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Children below 10 years old are usually seen playing with their toys or frolicking with their playmates. But such is not the case for an eight-year-old girl named Jenny Bagobo of San Jose, Camarines Sur.

At her young age, Jenny seems to have been robbed of her youth, as she had to put aside all the enjoyable things about childhood to step up and care for her siblings.

She is a grade 2 student and the eldest of five children, and when she's not studying, Jenny is busy caring for her younger four siblings.

Jenny has to temporarily be the “mom” of her siblings because their mother named Jewel fell ill last December after giving birth, and their fisherman father is often working at sea.

Jenny Bagobo of San Jose, Camarines Sur / Source: On Record

Jenny and her family were featured in the Virgielyncares vlog last May, where known Bicolano vlogger Virgielyn saw first-hand how difficult Jenny's situation is.

In the vlog, a sari-sari store owner revealed that Jenny often goes to her to get coffee, sugar, charcoal, and milk and promises to pay for them at a later date.

Unlike most kids who can be seen carrying their toys, Jenny's hands are usually holding her younger sibling's milk bottle.

At eight years old, Jenny has to juggle her studies with multiple responsibilities such as caring for her sick mom, looking after her siblings, and doing household chores.

In her interview with On Record, Jenny explained why she's doing all of these despite her young age.

“Wala po kasing mag-aalaga sa mga kapatid ko. Kaya ako na lang ang gumagawa ng pagpapakain, pagtitimpla ng gatas at pagpapaligo sa kanila.”

When asked if she's having a hard time multitasking as a student and taking over her mother's responsibilities at home, Jenny replied, “Nahihirapan din po.”

8-year-old Jenny Bagobo feeds her sick mom and looks after her four siblings / Source: On Record

Nevertheless, Jenny has no feeling of resentment toward her parents and wishes her mom will recover soon.

“Masaya ako na natutulungan ko ang mama ko. Ang gusto ko lang sabihin ay magpagaling at ingatan ang sarili niya, para kami naman ang alagaan niya.”

When On Record spoke with Jenny's mom, Jewel, she said she started to fall ill after giving birth in December of last year.

She even said it was only “binat,” a Filipino term for a general feeling of weakness or failing to recover from a disease or injury.

Jewel said since they received financial help from overseas Filipino worker donors of the Virgielyncares vlog, she already had herself check by a doctor.

She said she wasn't diagnosed with any medical condition and was only suffering from malnourishment.

In her interview, she also tearfully gave a message to her eldest daughter Jenny who has willingly stepped up as the mother of her siblings while she recovers.

“Mahal na mahal kita. Salamat dahil nakakatulong ka sa akin kahit ganyan ka pa lang. I love you.”

You can watch Jenny's story in the On Record video below.

For more inspiring stories like this, watch On Record every Sunday, 5:20 p.m. on GMA-7.

Viewers abroad can also watch On Record via GMA's flagship international channel, GMA Pinoy TV. For the program guide, visit www.gmapinoytv.com.

Get to know On Record host Mav Gonzales more in the gallery below.