The photo and story of an old woman pushing a food cart continues to make the rounds on social media as it pulls at the heartstrings of netizens.
The woman in the photo was named Nanay Leticia Ferrer, who, as per posts, was a former domestic helper in Hong Kong for many many years so she could support her five children in the Philippines; being a solo parent.
“Siya si Nanay Leticia Ferrer, dating DH sa Hongkong. Sinakripisyo ang mahabang panahon na di kapiling 5 anak mabigyan lang ng magandang buhay, mapag-aral at ng di danasin ang hirap na dinanas niya.
Sa isip nya okay lang magtiis para sa mga anak tutal kapag nakatapos sila sa pag-aaral, sila naman mag-aalaga sa kanya,” the post goes.
Years passed. The children of this OFW mother had purportedly graduated, were able to find jobs and lived comfortably with their respective families.
“Matapos makapag-aral ng 5 niyang anak, nakapagtrabaho at namuhay ng sapat. Subalit nagkaroon ng kani-kanilang pamilya.”
However, as the post reveals, Nay Leticia lives alone at a relocation area in Fairview and fends for herself by pushing a rolling store to earn a living. The pushcart was, according to the post, from her children; custom-made for their mother.
“Si Nanay Leticia, pinagawan ng anak ng isang rolling-store para matugunan ang pang araw-araw niyang pangangailangan. Namumuhay mag-isa si Nanay Leticia sa isang relocation area sa Fairview.”
This is a story that tugs at the heart; as who would want to see our parents laboring under such circumstances — and living alone, not to mention that she was ‘demoted’ to a relocation area when she has five kids?
Netizens on different FB pages who shared the post reacted indignantly to the story of this mother who continues to struggle to make a living for herself despite her age. To think that she was once an overseas worker for many years.
A Timeless Reminder
So far, no update could be found on Nanay Leticia, or whether or not the story is true or fabricated to serve as a ‘subtle’ reminder that we should all think of our old age; our retirement plans. As someone said, “I think this post was done to promote seminars for financial literacy.” Some even reckoned the photo was taken from another countrry like Malaysia or Indonesia.
Whichever is true, the story could serve as a timeless reminder to many of us.
Sadly, there are OFWs who sacrificed and worked for decades abroad and yet were unable to set aside a portion of their income for their future retirement. Also, not every parent is blessed with loving kids and vice versa.
OFW or not, we do not want to be relegated from the role of ‘beloved financer’ to a ‘useless old parent’ whom nobody wants to look after.
For parents and parents-to-be, be guided by teachings that promote good values. The love you give is the love that will come back to you.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. ” (Prov. 22:6.)
