“I was born in Laguna, Philippines, and spent my childhood living near a dumpsite. I was raised a Born Again Christian, so we’d go to the church three times a week. I’d line up with the rest of the kids for weekly feeding while Christian volunteers from Korea and Japan taught us worship songs. At the age of ten, I spent a year at my mom’s hometown, Camiguin; an island born of fire with beautiful mountains & beaches. I didn’t want to leave the island – it was like a paradise for me – but my parents had to move where the jobs were; there was no such thing as “work from anywhere” back then.
In the Philippines, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are deemed as heroes – a fair description for workers who help fund their siblings’ education, build houses for their families back home and give back to relatives. I chose Education in college for my major – it would be my ticket to America – but on the day of my teaching demo I was late to class by a minute. My professor wouldn’t let me in so I received an Incomplete grade and failed to graduate cum laude. America was lost.
I started juggling three jobs to support my parents and siblings. (I’m the second of eight children). After graduation, I applied as a virtual teacher and hopped from one online teaching job to another, seeking better compensation. Eventually, I found myself working in Dubai for a pharmaceutical company. After a few years, I missed home and the freedom to roam so I flew back to start again from zero. I had some savings but it wasn’t enough so I applied for a job as a writer for an outsourcing company in Cebu. The salary was 10x lower than what I wanted, but writing is my passion; I had found fulfillment.
And what happens when we follow our hearts? Through writing, I met Gretchen and Celine from Insight Timer and learned of a job opening during the height of the pandemic. Even though the company supports mothers who work remotely, and offers generous leave with flexible hours, I was hesitant at first because my baby was still only 6 months old. But after exploring the app and listening to an interview of the CEO Christopher Plowman, I knew I wanted to be part of their mission.”
#WomensEqualityDay
