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Trending OFW children

OFWs call them their “trophies,” the real fruits of their labor. In this edition, we feature them: The migrant Filipino workers’ children who have gone viral for giving their parents glory amid the pain and hard work.

DUBAI: If you regularly ride Dubai’s metro, you can’t miss it. Parent OFWs in overseas conversations with their kids back home.

“Ayan, naipadala ko na kagabi yung pang-matrikula mo. Aral mabuti and stay away from trouble, ha.  Ok. Love you, too. Bye,” would be one from a dad, squeezing himself tight inside a crammed metro car during an evening rush hour. (I have sent your tuition money last night. Study hard and stay out of trouble.)

Indeed, the emotional and psychological stress of leaving their children behind to work abroad can be nerve-wracking for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs); not to mention the physical fallout in the form of debilitating diseases.

The Philippine Embassy and Consulate General, are themselves reportedly up to their ears with cases of OFWs who wouldn’t want to go home despite having contracted ailments. “Hindi pa raw graduate yung anak nila o di kaya’y may pinag-aaral pa sila,” are the common reasons for the refusal to return to the Philippines, said one frontline officer. (Their children are not yet done with college.)

There are also those who, for the same reason, have opted to go into hiding and resort to odd jobs after losing their legal status, according to officials involved in the UAE’s ongoing amnesty program.

And so, lilies in a placid pond it is to see OFW children rise up to the challenge and return the favor by excelling in their fields; it’s very inspiring to witness the growth and achievements of these millennials who managed to break the stereotype and not only make their parents proud, but as well set an example for their generation to emulate.

Over the course of months, The Filipino Times has come across stories of college graduates who have demonstrated sheer patience and perseverance despite the challenges they have faced in each of their own circumstances and marched the stage as they graduated, bringing pride to their family, friends and to their generation.

They trended on social media, earning them bragging rights to their accomplishments.

In this edition, we present them to you:

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Jogie Papillera – OFW daughter who sold merienda and graduated cum laude

Jogie Papillera proved to her OFW mother and the world that one doesn’t have to be ashamed make ends meet even if that means having a sideline. Jogie had to take a leaf and emulate what her mom used to do for the family as she began selling merienda while juggling with her studies at the San Sebastian College Recoletos in Canlubang. She managed to finish her degree in Accountancy as  cum laude. “Pinakanatutunan ko po sa mga magulang ko ay ang huwag sumuko,” said Papillera. (What I learned the most from my parents is that one should never give up.)

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Jarel Barcelona Tadio – Filipino kasambahay who graduated magna cum laude

“Sabi ko nun, hindi man ako masuportahan ng aking mga magulang sa pag aaral, gagawa ako ng paraan para mapag-aral ko ang sarili ko. Hindi ako papayag na hindi ako makakapag-aral. Hindi ako papayag na ganun ganun nalang. Hindi ko isusuko ang pangarap ko,” recalls Jarel as he tells his story of having to work as a household help just to continue his studies. He graduated magna Cum Laude at the Cagayan State University.

(I told myself that I’ll find ways to go to school as my parents couldn’t support me; I will not allow myself not being able to go to school. I will not give up on my dreams.)

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Christine Carandang – OFW daughter who was offered to go straight to PhD at Scotland

Despite being the only Filipina in her Mechanical Engineering class at Heriot-Watt at Edinburgh, Scotland, Christine Carandang managed to impress not only her mentor, but the entire panel of experts at a young age of 22. Graduating as Honors of the First Class, she was then offered to skip her masterals as she was qualified to go straight to PhD. “Planning a monthly schedule helped me visualize what else I can do to make the most of my time and effort,” said Christine as she shared one of her secrets on how she studies.

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Mark James Capulong – OFW son who commutes 5 hours daily and graduated Magna Cum Laude

The mark of resilience is shown not just in his studies, but on the drive of the student to face challenges on a daily basis – which, in Mark Capulong’s case, was daily transportation. He braved  some staggering five hours of daily commute from San Pedro, Laguna to University of Sto. Tomas in Manila and back. “Kahit gaano man kahirap ang mag-commute papasok ng Maynila at pauwi ng probinsya, iindahin lang namin lahat ng ito dahil siguro mas pipiliin pa naming umuwi sa aming mga tahanan, dahil saan ka man magpunta, sa tahanan mo lang mararanasan ang kalinga ng pamilya,” said Capulong.

(It’s a terrible challenge having to commute going to school in Manila and going back to our home in the province, but we will manage and face up to it because we’d rather be with family, the one place where you can enjoy genuine love.)

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Lara Andrea Montales – Filipina Summa Cum Laude from Wharton

The Wharton school is one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the world, ranking no.1 in Forbes’ Best Business Schools in the U.S. in 2017. So, when Lara Montales graduated with the highest Latin honor of Summa Cum Laude with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Economics, Major in Finance and Business Analytics at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, she made her mark as one of the few Filipinas in the world to have achieved such a title.

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Rofherson Canones Suzon – The unexpected graduate

As a millennial who found it challenging to graduate on time, Rofherson didn’t allow the hindrance of failing a subject to stop him from graduating. So, when his parents were already expecting him to not graduate, he surprised them as he gave his candidacy for graduation. The video of his parents’ candid reaction upon the moment they learned about it for the first time took off on social media. “Di naman tumatakbo ang diploma and wag tayo magpakain sa mindset na “on time gagraduate,” said Rofherson on his post. (The diploma will just always be there for you to get; we should never give in to the mindset about graduating on time.)

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Vande Alagao and Janica Eleria – The couple graduates

Resilience is not just in studies, but in finding inspiration from one another in love as well. From a young puppy love, Vande Alagao and Janica Eleria fuelled each other’s drive to reach their dreams as they managed to graduate three times together – one during their graduation at 6th grade, next was when they attended high school rites together, and the most recent of which was when they finished Senior High School in Ateneo together once again.

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