It certainly is difficult being an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) because you have to be away from your family for months, even years, at a time. You have to miss important milestones in your children’s lives.
This is why being an OFW is really considered a big sacrifice – even if that also means you have more money for your family!
Now, one OFW mom has reaped the fruits of her labor and sacrifice when her son recently passed the bar exams. Her daughter had also completed her nursing studies.
Minerva Somejo works as teacher in Maputo, Mozambique. She used her salary as OFW to send her children to school. For 10 long years she labored in Mozambique for her children – and they made sure they didn’t let her sacrifice go in vain.
Minerva’s son Teodorence took the bar exams in 2016. Days before the results came out, Minerva went to a church in Mozambique to pray and light a candle for her son. Sadly, while there, she slipped on the floor. When she tried to stand up, she slumped to the ground.
The OFW was rushed to the hospital – and doctors had to operate on her knees the day the bar exam results were released!
“Nagpasalamat ako sa Diyos kasi pinakinggan niya ako. Nung oras na iyon gusto kong tumalon, mag hiyaw-hiyaw pero hindi ako makagalaw kasi numb pa ang paa ko sa anaestheshia. Tuwang-tuwa ako kahit masakit na masakit, parang biglang nawala lahat ang hirap ko at gusto ko na lang talagang umuwi,” Minerva said.
(I am thankful that the Lord listened to my prayers. At the time, I wished to jump up and down with joy but my feet were still numbed from anesthesia. Despite the pain I was feeling, I was also very happy and felt that all my troubles are gone and that I want to go home now.)
The proud mother is still recuperating at the hospital but has promised her son she would go back to their home in Tuguegarao, Cagayan to celebrate her son’s success.
