An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from Norway recently shared on social media the “worst” part of every vacation in the Philippines.
After a few days, many viewers seemed to relate to the heart-pinching video as it garnered more than 400,000 views on TikTok.
“Kinompile ko kasi No’ng napanood ko ‘yon, parang naawa ako sa kanila. na parang
Three times na naghatid. ‘Yon talaga ‘yong worst part. talaga eh. Eh ‘yon ‘yong worst day ‘pag umuuwi. Parang minsan pag gising ko ‘pag pauwi na kami parang gusto ko na mag-hop over,” uploader Jarren Kate Bentzen told The Philippine STAR during an interview.
According to her, it was their first vacation since the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines. In June 2022, Jarren along with her two siblings, Jino and Jian decided to surprise their parents with a complete family reunion.
Their Mommy Josephine and Daddy Inocentes were so happy to have some family time after not seeing each other for a long time.
“Ang naunang pumunta is ako since eldest ako. After kong mag-graduate no’ng 2004, after ng board exam, I got help from my Aunt living in Norway already. ‘Yong next, brother ko naman. He’s a nurse kasi. So pumunta siya dito to study the language. In 2018, kinuha namin ‘yong youngest brother kasi nurse din siya,” she shared.
Mommy Josephine and Daddy Inocentes had a hard time accepting the fact that their youngest son Jian will also work in Norway.
“‘Yong dad kasi namin, hindi siya ‘yong tipo na nagpapakita ng emotions kaagad, pigil siya. Pero no’ng time na umalis ako, talagang makikita mo na hirap para sa kanya i-let go ‘yong bunso niya,” Jian recalled.
“Siya ‘yong talagang sobrang favorite. First time ko din nakitang umiyak ‘yong dad ko. Pero mas panatag sila na nasa isang country lang kami,” Jarren added.
Mommy Josephine and Daddy Inocentes also had the chance to visit their children abroad.
“Dito sa Norway, puwede namin silang kunin pero isang parent lang. So, as long as both sila alive, hindi namin sila makukuha. Ang hirap. Kasi lahat kami nandito na,” she noted.
“‘Yong mahirap, na malayo sila. Hindi mo basta mapupuntahan. Tas lalo na for us na wala man lang kahit isa sa’ming nando’n. Kasi ‘yong iba, may kapatid na nando’n pa, ‘diba? Iba pa rin kasi talaga ‘pag ‘yong anak, isang anak ‘yong naiiwan sa kanila eh. Siyempre hindi ko naman puwede i-asa sa cousin ko or sa tita ko lang,” she added.
Jarren said that it will always be the saddest moment of their vacation.
“Talagang makikita mo kasi every year, uuwi ka parang tumatanda sila nang tumatanda. Nasanay na lang rin. Ang hirap ‘di ba? Na ang layo ng parents mo pero wala, sanayan lang. And lagi din naman namin silang kausap through messenger video call,” she said.
“Ito talaga ‘yong reality. Hindi laging masaya ang pagiging OFW. ‘Wag silang panghihinaan ng loob. Kasi iisipin lagi nila, bakit mo ba ginawa ‘to?” she noted when asked about her message to fellow OFWs.
