Rhea Santos: A traveler with a purpose

Rhea Santos-de Guzman loves to travel. Her vacations take her around the country and to foreign destinations at least twice a year. So far, her most memorable traveling experience was her honeymoon in September last year. Her husband Carlo took her around Europe, giving her a taste of France, Switzerland and Italy. In the Philippines, the newlyweds who are both divers frequent beaches, particularly that of Boracay and Palawan. But Rhea didn't expect that she could travel around the country and overseas for a special purpose. Co-hosting Pinoy Abroad with Ivan Mayrina, Rhea is thankful to GMA Network for giving her the chance to somehow bridge the distance between overseas Filipino workers and their families. This desire to help our kababayans is boosted by her experience as the child of a former OFW. She can relate to the sadness and longing of the families left behind by a loved one who is forced to work abroad. She recalled the time when her mother left for the United States. “I almost cried every time na tumatawag ang mom ko from the States kasi I missed her so much that time." Rhea said that what can do is to comfort family members and make them realize the positive side of the sacrifice an OFW makes for the sake of the family. Rhea believes poverty is the main reason why people work abroad. If Filipinos have better opportunities in Philippines, they will not sacrifice being away from their loved ones.