On TikTok, a millennial daughter uploaded a compilation video of her OFW dad while saying goodbyes at the airport.
RX Carzo recalled their set up as a family while her father, Alex, is working abroad.
“It has been 39 years pala of being an OFW ng daddy ko. Hindi naging malayo ‘yung loob ko sa tatay ko. Ang galing nga eh. Nasabayan talaga namin ‘yun na from letter to telephone to telephone to Yahoo Messenger, hanggang nagkaroon na ng Facebook. In fairness naman to my dad, hindi naman siya talaga nagkulang in terms of communicating with us,” she said with affirmation.
RX and her other siblings basically grew up without Daddy Alex after he left the country to work abroad. Reminiscing their childhood, RX couldn’t help but become emotional.
“May time pa nga na pagkauwi ng daddy ko, hindi namin sure kung sino siya. Tapos, alam mo ‘yung sasabihin na, “Oh, kilala mo ‘yan, kilala mo ‘yan, sino ‘yan? “Daddy mo ‘yan, daddy mo ‘yan.” When I was growing up, may ganong moment kami ng daddy ko na parang nahihiya ka. Sino ‘yun? Nangingilala ka pa na hindi mo alam,” she emotionally shared.
Adding, “There was a time pa nga na kailangan namin ng family picture, pero ‘yung one by one picture ni daddy ‘yung nakalagay. May time na parang, ‘Oh, I wish dad can be here, sana makita.’ Pero hindi naman kasi nagkulang ‘yung mommy ko with that kind of support.”
Daddy Alex had to miss several milestones in their life, but RX noted they never felt abandoned as their parents were very hands on to them while growing up.
“Actually, lahat ng pagbubuntis ng mom ko, wala ‘yung daddy ko. So, sobrang hands down to my mom. Parang may mga certain milestones talaga siya na i-aim niya na makakauwi siya. Growing up, kailangan na naming intindihin then from the very beginning pa lang na, ‘Not all the time daddy’s gonna be there. And that’s okay.’ So, ‘pag nandun siya, mas extra special,” she noted.
RX also reiterated how their mom played a vital role in keeping their family close and intact.
“Ever since mga bata kami, in-explain sa amin ni mommy that what dad is doing is for us, para sa amin. Lagi kaming binibigyan ng mommy ko ng stationery. Gagamitin namin to write our stories, ano na ‘yung update sa amin, nami-miss na namin siya, kumusta na si daddy.‘Pag nag-uusap sila sa telephone ni mommy, ano na, o daddy mo, ganon. Automatic na kailangan nakaupo kami beside her kasi isa-isa kaming kakausapin ni daddy,” she said.
“Alam mo, ‘pag naiisip ko, naiiyak ako.In fairness naman kay mommy ko, mini-make sure niya na daddy is still part of us. Na while we’re growing up, that we make sure na we tell him stories, na we communicate with him,” she added.
For almost four decades, the airport became a bittersweet place for their family.
“Every time na umalis si daddy, nasa-sad kami nung bata kami. Every time na dumating si daddy, excited kami dumating si daddy kasi punta kaming Duty Free. Nasanay na rin talaga kami na ihatid siya sa airport lagi,” she said.
RX has nothing but gratitude for all the hard work of her father just to provide their needs while growing up not just financially but also emotionally.
“Alam namin lahat ng pagod, dugo at pawis ng tatay namin is para sa amin.Thankful talaga kami, magkakapatid, na meron kaming magulang na gano’n, na even with kay mommy, na hindi rin kami pinabayaan,” she stressed.
RX said that the whole family is encouraging Daddy Alex to retire but noted they respect the decision of their father to keep working as long as he can.
“[Sabi namin] ‘Uy, dad, mag-retire ka na kasi okay na kami.’ My dad is so very independent gusto niya magtrabaho. Maaligaga kasi ‘yung daddy namin. So, mas gusto namin na may ginagawa siya na he’s still working because he loves to work. Not because kailangan niya pa kaming i-support-an. Lahat ng ginagawa niya na was for both himself and kay mommy, even sa family namin,” said RX.
RX also left a message to fellow individuals who have OFW parents.
“Don’t lose that connection with your parents. Try to reach out to them. Try to still spend time with them. Ang dali lang sa atin minsan ma-brush off ‘yung mga little moments that we can get time with our parents,” she said.
