CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--Admittedly, Rebecca T. Ceniza knew that working as an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) involves 90% determination and 10% luck, not always perfect as others have experienced. 

For a 53-year-old mother of two, she expected to face challenges aside from leaving her family in Cagayan de Oro City for greener pasture in Kuwait.

For five years, Ceniza worked as domestic helper (DH) to help her husband Andy, a cigarette sales agent from Salay, Misamis Oriental. The family is hopeful to survive amidst being away from each other.

The couple dreamed of raising their children Andre and Fatima and afford quality education. Both understood that their mother had to serve other families in the Middle East to save them from poverty.

Challenges hurdled by the DH made her stronger each year until COVID-19 came in 2020. Ceniza's employer withdrew her employment - not only because of the pandemic but due to her health condition after being diagnosed with asthma and hypertension.

The heartbreaking news caused her depression and decided to return to her family to start anew in a sari-sari store with Andre who stopped schooling because of his father's work stoppage at the height of crisis.

Fatima’s academic performance was affected because of economic instability in pursuing her nursing course in Liceo de Cagayan University.

Meanwhile, Ceniza came across the Overseas Filipino Worker Rise Organization facebook page and apparently became a member. The organization introduced TABANG OFW cash assistance where she took the chance to apply to DOLE-OWWA Northern Mindanao and was granted P30,000, March 2021. She found new hope and a new beginning.

"TABANG OFW cash assistance program is a big help as I have fully paid my tuition expenses. With this, there is no doubt that I could pursue my ambition and be professional despite pandemic," Fatima said. (DOLE-10/PIA-10)