MyLife MyLife Throughthe Throughthe Lens Lens

I’ve been working abroad for 9 years. I’ve worked in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for 5 years and in Hong Kong for almost 4 years now

Like a colorful picture, my life is just as vivid I was born and raised in a place 2 hours away from town by a motorbike. Can you imagine that?

My parents raised me in a secluded way of life. Well, not totally secluded of course It’s just that as the eldest daughter, I was not allowed to go out and play like other kids. I grew up with strict parents. My father was in politics and my siblings are in the military. But I was not raised to prepared for an arranged marriage with a native guy in exchange of a dowry Ha! Ha! Ha! Don’t get me wrong, my childhood is not that bad. It taught me the value of integrity.

Like a picture that brings back our most memorable moments in life, I can’t forget the time when I received a message from my family in the Philippines. It was in June 2019. As I read the message, it seems like a bomb exploded and hit me in the eye and in my heart. My youngest son is in critical condition at Saint Paul’s Hospital in Iloilo City

Yes! I have two Kungfu warrior sons in the Philippines. They are energetic like a Kungfu Master!!! That’s why I felt lost and heartbroken when I heard the bad news, “Ate Len, Jelo is unconscious What should we do? We were informed that the hospital charges 20,000 Pesos a day.”

My monthly wage then was only 29 to 31 thousand pesos And without hesitation, I bravely replied, “TAKE IT ALL PLEASE TELL THE DOCTOR TO TAKE CARE OF MY SON PLEASE DON’T LEAVE MY SON AND ALWAYS KEEP AN EYE ON HIM,”

I felt like dying. I was confused. I didn’t know where to get that big amount of money My monthly salary is not enough for a day of treatment in the hospital As expected, my money ran out after a few days My family contributed a lot but it is still not enough. My son remained unconscious. I don’t even dare to see his photos I can’t bear to see my baby, my Jelo with two big hoses in his mouth and an air pump

I have no one else to turn to in Hong Kong

Every news from my family felt like thunder in my heart It made me feel crazy that I cried out loud at work

Like a big flash of light whenever I take pictures, I remembered God and I prayed I gave everything to Him I did my best, now the rest was up to Him I completely surrendered my son to God and trust in His miraculous and healing hands

After a several days, my son woke up Jelo’s recovery is still not complete He survived death but I am emotionally and financially broken Although I suffered anxiety and depression, I have no choice I need to work but I continue to fight and pray harder than before Then came self-healing I started attending a workshop that kept my mind away from negative thoughts I enrolled myself in Jalastig Academy to study photography I tried voice overs for SFAC project of Jalastig Academy I met different people who taught me both positive and negative lessons in life I learned to “Trust myself kasi at the end of the day, buhay ko ito eh” I am the master of my fate and the captain of my soul

(HAPPY POSE) CLICK (HAPPY POSE) CLICK

(SMILING POSE) CLICK Now, that is one happy pose Ladies and gentlemen, call me Ms Len A professional photographer A mother A woman. A master of my fate.

Hope you guys learned something from my written speech a woman as a mother is always strong for her children.

Happy International Women’s day to all

This is CLO DJ Len Signing off.