Pinay caregiver in Canada writes book about lives of OFWs

Six years ago, Raquel Padilla was a teacher in a small school in Valenzuela. Today, almost 28 years old, Padilla is now a caregiver to two young boys in Canada. But more than that, she is also an author. The former Math teacher who hails from Capiz has published a book called "Tiis, Sipag at Tiyaga (OFW Stories)." She compiled articles previously written for several blogs and forums. In an email correspondence with GMA News Online on Saturday, Padilla said she started to write about her experiences to inspire people. Her columns consist mostly of financial advice for fellow OFW’s, as well as encouragements for them. “I started writing because I want people to realize that poverty is not a hindrance to fulfill your dreams,” Padilla said. Padilla says she writes because she feels she knows her audience, saying that an OFW is one who knows another OFW best. “I decided to be an OFW because I wanted to give a better life to my family especially my mother who raised us after my father died when I was 13,” she said. In her most read article, “OFW ka ba? Please lang.. Magipon ka!” Padilla extolls the values of living a simple life, and saving while you can. "Life abroad is not permanent. You have to save while you earn because you never know what awaits you in the future. There are emergencies that you have to attend to,” she said. She thus enumerates ways that will help fellow OFW’s cut dow their expenses, from the seemingly matter-of-fact (Wag kalimutan na foreign currency ang pera na hawak mo), to the more humorous, yet still practical (Kung ikaw ay babae, wag ka muna maghangad ng mamahaling underwear.) The fourth of six children, Padilla said her mother had to sell their neighbor’s produce so she and her siblings can go to school. Thanks to her stringent living and religious saving, Padilla has now bought a house and lot for her mother and siblings. But Padilla says being an OFW is not all sunshine and daisies. Among Padilla’s other articles are those that deal with ungrateful family members, and those that expect OFWs to be loaded with money just because they work abroad. She addresses these issue by narrating how hard life can be for a primary breadwinner working in a far away country. She adds that the term ‘Bagong Bayani’ is a little bit problematic for her. “If ‘Bagong Bayani’ means martyrdom, yes [I agree with the usage]! Many OFWs are martyrs from emotional pain brought by those who don't understand them and physical pain brought by abusive employers. If that's the meaning of the word modern heroes, then OFWs are heroes and I salute each and everyone of us,” she said. Padilla writes mostly in Filipino, saying that it is the language most of her readers are comfortable with, and that they read articles in the native tongue easier. ”I can show my emotions in writing our own language so everybody can relate to what I feel,” she also said. "Tiis, Sipag at Tiyaga (OFW Stories)" is published by Tatay Jobo Elizes, and is available on Amazon. - VVP, GMA News