugged for a long time, and I promised them I would never leave for that long again.
With my savings, I helped my husband start a small carinderia business. It’s not grand, but it gives us stable income. I now work part-time at a local laundry shop and help manage our business. Most importantly, I am present in my children’s lives.
Being an OFW made me stronger not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. I’ve learned that a mother’s love knows no borders, and sacrifices is often the quiet foundation of every success story.
To those who are still working abroad: I see you, I understand you, and I salute you. You are heroes in silence, warriors without medals, but loved beyond measure.
