Shiela A. Gayorgor TP in the Philippines
confused. Yet my mom was there as my saving grace. She lifted me when I was at my lowest. She was so furious that she wanted to eat me alive. She was disappointed and frustrated, but she set her feelings aside. She never lets me take this journey alone. She’s there, but her expression of love is different. Many would not understand it, but it’s amazing, and we are grateful for that. Sadly, I’ve been in many long-term relationships that didn’t work out, be- coming a single mother. The last relationship has put me and my kids into the deepest black pit that I thought we couldn’t get out of. We had no money, not even a single centavo, no savings. Yet my mom was there again to save us. She’s a SUPERWOMAN! In 2019, I went to Saudi Arabia to work as a housemaid. I left my kids under her care; my youngest was only 7 years old. I worked for four and a half years without savings or money and couldn’t find my luck there. So, I decided to go back to the Philippines to rest for at least a month before
I grew up in a big, low-income family where everything was limited, espe- cially food and money. I have five siblings, and I’m the eldest. My mother and I didn’t have a good relationship. She put all responsibilities on me as the “ ate ” (translates to “eldest daughter” in English) at an early age. I used to have limited playtime outside, and we fought and argued about everything. She was my greatest enemy, always stepping on boundaries, never letting me free, and pushing me to do beyond my limits. It pres- sured me, and I grew up confused about what I wanted and liked to be in my life. My parents chose what they wanted me to be like. I did the opposite. I grew up rebellious, seeking approval and love from others, and I became a people pleaser. She’s the mother who used old ways to discipline, the typical Filipino discipline (slippers, broom, or anything she could hold). She was always busy working, and we seldom had hugs and kisses. She never read books to us, and we rarely went out together as a family. I can even count how many times it happened. I always thought of her as a person who loves money and is very ambitious, which I thought was not good. She worked hard so we could finish college. I always thought that way until I became a mother myself. Then, I un- derstood her better, and the “why” questions I always had become clear. Her love, care, and teachings have shaped me into who I am today. She has always been my guiding star. Her scolding, her care, and her words, once ignored and taken as insults, have now become words of wisdom. Her journey as a hardworking, ambitious mom inspired me, empowered me, and impacted my life. I better understand how she gracefully and intricately managed to successfully be a mother, a daughter, and a wife, and how she influenced her community. Her ambitious visions inspire me a lot. I became a mother at age 22 and could not finish college. The man who made me pregnant left me with nothing: no money, no savings, and
going back to work abroad again as a housemaid. But when I got a job at TP in Davao, I decided to stay.
Working in this company as a single mother with zero prior knowledge was one of the most empowering and challenging things I have done. It empowered me to do more, improve, and give myself grace. It was a drastic move, and everything changed when I decided to stay and work here. I got out of my nutshell, started caring for myself, and became an ICON FASHIONISTA in my own world. I started embracing my flaws and imperfections. I became more confident, just like the quote says: “Confidently beautiful with a beautiful heart.” With my unwavering strength, resilience, perseverance, guidance, gener- osity, and ups and downs, my kids witness what I’m going through every day, shaping their personal and professional lives.
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SOURCE OF INSPIRATION
LETTERS TO MOTHERS
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