Photo: Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes, (7th from left), and spouse, Dr. Yasmin Balajadia-Cortes, (6th from left), flanked by the 10 supermoms.
‘Ako lang yata and ‘Buaya’ na kauna-unahang umiyak sa entablado.
Dubai, May 2018 – Being a mother is like a 7/11 store, you work from sunrise till the sundown, round the clock, 7 days a week, 365 days in a year. It takes a great amount of love, patience, dedication, hard work and understanding to sustain the family and keep them intact.
In honor of all the “nanays” working in the UAE, the Philippine Consulate General organized a special Mother’s Day celebration on May 18, giving commendations to 10 outstanding OFW mothers for their dedication to raise and support their family back home while at the same time serving “kababayans” in the UAE.
Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes, who led the event, along with his spouse, Dr.
Dr.Yasmin Balajadia-Cortes, chair of the civic group, Filipino Ladies of Dubai (FLD) Chairperson), said that the Ulirang Ina Awards is a way of recognizing the hardships and sacrifices overseas Filipino mothers go through.
Coming from different walks of life, the 10 amazing supermoms were: Norma Sanita, Josephine Gonzales Buaya, Yolanda De Jesus, Jennifer Velasco, Teresita Uy, Generosa Usi, Florencia Respende, Irenea Silva, Claresa Dorado, Clarita Barabona.
The awardees were all given the prestigious Ulirang Ina 2018 Certificates, roses, along with other gifts from the embassy and the sponsors. But the most comforting present each of awardees was surprised with was the sweet messages and video clips from their loved ones – which melted everyone’s heart.
One of the teary-eyed mama Josephine Buaya jokingly said “Ako lang yata and ‘Buaya’ na kauna-unahang umiyak sa entablado,” when it was her turn to go on stage. “Buwaya” is Filipino for crocodile.
The mom said the feeling is really unexplainable for a mother being far from your children for not one anywhere in the world would want that to happen. (Photos by Jobert Flores/ Kabayan Kamera Klub)
Portrait of a loving mom
Norma Sanita, a single mother from Leyte who reportedly has no formal education, left her youngest son when he was only about a week old, to work in a foreign land.
Over the years, dedication and hard work paid off with help from her employer, which enabled her to run her own cleaning company in Ajman.
“Malaking tulong ang ginawa ng amo ko,” said Sanita, who was accompanied by her eldest son, Norman, at the event to, himself, share his piece about his mom.
Norman, who is working in the UAE, said his mom went to work abroad when they were very young. Apparently growing up constantly bugged by why she left, Norman said now he understands why his mom had to go that time – “she just wanted us to have a brighter future,” he said.
“Alam kong naghirap ka, mahirap ang pinagdaanan mo para sa amin, para mabigyan mo kami ng magandang kinabukasan. You are the best mom. I love you,” said Norman. (I know you went through rough and hard times for us, so that you could give us a bright future.)
