Tesda scholar defies odds to bring OFW mom home

For 15 years, Jun Prian Saberon grew up without his mother who have to work as a domestic helper in Hong Kong when his father stopped working due to a mild stroke.

He was only six years old when his mother left him and his two sisters.

For them, life is not easy because aside from their studies, they also have to look into their sick father.

Upon finishing high school, Jun decided to leave his family in Leyte and take up a two year course in Associate Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management in Cebu.

Through the years, they only see their mother once every two years, of which the latest was in 2011.

His mother has to go back abroad to sustain for the maintenance and medication of their father.

With God’s help, his two sisters finished their college studies and now have families of their own. The first one is working, while the other is a full-time mother and living separately.

Now 21 years old and being the only one left single, he felt the responsibility to take care of his parents.

After finishing his Associate Degree, he worked as a call center agent. Jun was able to share for their home expenses and his father’s medicine.

However, after two months, he quit due to the effect of the job to his asthma illness.

He then applied for the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda). Fortunately, he qualified to the program and took up Bartending (National Certificate Level II) at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation in Lahug, Cebu City.

According to Jun, their trainers are “bagtik” meaning experts and the completeness of the facilities of the school is remarkable.

Now a certified Bartender with NC II certification, Jun passed the interview for a job abroad.

In a few weeks time, Jun will be flying to Malaysia to work as a bartender in Shah Allam, Kuala Lumpur and his dream of seeing his mother settle in the Philippines is about to happen .