Ricardo, 40, shared the story of his family to The Filipino Times on how his wife Mercy, 38, has been their provider, having left their family to work in Dubai at 28 in 2007 to work as a domestic helper.
“Noong una, ayaw ko kasi siyempre ako ang padre de pamilya, ako dapat ang bubuhay sa kanila. Pero napapayag na rin niya ako kasi kinakapos talaga kami bilang 3rd year high school lang ang tinapos ko. Hindi sapat ang sweldo ng construction worker para sa amin,” Ricardo explained.
“Mahirap po talaga. Lalo na’t umalis siya batang bata pa mga anak namin. Siyempre, naghahanap ‘yung mga bata kung nasaan mama nila. Sinasabi ko na lang sa kanila na umalis lang mama nila pero pagbalik niya may laruan at tsokolate na siyang dala,” he said.
In her ten years as an overseas Filipino worker (OFW), Mercy was able to buy Ricardo a new tricycle so he could have another source of income aside from being a construction worker during the day while their children were in school.
Ricardo, who is very thankful and appreciative of his wife’s sacrifice, had been saving a little of the remittances from Mercy and was able to fund a small sari-sari store. Their children, who are now aged 13 and 11, take turns in selling while he continues to work as a tricycle driver.
“Kung may bayani akong maituturing, ‘yung asawa ko na ‘yun,” said Ricardo. “Matapang, mapagmahal, maalaga, at hindi basta-basta sumusuko. Pero gusto ko na rin siyang umuwi at palakihin na lang namin ang aming maliit na sari-sari store na naipundar.”
(Jamille Obcena)
