When Carmela Odchigue-Bunghanoy married her husband Jan Michael, she expected that sending him overseas would not hurt as much. But she recalled that it was more painful because she was pregnant.
Odchigue admits being pampered by his husband every time he is in the Philippines. She only had to say it and he will do or buy what she needs.
“He makes sure I have a pack of biscuits, cupcakes and water bottle beside our bed every night because he knows I get hungry cause I usually vomit every after then. He doesn’t complain when I keep sending him downstairs to get me food,” writes Carmela in a Facebook post.
She knows she can certainly lean on her husband’s shoulder and everything would feel lighter.
“The miles between us don’t matter because I know that you love me just as much as I love you, but that doesn’t make this any easier,” says Carmela.
Carmela also breaks stereotypes about Pinoy seafarers.
“Marines can only see the oceans and the labor when they’re at sea. Many have said that seamen can be deceitful because of loneliness but aren’t you also sad by the fact that their partners back home can also cheat on them. Try to think of it, it’s lonely to be away from your family. They work so hard for their loved ones, not minding the exhaustion, difficulty and loneliness. Then they’re vilified? It’s unfair to generalize.”
Carmela shared that Jan Michael was her first boyfriend and she would get teased a lot in the early stage of their relationship. Her guy friends would also claim knowing what marines do because they are men, “as if they’re perfect”, she recalls.
She says that she is tired of hearing discouraging words from people so she decided to break the “seamanloloko” stereotype.
Carmela’s faith is also reinforced by her brothers who are seamen by profession.
She stressed this message to the women who are victimized by seafarers. “Dont address your anger to all seamen but address it to all men.”
The newly-wed also shared her secret for surviving being away from each other.
“Long distance relationship is really rewarding when people are doing it correctly and both are investing equal amount of efforts.”
