Love for videoke inspires OFW to join — and win — UAE singing contest

AL AIN, United Arab Emirates — Missing her family back home, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) here joined a singing contest where the object of their bonding activity was the weekly prize: a videoke system.

“A very dear friend once told me that there is a singing contest at ito nga po yung ‘Kanta Mo, Upload Ko’ of Kabayan Weekly,” shared Charvimalou "Charvi" A. Armonia, referring to the first Filipino newspaper in the country.

“I was very hesitant to join because [in] my 30 years of existence, hindi po ako sumasali sa mga singing contest, not even in the Philippines,” she added.

 
Charvimalou 'Charvi' Armonia works as a company secretary in a trading firm in UAE.
But when her friend told her what she could have as prize in case she wins, Charvi did not think twice about joining.

“Nung sinabi sa akin na ang weekly prize daw [ay] Mediacom videoke, parang nag-iba yung hangin at na-curious ako since first time kong mag-abroad,” Charvi said.

Needless to say, Charvi won the coveted videoke system, and even became a wild card in the semifinal round.

Baby Lee

Born and raised in Davao City, Charvi went here to work as a company secretary in a trading company at the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority, Ajman.

“Actually this was a dream during college days. May chances and open doors kaso walang pang-bayad ng placement fees,” she said.

It was not until January 29, 2014, that Charvi was able to work here.

“May nag-alok ng thru direct hire daw. [Sinunggaban] ko para matulungan ko ang family ko kasi medyo malaki kami,” she said.

Among of her family members is Baby Lee, her one-year-and-two-month-old niece who has a septal defect and a heart condition.

“Siya po yung huli kong pamangkin na na-witness ko. I mean, lahat kasi ng pamangkin ko, ako yung pinakaunang kumarga,” Charvi fondly recalled.

She would call her “Pawee”—because she said the infant's head was shaped like a siopao, the steamed bun that originated from Thailand—and would spread the word about the Facebook page “Sandaang Piso Mo Para Sa Puso Ko” that her sister’s friends made for Baby Lee.

“Her life to us is a miracle. Siya po yung instrument kung bakit po yung ina niya [ay] dumulog at na-refresh ang faith kay God,” Charvi said. —KBK, GMA News


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