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“Nakapagpatapos ako!” Filipina breadwinner celebrates milestone

Photo Caption: Queennie Jayne Zerrudo is flanked by her brothers, Jeckson Sigfred Jan (right) and Jornaly Jan (left).

This is the story of Pinay breadwinner Queennie Jayne Zerrudo, who hails from Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat. “It was in 2014 nung nagdecide akong pumunta dito. It was when my dad decided to stop working as a seafarer. He has been a seaman for 20 years at that time, parang naisip ko na maybe it’s time to payback. Ako naman mangingibang bansa,” said Zerrudo.

While Zerrudo had relatives here who helped her process her visa, she still remembers the struggles of her first year. She shared: “Lalo na sa first 3 months na nahohomesick ka – yung paghahanap ng work, apply dito, apply don. Yung feeling na unang pasko na wala ka sa inyo. Pagka skype ko sila sa bahay naiiyak kalang lang bigla. But then it will also hit you na you have to make for a living. Kelangan mo talagang magsakripisyo.”

Zerrudo, who now works as a business development executive, has simple goals: to have her brother graduate and make her family proud – and that was fulfilled recently: her brother graduated from senior high. “Sobrang fulfilling. Nung sinend nya palang sakin yung picture nyang nakatoga saying thank you nanlambot na yung puso ko. Aside from that, nalaman kong nakapasa din siya sa Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA)! At least masasabi kong di nasasayang yung pagiging OFW ko.”

Zerrudo plans to go home to see her brother walk the stage this March. Her advice to fellow Filipina breadwinners? “Keep swimming! Life always gets better. Isipin nalang yung mga family niyo sa Pinas for you to always move forward.”

(Neil Bie)

Neil Bie

Neil Bie is the Assistant Editor for The Filipino Times, responsible for gathering news that will resonate among OFW readers in the UAE, Philippines, and around 200 countries, where the platform reaches both Filipinos and worldwide audiences. ||| Get in touch with Neil at: Facebook: Neil Bie ||| Email: [email protected]||| or by sending a message to the Facebook page of The Filipino Times at: https://www.facebook.com/FilipinoTimes/

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