Liza had always dreamed of giving her children the life she never had. Growing up in a small town in the Philippines, she witnessed her parents struggle to make ends meet. They worked tirelessly, but there was never enough. Liza promised herself that when she became a mother, her children would never face the same hardships.
She was just 24 when she left the Philippines for the UK. With a nursing degree in hand and a heart full of hopes, Liza made the difficult decision to move away from her family and the home she loved. She had two young children at the time, Maria, who was 6, and Ben, just 3 years old.
Her husband, Marco, was supportive but also heartbroken. The thought of raising their children without her by his side was a burden he carried quietly, yet he knew they had no other choice. The salary she could earn in the UK as a nurse was far better than what she could ever earn in the Philippines.
Liza spent her first few months in the UK working long shifts at a busy hospital, taking care of elderly patients, and adjusting to the new life in a foreign country. She missed her children terribly—her son's laughter, her daughter's hugs—but she knew this was temporary. Every sacrifice she made, every late-night shift, every moment of loneliness, was for them.
On her days off, she would call her children. Though the time difference made it difficult, she would hear their excited voices through the phone, telling her about their day, their school projects, and their little adventures. "Mommy, I miss you," Maria would say, and Liza would feel her heart break a little more. But she always reassured them, "I love you, anak, and I’m working hard so you can have a better life. One day, we’ll be together again."
Mother’s Day was especially tough. Liza would see other nurses at the hospital exchanging cards and flowers with their children, their families close by. Meanwhile, her family was thousands of miles away. She would find herself sitting alone in her room, holding the phone to her ear, listening to the voices of Maria and Ben, reminding herself of the reason why she was there.
One Mother's Day, her children sent her a video. It was simple, yet it meant the world to her. Maria had made a drawing of their family, with a big heart in the middle that said, “We love you, Mommy.” Ben, though too young to understand fully, held up a drawing of a sun, saying, “Mommy, you are my sunshine.” Liza couldn’t hold back her tears. It was a bittersweet moment, knowing her children were growing up without her physical presence, but grateful for the love they shared.
As the years passed, Liza’s sacrifices slowly paid off. Her children were excelling in school, Marco found a steady job back home, and they were able to buy a small house. It wasn’t much, but it was theirs. Liza knew that her decision to work abroad wasn’t just for material wealth—it was for their future, their opportunities.
Every year, on Mother's Day, Liza would reflect on how far they had come. She was proud of her children, proud of herself, and proud of all the Filipino nurses like her who had sacrificed so much for their families. It was a hard life, one filled with longing and heartache, but it was also a life filled with love and hope.
On that special day, Liza always reminded herself: This is what mothers do. They sacrifice. They love. And they keep going—no matter the distance.
To all Filipino nurses in the UK and every Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) working far from home. Happy Mother’s Day! Your love, dedication, and sacrifices prove that a mother’s heart knows no distance. Though miles apart, your strength and selflessness touch lives every day. Today, we honor and celebrate you—may you feel the love and appreciation you truly deserve.
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