BAYANING PILIPINO SA ASYA PASIPIKO
Remedios Alcantara Fronteras-Salamanes
A journey empowered with Faith, Determination and
Courage;
A Life story full of visions and inspirations.
Macau S.AR, though small in size is economically
strong and powerful to house a large number of Overseas Filipino Workers. With
over 13,000 Filipinos living and working in the peninsula; Remedios is a
familiar face to and among Filipinos, Chinese students, parents and is
commonly-known as Mimi to those who actively participate in the programs, activities
and seminars of the Philippine Consulate, OWWA and the Pastoral Committee. She
is someone you regularly see and meet at the Church, Philippine Consulate Office,
Macau Public events and other Filipino gatherings. She enthusiastically
supports and shares her knowledge, talents and resources in activities that
cater Filipino Cultures and traditions. With her friendly and welcoming face
and gestures, you are sure to easily become acquainted and get assistance from
her.
Mimi is someone you can never mistake to be a
foreigner, she is all that she was; the first time she sat foot on Macau. Her
personality and patriotism is evident in every way she lives. A native of
Bohol, she is a living symbol of faith, perseverance and courage to and among
her family, friends, colleagues and surely to those she will meet and connect
lives with in the future. Far from the knowledge of her peers and the public,
Mimi is second among the twelve children in a poor, big family. Beyond the
poverty line is what life was for Mimi back then.
Growing up in a poverty-stricken town of Tubigon,
Mimi at her young age learned the value of hard work, patience and
determination. She strived hard and established her ambitions and goals as she
understood that she was born in a place; where education was only for the elite
and well-provided individuals. Despite the circumstances, Mimi was set to live
what she had always known God had planned for her. She was determined to win,
knowing that there is a stronger power-Who never fails to support and protect
His creations.
As gems are continuously pounded to reveal its
beauty and strength, Mimi had also undergone series of excruciating, painful
and tearing life tests. At a young age, Mimi knew-well the importance of
education so she aspired of becoming a bank manager because she was fascinated
with how good-looking managers are and how comfortable their lives can be.
Despite the crises she was experiencing in the 1980s, she then went and
enrolled at South Western University of Cebu City. With strong inspirations,
motivations and innate love of numbers, she chose a degree, Bachelor of Science
in Commerce, major in Accountancy. Just as life seemed to be getting better,
the breadwinner of their family suddenly died; leaving the whole family chaotic
and lost-this event became a turning point for Mimi. Even with great sorrow and
no financial support to continue her studies, she was determined to finish her
degree. She then opted to serve a wealthy Spanish family in order to support
her education. Working hard, she was able to secure a full-scholarship from the
university. Her faith, patience, determination and hard-work bore her sweet
fruits when she graduated a Cum-Laude.
Mimi was now set on track. She was full of
inspirations as she had never forgotten to cling onto her Savior. Her love for
her family never fails to remind her of the greatness of her mother in bearing
all the responsibilities of being a father and a mother at the same time. All
she ever wanted then was, to get a job and to assist her mother to financially
support her family in order to send her siblings to school.
As she had given importance to Education, she
willed that her siblings also finish a degree or a vocational course. She knew
that everyone had God-given talents and these talents are useful to build
lives, become fruitful and productive persons in the society. With expectations
from her teachers and classmates, she planned and dreamed of working at the
Commission on Audit, however, a twist in her life happened when her then
employer invited her to join on their family trip to Macau. Mimi had always
known that her decisions were divinely-guided and The Lord, Christ always has
great plans for His creations. With all that she had been through, she was
willing to go and take every opportunity that comes her way.
