OFW in UAE gifted with house and lot by thankful employer

A 45-year-old Filipina domestic helper has received a generous gift from her thankful employer: house and lot.

Dina Tenerife Celo told Khaleej Times that the Dh23,000 (P320,000) gift from her employer Melissa McPike made her dreams of having a house and lot come true after working in Abu Dhabi for 20 years.

The money will be used for purchasing land while the construction of the house will be financed by McPike.

McPike, an American who acquired Emirati citizenship by marriage, said buying the house in Celo's hometown of Camarines Sur was the least her family could do after the Filipina did so much for her children.

She said Celo was trustworthy to the point that she left her debit card with her, adding that the Filipina was now part of their family and is known to her two sons as "Aunty."

Celo took care of McPike's children at Khalifa City from 1998 to 2000. McPike offered to hire her again several times in their correspondences since, but their plans did not pan out until Celo was left jobless in 2014.

The Filipina said the positivity her relationship with her second family made up for the emotional toil she suffered while working restrictive jobs and working through a marriage that did not work out.

The two-bedroom house is registered in Celo's son's name and will be constructed under the supervision of the domestic helper and one of her employer's sons when she returns home for a year-long leave on January 18. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News