Raising a family without her husband has not been easy.
Junamil Garcia, whose husband works as a seaman for 25 years shared to CEBU DAILY NEWS all the challenges her family has faced during the recent Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Migrants Day at SM City Cebu.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) hold it’s annual OFW Migrants Day to help the OFW famillies understand the challenges and responsibilities that their loved ones face while working abroad.
The event includes seminars on the following subjects: the Workers Welfare Assistance Programs, Pre-Departure Orientation for the aspiring OFW’s and film showing entitled A Mother’s Story.
“Dili gyud lalim nga wala akong bana dire kay ako’y nahimong amahan og inahan sa akong mga anak og naay mga okasyon nga dili siya maka-apil,” Garcia said.
(It was not easy that my husband works abroad because I need to become play the role of a mother and a father to my kids and he aslo missed some special occasions.)
She said that prayer is the most important factor why marital temptations didn’t break their marriage.
“I’m proud to say that my husband is a family man and he was guided by God these past few years. He said that he’s contented with us and he afraid to acquire sexually transmitted disease that’s why he doesn’t engage anyone to fulfill his sexual urges,” Garcia explained.
However, Garcia admitted that she is more worried with the weather.
She said that her husband Charlie nearly drowned a few years ago when their ship sank.
Though the incident traumatized him but, he continued working because it’s his profession and he enjoys it, Garcia said.
Unlike before, technology has proved beneficial to families of OFWs. Garcia said, they can now talk everyday if they want to.
“Before, takes six months for my letters to arrive to him. But, now, we can talk anytime we want through the Internet.” she said.
If there is anything that make her proud, Garcia said, it is successfully raising her children.
“I’m thankful that they are not spoiled because I always remind them to use their money wisely because their dad’s earning them in a hard way.”
Travelling is the family’s favorite bonding whenever Charlie is in the countrry.
Garcia also said that her support group, OFW and Famillies Union has helped her cope with her husband’s absence.
Garcia and her family were finalist in the 2007 Search for OFW’S Model Family. /Careen L. Malahay, Correspondent