A viral video featuring a husband and wife from Bulacan touched the hearts of netizens after they took a photo with their kids while wearing their respective job uniforms.
Mommy Leguarda and Daddy Apolinario Dela Cruz looked back on their journey as they worked as farmers and market vendors just to support their five kids.
“Lahat ng trabaho napag-aralan namin sa buhay. Natuto po ako magtanim, gumapas, manahi, magtinda. Kaya sabi naming mag-asawa, kailangan pagpursigihin para pagdating ng araw, hindi rin nila maranasan ‘yung naranasan nating hirap,” Mommy Leguarda a told The Philippine STAR.
Both Mommy Leguarda and Daddy Apolinario didn’t grow up in a wealthy family. They just both finished high school due to poverty.
According to their 27-year-old daughter, April, she and her siblings are the living proof of the hardwork of their parents.
“Lima po kaming magkakapatid. Simple lang ang buhay namin. Sina nanay at tatay po, ang trabaho po ng magulang ko, si nanay ay nagtitinda, si tatay po nasa bukid. Marami din pong naging work si Papa, naging OFW, pumasok sa kung saan-saan,” April said.
“Dumating po sa part na umuutang sila para sa baon namin. Nakita namin ‘yun, growing up, ‘yung sacrifices nila. Pero hindi nila pinaramdam na parang burden, hindi nila pinakita na hirap sila. Naalala ko po sinabi nila na, ‘Mag-aral ka nang mabuti kasi wala kaming maipapamana kung hindi iyong pag-aaral n’yo, ‘yung edukasyon n’yo,’” April added.
April and her siblings used their parents’ experience as a motivation to excel in their respective fields.
“Parang naawa po ako na ‘yung magulang ko po, walang pinag-aralan. Ang reward po na parang maibibigay ko sa kanila ay mag-aral kami. ‘Yun bang makita nila na nageexcel kami sa napili naming larangan. Kaya sabi ko talaga sa sarili ko nung bata ako, medyo mataas po talaga ako mangarap, gusto kong maging doctor,” she stressed.
Mommy Leguarda and Daddy Apolinario worked day and night to provide the best education for their children.
And their children didn’t fail them. Mommy Leguarda and Daddy Apolinario have a seaman, businesswoman, civil engineering graduate, future doctor, and marine engineer.
They also expressed gratitude to their eldest son and daughter for helping them achieve their dreams for their kids to have a diploma.
“‘Yung panganay ko, tinulungan niya po kaming magnegosyo, magpaaral ng mga kapatid niya. Ganoon din sa pangalawa kong anak. Pinilit po niya na maghanapbuhay talaga na makatulong din po sa amin,” Mommy Leguarda said.
Up until now, the couple couldn’t believe that they managed to survive their kids’ education.
“Masarap po sa pakiramdam. Naiiyak po kaming mag-asawa. Kasi hindi po namin akalain na ‘yung mga anak po namin, eh napagtapos na po namin. ‘Pag may bumabati sa akin sa sobrang tuwa. Hindi mo akalain na ‘yung hirap na pinagdaanan mo eh, may nagtagumpay na,” Mommy Leguarda noted.
Daddy Apolinario added, “Panatag na kami. Kasi ‘yun lang naman ‘yung pinaka-inaasam naming mga magulang eh. Lately lang namin na-realize na kami pala ay malapit na maka-accomplish ng misyon bilang magulang. Nagpapasalamat ako sa kanilang lahat kasi ‘yung pangarap namin para sa kanila ay pinipilit nilang maganap, matupad.”
April stressed how thankful and blessed they are to have parents like Mommy Leguarda and Daddy Apolinario.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa lahat ng efforts nila kasi nakita po namin kung gaano ‘yung pinaghirapan nila noong bata kami. Malaki po ‘yung part nila kung bakit kami naging ganito. Kasi sila po ‘yung sumuporta sa amin, sila ‘yung unang naniwala sa amin,” April said.
