Tears at NAIA as OFWs arrive, depart during the holidays



The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has been a place for joy and sadness for OFWs, much more during Christmas time.
Though some OFWs will be arriving to spend the holiday season with their family in the Philippines, there are those who will depart and — some of them for the first time — will not spend Christmas with their loved ones.
Imelda Tubadeza, for one, will finally have the chance to spend Christmas and New Year with her family in the Philippines after 16 years of working abroad.
Though her blind mother could no longer see her, Tubadeza, in a report by GMA News' Bernadette Reyes on Balitanghali on Monday, said it is enough that she can serve her mother during the holidays.
"I want to spend this Christmas with my mom, to shower her, to clean her," she said.
For pasalubong, Tubadeza said she bought her mother chocolates, a wristwatch, and a lipstick.
"Sabi niya magli-lipstick pa raw [siya] kahit bulag na siya," Tubadeza said.
For some OFWs, their presence is their gift to their loved ones.
"Basta umuwi lang ako okay na 'yun sa kanila," said Andrea dela Cruz.
And then there are those whose deployment abroad coincided with the happiest month in the calendar. Melanie Tadeo, for one, will spend Christmas overseas for the first time.
"Mahal na mahal ko po silang lahat," she said in tears, referring to the parents that she will leave behind. "Wala naman po akong mahihiling basta wala lang silang sakit."
Although she's been spending Christmas away from home for 15 years, Feliciana Abalos could still not help but get emotional during her departure at the NAIA.
"Wala po akong magagawa dahil gusto ko pong mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang aking pamilya," she said.
She said she is praying that her family will remain whole despite her having to work abroad. —KBK, GMA News

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