When the Spanish family decided to go back to Spain,
Mimi decided to stay and look for ways to practice what she had learned from
her degree. She then, was successfully hired as a Librarian at Sacred Heart
Canossian College. Mimi’s experiences of being exposed to different cultures,
traditions and people gave her advantages in her new working environment. For
over twenty-three years of being an OFW, she had a fair share of a real working
environment; away from her native land, her family and friends and completely
surrounded by different people she had never known. Despite the challenges,
Mimi knows that nights are always coupled with new mornings. She is always
thankful for all the experiences she had. They helped her cope-up, stand still
and focus on her goals. Her open-mindedness and matured personality became her
weapons. She was a model to her co-workers and a source of good manners and
excellent work etiquettes to her younger colleagues. She had proven that though
she was literally the only Filipino in her work place and surrounded by people
with different opinions, cultures and beliefs-she can survive and win their
hearts and respect. She is proud that she lives the genuine Filipino
characteristics, unique and only to Filipinos-God-fearing, talented, friendly,
competitive and down to earth.
Mimi with the abundance of her love has
successfully sent her eleven siblings to school-helping them achieve their
dreams and live a better life. No matter how financially challenging it had
been, Mimi was willing to send her siblings to school-long as they’re willing,
and by God’s grace, eight of her siblings have finished a college degree, two
went to college but opted to do business instead while one has finished a
vocation course. Now, they have their own families, they’re productive and
financially independent. Mimi has also extended a hand to her cousins, nephews
and nieces by sending them to school. She believes that by so doing, she is
multiplying all the blessings that God has given her. Mimi’s helping hand is
not come short to her family circle alone but also to her peers, acquaintances
and friends. She gives financial support to those who need, she lends money to
those who ask, and she refers those who seek jobs to prospective employers. All
she does without asking to be paid or receive anything in return.
Mimi is naturally helping, she helps people of all
kind and it happened when she realized that her given qualities were
instruments to further His blessings in her life. Mimi once again had proven
the divine guidance in her life, when one of the people she helped and got
friends with introduced her to a man-destined to be her husband. Living a
wonderful family life, they are blessed with three children who are brought up
to be God-fearing and family-loving children. Their children, as their parents,
are also actively sharing and helping in the community. They are talented,
academically-inclined and are willing to share.
Mimi is made perfect with love that is not always
visible in the naked eyes. She is continuously growing spiritually as she
actively serves her purpose to her family, friends, congregations and to both
the Filipino and the Chinese communities. Her devotion to God, led her to even
go the extra miles. At home, at the church or at her social congregations; Mimi
works, serves and helps. She is an inspiring mother who enjoys reading stories
to her children to build their characters. She is a friend at work, in the
community and to almost everyone, she does her best to help and extend a help
to people in need. Since ______, Mimi found passion for community work. She is
an active member of FOCOLORE movement, Italian
for Fireplace. It is a group of missionaries from all around the world.
They provide counselling, encouragement and shelter to the needy. A community
of love, who shares, inspires and gives. With this opportunity, Mimi has helped
many faceless individuals who were once lost, helpless and hopeless. She has
travelled to different places, met and made-friends with different people,
inspired them and live the burning desire to continue her missions towards
humanity.
While passionately serving and providing for her
family, Mimi does not forget her Creator above everything she was blessed with.
She is an active member of the Church, she regularly attends church activities
and enjoys being in the company of her brethren-pursuing godly-work and doing
activities to reach out and proclaim Christ’s gospel. With her unlimited sense
of responsibility, Mimi is a mediator in the family-bringing peace and order
among her siblings. She still supports and provides for her sick mother, as she
is her source of strength.
As Mimi lives to please the Lord, she is blessed
immeasurably; she has an awesome family that is faithfully-bonded and in good
shape, her friends and associates are reliable,.;l she has very good
relationships with her colleagues and her financial investments are huge; they
include a home of her own in Macau, Real Estate properties as sources of
extra-incomes and several more where her knowledge, talents and expertise are
very useful. Mimi with all that she has proven and achieved is humble and
happy. As she has been living in Macau, she’s been exposed to Chinese people’s cultures
and has got the best of them; as she sees them successful because of being
hard-working, determined, passionate and futuristic. She is a learner who
observes the world, taking notes of the best and looking for ways to make them
applicable to her own and to her community.
Being a Filipino, she knows that her success comes
from above, brought up by her native society and inspired and enriched by other
cultures she was exposed with. Her life is a source of inspirations to both the
young and the old and to all the people whom she has touched. To all the people
who know her in and out of Macau, the warmth of her personality is easily
remembered.
