Age is just a number, they say. Just ask these overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who never allow their age to stop them from hustling abroad and achieving the reason they decided to work there when they were younger.
Saved by the amnesty
Lola Angela Cacayuran was an overseas Filipina worker (OFW) in the UAE for almost three decades who promised herself that she would not return home until her youngest child has finished her studies. To make this happen, however, she had to break the law in the UAE and overstay.
Finally after three decades, Lola Angela returned to the Philippines through the amnesty program. She was among the second batch of amnesty grantees who arrived in the Philippines on August 26.
Lola Angela may not have brought a lot of gifts for her family, but she brought home a piece of success – she was able to send all of her children to school, all of whom have since graduated with her youngest child currently working in Dubai.
One of her children, Editha, said that her mother left for abroad when she was not yet even going to school. She added that she is proud of her mother for sacrificing a big chunk of her life to work overseas for them to be able to finish their studies and have a more comfortable life.
Age is just a number
A Jollibee service crew in Hong Kong casually serving food to customers made the rounds on social media due to her age – a grandma is hustling in Jollibee Hong Kong Central.
Facebook user Cassey Angela Guilermo-Garganta Idica-Marcelino uploaded the photo of a Filipina elderly working as a crew one of the branches of Jollibee in Hong Kong.
She told TFT that the elderly, which they lovingly call nanay, has been working for the fastfood chain for almost 15 years.
“If you go to Hong Kong, you will really see Filipino oldies working as a crew. Try to observe and ask how their companies provide them with benefits. Even if they are Pinoys, the Hong Kong government give them the right treatment and we are equals when it comes to rights and laws.” Cassey said.
Working two jobs
From one Jollibee crew to another, meet 62-year-old Antonio Espia or Lolo Tony.
Despite his age, Lolo Tony works two jobs – he is a crew of the fastfood chain in one of its branches in Hong Kong from Sunday to Thursday and a musician in a restaurant on Fridays and Saturdays, reported Inquirer.
Lolo Tony arrived in Hong Kong in 1989 and since then he he has been working for various hotels and restaurants. The elderly said he had to work hard as he has children to send to school.
Good thing for Lolo Tony, he has been granted a permanent residency permit by the Hong Kong government. With this, he will receive medical benefits and other benefits given to any other Hong Kong resident.
“We do everything to give our families something better. We don’t think of ourselves anymore because our families’ needs come first,” Lolo Tony said.
