Despite being judged by others, a determined OFW worked harder and was soon able to build a house for her family. She definitely proved her detractors wrong!
Determined OFW Builds House after Being Judged for Job
It’s sad that there are people who look down on others based on their jobs or educational attainment.
That’s what happened to Gracia Zolita Lucero, an OFW (overseas Filipino worker) who works as a domestic helper in the Middle East.
Because of her “lowly” job as a domestic helper and the fact that she hasn’t earned a degree, Gracia said that other people judged her. She even knew some of these people personally.
“Ako po ay hamak na isang utusan lang dito sa Gitnang Silangan. Pero never ko un ikinahiya Maliit lang ang tingin saken ng Ibang tao (minsan nga ung mga kakilala mo pa mismo) dahil sa ganito lang ang trabaho ko at walang maipagmamalaki na natapos na kurso,” she mused.
“Pero OK lang mas kilala ko naman ang sarili ko at kaya kung lumakad ng diretso at tumingin mata sa mata ng makakasalubong ko dahil wala naman ako inaargabyado.”
Instead of feeling down, however, she used her experience to become more determined to achieve her dreams and work harder for her family.
Working Hard To Reach Her Dreams
She began to find other ways to earn money, including opening an online shop and accepting side jobs, such as becoming an assistant or helper at events, helping other OFWs send their remittances, or doing other tasks that helped her earn extra cash.
She detailed:
“Dahil sa maliit ang sweldo eh naisipan kung rumaket. Nag simula aq sa partime sa Khobar, pag tapos ng duty diretso sa mga event at dun nmn magiging utusan. Mahirap pero masaya kase madami ako nakikilala.
Pasok sa trabaho ng 6am to 4pm,tapos diretso biyahe punta sa event 5pm to 2am minsan nga Inaabot pa kame ng 4am bago makauwi.
Humina ang raket kaya nmn nag simula na ako mag online selling, lahat ibebenta kahit bra at panty binibenta ko, pero di yan natapos jan tumanggap na din aq ng mga pera padala, ung mga kabayan na di makalabas eh ako uutusan nila para maipadala pera nila sa mga mahal nila sa Pinas.
Pati mga pabili sa Jarir ako ang inuutusan nila (sympre babayaran nila aq para sa service fee) ung Ibang nag tatrabaho sa bahay minsan aq pa bibigyan nila ng tip.”
Building a House for Her Family
Thanks to her hard work, she was able to build a house for her family.
Yes, other people looked down on her but managed to rise up and prove them wrong.
Source: Gracia Zolita Lucero / KAMI
