A daughter of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) knows that achievement and success can only be derived from hard work as she finished the degree in Accountancy at the San Sebastian College Recoletos in Canlubang while juggling her sideline job and studies.
To ease the sacrifices of her OFW mother, Jogie Papillera walked the streets of their barangay in Laguna to sell Filipino merienda such as carioca, turon, lumpia, and banana cue, to help support her studies.
The 21-year-old Filipina shared with The Filipino Times: “Way back in 2008, naglalako na po talaga noon si mama ng meryenda para makatulong kay Papa sa pang araw araw namin. Naaawa po ako nun sa mga magulang ko na nagpapakapagod sa trabaho at nasa kasagsagan ng malakas na ulan.”
“Kinabukasan, nagkusa po ako magsabi kay Mama na magtitinda na rin po ako, at tutulong sa kanya na maglako, pero magkaiba ang ruta namin para mas mabilis po na maubos ang paninda,” she recalls.
In May 2016, Papillera’s mother decided to work in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as a domestic helper. From then on, Papillera took on the job of selling merienda. Aside from their barangay, she also went from one room to the other to peddle a basketful of afternoon snacks.
She did this despite already being a college scholar. “Kahit po na nasa Saudi na po si mama, bilang college student po, madami pong gastusin. Kahit po na scholar ako at may allowance na natatanggap, may ilang bayarin po na hindi na po ma-cover nung budget ko,” she says.
The fresh graduate admits that she draws her aspirations to succeed in life from her OFW mother. She said that having her family complete again has always been one of her goals and primary motivations.
“Sobrang hirap po talaga na hindi kumpleto ang pamilya. Ang bigat sa kalooban ko po, dahil lumaki ako na kasama ko mama ko, pero yung mga kapatid ko, hindi nasubaybayan ni mama ng dalawang taon,” Papillera explains.
“Maraming parents meeting ng mga kapatid ko ang hindi ko napuntahan. May activities po sila sa school. Tapos nakikita nilang yung mga kaklase nila, kasama ang magulang, tapos yung mga kapatid ko, wala. Sobrang sakit po sa puso.”
Papillera clarifies that she is grateful for all the life lessons she was able to pick up by herself.
“Pinakanatutunan ko po sa mga magulang ko ay ang huwag sumuko at ibigay ang best ko para wala akong pagsisihan. Lumaki man ako sa mahirap na pamilya, eto naman po ang nagturo sakin na maging appreciative sa lahat ng bagay,” the OFW daughter said.
Her message for other children of OFWs – check on your parents: “Maging mabuting anak tayo at pahalagahan at galingan sa pag-aaral, lagi nating kamustahin ang mga magulang natin sa ibang bansa. Sa ganoong paraan, nakakabawi na tayo sa kanila.”
