52-year-old Pinay driving instructor crowned as ‘SuperMom UAE 2025’

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – A 52-year-old driving instructor and overseas Filipino worker (OFW) for 21 years and a single mother to four children has been adjudged as this year’s “SuperMoM UAE 2025.”

Known as Imelda Papin’s look-alike here in the UAE, Nora Tuquib Manliguis won the SuperMoM UAE 2025 tilt held earlier this month.

The pageant – which was dedicated to honoring OFW mothers – featured 10 inspiring mothers but it was Manliguis, a long-time UAE resident, who was crowned the winner.

“Inenjoy ko lang ang journey ko sa SuperMom. Ngiti lang ako lagi sa stage. Nagkaroon ng mga bagong kaibigan,” she said in an interview.

(I just enjoyed my journey in the SuperMom contest. I just smiled a lot on stage, I found new friends.)

She also won awards such as Best Smile, Best in Casual Wear, Best in Long Gown and Best in Production at the SuperMom UAE 2025 tilt.

Manliguis won several awards before – the Umm Al Quwain Kalayaan singing contest; as 2014 Miss OFW first runner-up; and the 2016 Bayani Award from the Philippine Consulate General.

“Nais kong mai-share ang aking kwento bilang OFW at maging inspirasyon. Laban lang sa hamon ng buhay,” she said.

(I want to share my story as an OFW and be an inspiration to others. We just have to stand up to life’s challenges.)

Indeed, Manliguis has gone a long way when she first arrived in the UAE to find a better life.

The youngest of seven siblings, Manliguis hailed from Surigao del Norte and was only able to finish elementary school.

She was adopted when she was only six months old and experienced being oppressed at a young age. Manliguis got married at the young age of 15 years old, but is now a single mom to four children.

Manliguis has worked as a driving instructor in the UAE for 13 years and has successfully put her four children through school.

UAE life

Her first attempt to upgrade herself in the UAE was by earning a diploma as a nursing assistant. She also taught short courses in cosmetology at a salon for six years before trying her hand at a driving lesson.

After this, Manliguis became a taxi driver for two years and eventually a driving instructor for the past 13 years.

She lives in Ajman, an emirate two hours away by bus from Dubai. She is also active in Ajman’s Filipino community.

Now that she is in the UAE, Manliguis said she is preparing for retirement and plans to buy more land in the Philippines.

All of her four children have grown up and were able to finish their college studies through her hard work as an OFW.  Three of her children are in the UAE while the youngest will be following them soon.

Her four children – two boys and two girls – are graduates of IT engineering, tourism, and mechanics courses.

GMA’s Mel Tiangco once helped her when her daughter, now an IT engineer, had a medical issue that needed to be addressed at the National Children’s Hospital in Quezon City.

“Proud ako sa aking mga anak na nakapag-tapos na ng college dahil sa aking tiyaga, tiis at sakripisyo,” she said.

(I am proud of my kids. They all finished college because of my hard work and sacrifices.)

“Sa ngayon, dahil kasama ko na mga anak at mga apo ko dito sa UAE, patuloy pa rin ang trabaho ko bilang driving teacher. Tuloy pa rin ang service ko sa community, sumasali pa rin ako sa mga singing contest dito sa UAE. Plano ko na madagdagan pa ang investment kong lupa sa Pilipinas para sa retirement ko,” she added.

(My kids and grandchildren are now with me here in the UAE now. I go on with my work as a driving instructor and my service to the Filipino community. I still join singing contests. I plan to increase my investments in lots in the Philippines for my retirement.) — JMA, GMA Integrated News