Graduate tells OFW mom: Come home, it's my turn to work

Minerva Jane Borca was only thirteen when her mother, Maria Fe left for Muscat, Oman to work as a domestic helper to support their family.

Before leaving, Maria Fe made Minerva promise to focus on her studies. It was Maria Fe’s dream to see her daughter work as a cabin crew in a famous airline someday.

As the eldest daughter, the responsibility of taking care of her younger siblings fell on Minerva's shoulders.

After years of juggling academic work and sister-duties, Minerva finally graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Travel Management at the Our Lady of Fatima University in Valenzuela City.

During the graduation photo shoot, Minerva was told to do a wacky pose. Instead, she grabbed a whiteboard and a pen and scribbled a message for her mom: "Ma, uwi ka na ng Pinas, ako naman magta-trabaho! (Ma, come back to the Philippines, it's now my turn to work!)"

This was the only graduation gift that Minerva wanted.

"Ma, tumupad ako sa usapan nating kakayanin kong magtapos at hindi ako magloloko. Hindi lang ito para sa akin, para sa inyo 'to. Ma, oras na para ako naman yung tumulong (Ma, I fulfilled my promise that I will finish school and will not fool around. This is not just for me. This is for you. Ma, it's now my turn to help)," she posted on Facebook post.

"Mas pinipili kong pauwiin siya kesa makatanggap ng ano mang materyal na bagay (I would prefer that she come home rather than receive material things for graduation)."

Minerva’s post went viral and earned 6,500 likes and 4,300 shares on Facebook.

In an interview with Manila Bulletin, Minerva said she posted the photo the night before her graduation to surprise her mother.

"I just wanted to thank her and tell her how brave she is for doing everything she can for us. So, it is only right that I give back to her. It is my turn to help her and Papa. I love her very much, no matter what happens," she said in Filipino.

When asked about her reaction to Minerva's surprise, Maria Fe said it was a mixture of pride and longing.

"Sa totoo lang, hindi ko alam na may ganyan palang ipo-post ang anak ko (To be honest, I did not know that my daughter would post something like that)," she told Manila Bulletin in an online chat. "Naiyak ako ng sobra kasi sobrang dedicated siyang mapauwi ako (I was reduced to tears because she really wanted me to come home)."

One more year

In her post, Minerva detailed her struggle in balancing school work and helping her father, Vicente, in taking care of her siblings Kimberly, Kriscelle, and Mary Kryztine.

But Minerva said this was nothing compared to what her mother experienced while working abroad.

"Kung maraming nawala at kulang sa akin simula noong mag-abroad siya, alam kong mas marami siyang tiniis at sakripisiyo sa malayong lugar para sa ikagagaan ng buhay namin at para mabigyan niya kami ng sapat na edukasyon (Whatever I lack or lost after my mom left for abroad, what she endured and sacrificed is much greater so we can have a good life and good education)," her post read.

Aside from the exhaustion, loneliness, and homesickness, Maria Fe bared that there are days she does not eat just so she can send enough of her earnings to her family.

Like most overseas Filipino workers, Maria Fe cannot celebrate special occasions with her family. Those days, she said, are just normal working days for her.

Maria Fe has been home twice – in 2014 and 2017 – but both she and Minerva said a week or month is not enough to make up for time lost while Maria Fe was away.

But it may not be long before the Borca family will be whole again.

"After my contract expires, I will be coming home," Maria Fe told Manila Bulletin. "Sobrang miss ko na ang pamilya ko. Lagi silang magi-ingat. Malapit ko na sila makita ulit (I miss my family very much. I hope they take care. I will see them all soon)."

Prior to Minerva’s graduation, Maria Fe extended her contract for a year. And that would not be too long anymore.