This nursing student from Pangasinan made sure to call his OFW mother in Hongkong to mark his newest academic milestone.
“Gusto ko makita niya din ‘yung pinning. Pinakita ko lang po ‘yung pin at flowers ko sa kanya tapos ayun po, naiiyak na po siya nun. ‘Congratulations, nak.’ ‘Yun lang po ‘yung sabi niya tas sabi niya po ‘Sige na, nak papatayin ko na.’ Parang ayaw niya pong ipakita na naiiyak siya,” 19-year-old Mark Gerald Cabangting told The Philippine STAR.
Mark’s older sister, Marielle, accompanied him during the pinning ceremony last November 24, 2023.
“Masaya po ‘ko kasi ako ‘yung aakyat para sa kanya. Pero po may halong lungkot kasi po alam ko na si mama ‘yung gusto niyang umakyat. Nagulat po talaga ako nung tinawagan niya po si mama. Bigla pong nagtanong ‘yung friend ko sa kanya sabi niya po, ‘Ibigay mo na ‘yan kay ate mo ha,’ sabi niya pong ganun. Kaso po sabi niya, ‘Hindi, andito na si mama.’ Sabi niya po sabay harap nung cellphone niya,” Marielle shared.
“Proud na proud si mama syempre po. Ako din, as ate po, proud ako. Nag-start na rin po akong umiyak nun kaya po tumatahimik na lang po habang nagvi-video,” she added.
Mark admitted that he felt sad that his mother was not able to come home for the special occasion but noted he understood the situation.
“Malungkot po kasi wala ‘yung mama ko. Ever since, hindi po kasi ako academic achiever, kahit graduation since Grade six, Grade 10, Grade 12, kahit isang beses po hindi na-attendan, hindi niya ‘ko na-akyatan. Kaya kahit ‘yung pinning sana, hindi siya nakauwi,” he said.
Mommy Miraflor has been working overseas as a domestic helper for almost a decade.
“Grade one po ako nung nag-start po umalis si mama. Nagpunta po siya sa ibang bansa, para po ma-support ‘yung maintenance ng kapatid namin na may special needs na na-diagnose ng meningitis nung six months old siya,” Marielle said.
Since their parents were busy working for their family, Marielle took care of her siblings.
Noting “Ako po talaga ‘yung tumayong magulang dito sa bahay kasi kadalasan kami lang pong apat [na magkakapatid]. Lahat po ng responsibilidad nila, ikaw muna ‘yung tatayo para dun.”
Mommy Miraflor couldn’t come home for five years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
When the restriction finally eased, she decided to have a vacation. But it wasn’t a happy one.
“June 19 [2023] po, namatay na po ‘yung kapatid namin. Hindi din po namin alam ‘yung dahilan nung kinamatay niya. Pero po nung time na ‘yun, dapat po July 10 po sinabi samin ni mama na uuwi siya. Kasi isu-surprise niya po kami. Kaso po hindi na inabot nun kasi June 19 namatay na po ‘yung kapatid ko. Kaya biglaan din po ‘yung uwi niya,” Marielle recalled.
According to Marielle and Mark, it was their mother’s ultimate dream for them to finish their studies.
“Lagi pong sinasabai ni mama, ‘Para hindi n’yo kailangan mag-ibang bansa, magkatulong. Para makasama n’yo ‘yung pamilya n’yo. Hindi kagaya ko na hindi ko kayo nakasama lumaki.’ Ang dami niya pong nami-miss na mga event and mga achievements namin sa buhay. Kaya po para sa ’kin sobrang halaga po talaga na makapagtapos kami para din po sa future namin,” Marielle stressed.
Mark is currently a second-year nursing student at the Unibersidad de Dagupan.
He works hard to finish his studies to help his mom.
“Gusto ko rin po kasing matulungan si mama para makapag-settle na siya dito sa Pilipinas, matigil na rin ‘yung higit isang dekadang pagta-trabaho niya sa ibang bansa para paaaralin lang kami,” he stressed.
