Tales of triumph over adversity from UK OFWs
There are many stories of Filipino workers overseas worth sharing, with the hope that it would inspire and encourage other Filipinos strruggling with obstacles and challenges in life.
Vice President Ma. Leonor ‘Leni’ G. Robredo met with some overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in London who shared their tales of woes and stories of survival to create a better life for them and their families back home.
They arrived in the British capital under different conditions, motivations and circumstances, but there is no denying they found a second home there.
Triumph over adversity Virginia Uri de Villa, a native of Quezon, recalled things weren’t looking good at first upon arrival in her adopted country, but then she made it work, despite not even being an elementary school graduate.
“I didn't know how to speak English, but I was good in Arabic. That was the hardest part so I needed to have a friend who speaks English all the time. That way I can encourage myself to speak English,” she said during Robredo’s radio show.
Villa worked in Kuwait as a domestic employer before she moved to Tottenham, North London, where she owned a beauty salon named “Thumbelina.” She narrated that she had to leave her four children over 20 years ago to earn a better living in London.
“I worked for three years in a nursing home,” she said. Thereafter, Villa found herself moving from one job to another since she was an illegal immigrant.
Her fate changed after she was among those granted amnesty by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
“I have been working here. I feel I was born here,” the OFW said.
Like most Filipino workers abroad, she helps support her family and relatives in the Philippines.
The special episode of her program “BISErbisyong Leni,” which were uploaded in Robredo’s Facebook page, featured Villa and another OFWs, including Grant Gannaban-O’neill.
Perseverance
For his part, Gannaban-O’neill’s humble beginnings did not stop him from achieving his biggest dream to live and work in London.
He is originally from Naga City like Robredo.
A political science and nursing graduate, he continued his studies to become a make-up artist.
He juggled being a student while working in a home care facility, but he surpassed the difficulties.
“The only opportunity for me to go here was to become a student. By that time, the hiring of nurses was stopped,” he said.
Reaching out to OFWs Robredo met overseas Filipinos during her official visit to London as part of Istorya ng Pag-asa, her office’s initiative to promote stories of hope to counter the prevailing trend of negativity and hate.
The Vice President then spoke at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where she discussed the topic on “Overcoming Poverty in the Philippines and the Role of Politics in Economic Growth.”
Robredo highlighted the importance of sharing the stories of OFWs because they inspire their fellow Filipinos.
London protest Rallyists, composed of UK-based Filipino supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte and former Ferdinand Marcos Jr., however, also surfaced during Robredo’s visit in London.
Before the Vice President was slated to speak at the London School of Economics, the group of Filipinos gathered outside the LSE building for a rally carrying placards and posters with anti-Robredo sentiments.
They assailed Robredo for her presence in the school. Some of them even called on her to step down from office due to allegations that she cheated in the 2016 elections.
‘Positivity’ Pressed for comment, Robredo chose not to dwell on the issue and instead enjoined Filipinos to channel all their energies into something positive.
“We will progress through collaboration not through division. There is no sense in arguing with others,” she told ABS-CBN Europe news bureau in Filipino.