Saudi journalist finally reunites with Pinay ex-nanny

After corresponding online through Skype, Saudi journalist Rawan Radwan finally met her Filipina former nanny in a reunion that she has been waiting for.

Sayidaty, a Saudi Arabia-based women's magazine, volunteered to sponsor Radwan's trip to the Philippines after being moved by her search for Maria Luningning Bernardo-Bibit (earlier reported as Maria Ning), her former nanny who is now based in Quezon province.
 
Former OFW Maria Luningning Bernardo-Bibit's tearful reunion with her former ward, Saudi journalist Rawan Radwan, in Quezon province. Photo courtesy of 'Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho'
Sayidaty's publisher, the Saudi Research and Marketing Group, has already featured Radwan in their local newspaper, Arab News, and news site, arabnews.com, noting how her story has “touched the heart of the nation.”

The story became popular not only among Filipinos in Saudi Arabia but also among Saudi employers.

After the sponsorship announcement on Monday last week, Radwan arrived in Manila on Thursday night. With the help of GMA News' “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,“ which arranged the online correspondence and featured it on its August 10 episode, Radwan was brought to Candelaria, Quezon, to meet her “Dada Mary.”

The two met on Saturday at the Western Tayabas Academy, where Bibit studied high school.

After a very emotional reunion, Bibit proceeded to tour Radwan around Quezon. They went to her house, where Radwan met her former nanny's family. It was here where she was shown  pictures of her and her sister Hadeel as children, when Bibit was still working for their family.

“We were kids at that times though but she planted a seed of kindness in our heart,” she said.

Radwan also had time to experience a bit of life in Candelaria and taste some of the province's delicacies.

She also had a gift for Bibit — a laptop to ensure their constant communication.

“She is one of the most memorable persons in our life, she was very good to us,” said Radwan, who is set to fly back to Saudi Arabia this week.

The reunion will be aired exclusively on Sunday, August 31, in “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.” — Bianca Rose Dabu/KBK, GMA News

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