This former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from Singapore did not wait for her retirement age to get back to the Philippines.
While working abroad along with her husband, they made sure to save money for the future.
48-year-old Marivic Zapanta went to Singapore in 2017 to work as a pharmacist.
“Nagtrabaho ako bilang store manager [for] 15 years. Doon ko na nakuha lahat ng mga magagandang experience na ngayon ay nilalagay ko sa sarili kong business. Marami na akong nasimulan na trabaho, meron akong medrep, meron akong sa pharmacist [sa] community hospital and then manufacturing,” Marivic told the Philippine STAR.
“Kaya talaga ako nag decide pumunta ng Singapore or as OFW, makuha ko ‘yung pamilya ko. Lagi kong kinocompare ‘yung sarili ko sa iba na bakit sila kaya nila. So ako din kaya ko din,” she added.
After a year, Marivic was able to bring her children to Singapore. Two of them even studied overseas for a couple of years.
“Syempre nung una, nagustuhan na namin doon kasi nandoon na rin naman ang buong pamilya ko. Kaya lang kailangan namin umuwi ng Pilipinas. Kasi matataas ang pangarap ng anak ko. Gusto ng isa mag-pilot, ‘yung isa gusto doctor. Kung doon kami mag-iistay medyo pricey ‘yung mga gastos,” she shared.
“Sabi ko hindi ako pwedeng magstay lang sa bahay, kailangan may negosyo. Nung pandemic, wala kaming ginagawa. Nasa bahay lang. So inip na inip ka tapos ang open lang nun grocery, pharmacy,” she said.
“So sabi ko ah ito pala talaga ‘yung dapat na iopen na business tapos pharmacist pa ako Kasi noon previous pa nasa community ako ganun na ‘yung ginagawa ko kasi eh. ‘Yung talaga bang parang may mga customer na nandoon kinakausap ko talaga,” Marivic added.
Marivic and her family opened their first pharmacy in 2021 in Carmona, Cavite. Her four children also love the industry.
“Nasiyahan sila pati ‘yung bunso ko na 12 years old sumama siya sa inventory.Meron kaming mga free medical kasama ko mga anak ko. ‘Yun pa ‘yung naging way ng bonding,” she noted.
Her eldest daughter, Anne Mary Jay Oliveros, even left her own business to help her parents manage their newly established business.
“Ang pinaka nag-struck talaga sa’kin and why I decided to help them to join kasi nga nakita ko ‘yung potential. There was this one time, we’re having a libreng konsulta sa community. Tapos ang daming mga tao, tapos meron pang ‘yung mga umiiyak,” Anne recalled.
“Puro sila nagte-thank you kasi parang sobrang na-touch sila na they feel seen, they feel heard dahil meron kaming doctor tapos libre lang naman. Doon ko rin nakita ‘yung purpose ko na parang ‘yung paghelp sa community tapos kumikita ka rin at the same time,” she added.
After several months, they offered franchising. They now have more than 20 branches in Metro Manila and Cavite.
“Dalawa lang kami ng husband ko tapos naging apat. Ngayon nasa 70 plus na ang tao namin,” she stressed.
“Madami namang nagiging problema kasi syempre business ‘to hindi naman perfect na perfect. Pero ipagdasal ko lang tapos parang okay na kinabukasan. Ang sarap ng feeling. So ‘yun talaga ‘yung naging ano sa’kin na ituloy ‘to,” Marivic added.
Marivic hopes to become an inspiration to fellow OFWs to save money and be able to retire early so that they can be with their families in the Philippines.
“Madami naman talagang mga Pilipino galing ng ibang bansa tapos pagdating dito wala silang naipon.Kasi syempre hindi naman natin sila masisisi na pinagpapasalubong nila, tinutulong nila sa pamilya nila.Gusto ko maka-inspire din ako ng mga OFWs. ‘Yung mga nagnenegosyo na nawawalan ng pag-asa,” she noted.
“Para sa mga OFW, kung ano man ‘yung trabaho niyo ngayon, kung nag-eenjoy kayo diyan, pwede niyong dalhin dito sa Pilipinas. Kailangan malaman niyo kung ano ang gusto niyo para maging masaya kayo,” she said when asked about her message to fellow kababayans.
