An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) single mom paid tribute to her parents for helping her raise her daughter as she continues working abroad for their family.
“Nung nakita na nila ‘yung apo nila sa akin, sobrang nawala po ‘yung galit nila. Ang thankful ko kasi ‘yung parents ko, hindi sila ganun. Mas pinili nilang intindihin ako kaysa itakwil ako,” Cathy Acol told The Philippine STAR.
Cathy was just 27 years old when she went abroad hoping to provide a better life for her family. Unexpectedly, she got pregnant in 2021.
“Nabuntis ako, unplanned pregnancy sa UAE way back 2021.COVID season siya. Tapos, nasa peak of career ako. Hindi ko talaga alam kung anong gagawin ko. Pero, at the same time, mas pinili ko pa rin ‘yung baby ko. So, hindi ko natapos ‘yung contract ko. Umuwi ako,” she shared.
She admitted that she was afraid to disappoint her parents, that’s why she took some time to tell them that she was pregnant.
“Ang unang sinabihan ko is ‘yung ate ko. Parehas kaming nasa Abu Dhabi. Sabi ko sa ate ko, ‘Te, ano ba, sabihin ko ba kanila nanay ‘yung nangyari sa akin? Kasi parang nakakahiya.’ Sabi niya, ‘Bago ka umuwi, kailangan sabihin mo siya.’ So bago ako mag-birthday, sinabi ko na sa parents ko. So nag-iiyakan kami sa Zoom na gano’n nga ‘yung nangyari sa akin,” she recalled.
When she had the courage to talk to her parents, she knew that they would be mad at the idea that she was a single mom.
“So, syempre, magulang, disappointed sila. ‘Yung tatay ko talaga ‘yung very welcoming. ‘Yung nanay ko, actually, matalak talaga siya. Bungangera ‘yung nanay ko. Pero nung nalaman niya na nabuntis ako, hindi niya ako pinagalitan or what,” Cathy said.
Adding, “Sabi ng nanay ko, andyan na ‘yan, wala na tayong magagawa. Umuwi ka na lang nang safe. Pero ‘yung nanay ko talaga ‘yung mas parang sumama ‘yung loob. Pero ang tatay ko hindi.”
Eventually, her parents understood her situation, and she decided to come home in the Philippines in March 2021.
“Sabi nila, ‘Nasa tamang edad ka na, 28 ka na, so wala ka nang dapat ikahiya. Natapos mo na ‘yung responsibility mo bilang anak namin, naka-graduate ka, nakapag-work ka abroad. It’s time na maging masaya ka na.’ Hindi kasi ako kasal. Sa Middle East kasi bawal ka manganak nang hindi ka kasal, makukulong ka,” she noted.
Cathy gave birth to a healthy baby girl on July 4, 2021. She then started rebuilding her life with the support of her family.
“Hindi siya madali. Dumating ako sa devastated na part ko. Kahit friends ko, hindi ko sila makausap. Kasi parang, hindi ko matanggap ‘yung situation na nangyari sa akin. Eight months, nagpaka-fulltime mom ako sa anak ko,” she said.
“Eight months, ‘yung parents ko ‘yung nag-provide, ‘yung ate ko, ‘yung kuya ko, sila ‘yung nag-provide sa anak ko.Sobrang laki ng tulong nila sa akin. Kasi, kumbaga, imaginin mo, wala akong work. As in, talagang bagsak talaga ako that time. Tapos ‘yung mga kapatid ko ‘yung tumutulong sa akin, ‘yung parents ko. Kumbaga, thankful ako sa kanila kasi hindi nila ako tinalikuran sa nangyari sa akin. Mas inintindi pa nila ako,” she added stressing how thankful she was to her family.
When Cathy realized that she couldn’t provide a life she wanted for Baby Catherine, she decided to try her luck again in working abroad as a merchandiser in Saudi Arabia in 2023.
“Dumating sa point na nagkasakit ‘yung anak ko, six months siya nag-underwent ng medication. ‘Yung daddy niya wala talagang tinulong ever since. Doon ako nag-decide na, ‘Ah, hindi pwedeng ganito lang, kailangan ko talaga mag-abroad,’” she said.
Her parents took care of Baby Catherine while Cathy was miles away working.
“’Yung magulang ko, very loving sila, very open sila. ‘Sige anak, kung gusto mo mag-abroad, okay lang. Hanggang malakas kami ng tatay mo, alagaan namin si baby.’ Kung hindi dahil sa kanila, hindi ako makakapag-abroad. Gusto mo ibigay ‘yung mga best para sa anak mo. Wala pang daddy ‘yung anak ko, ayokong maramdaman niya na left behind siya. Kaya binibigay ko talaga lahat,” she said.
Cathy hopes that their story will be a motivation to all single moms that despite not having a partner, they will continue fighting in life for their children.
“Sa mga katulad kong single mom, huwag niyong isipin na porket single mom tayo is end of the world na. Ang kalakasan natin ay nasa ating anak. Kumbaga, hindi katapusan ‘yun. Isipin n’yo na lang na ‘yung baby natin, may purpose sila kung bakit sila binigay sa atin. Hindi tayo naging single mom kasi mahina tayo. Strong tayo,” said Cathy.
