Hope Beneath the Quest of Her Dreams

Words by Mpdn. Christ John T. Ontar, Jesseia B. Flores and Katherine C. Bordador

“A story of a woman who is strong, determined, and has dreams to ll the world.” How far will those seeming footprints, which have traveled totally through the time and spaces of existence, travel along the expanded and distant four corners of the world? Small actions gradually grow into larger ones as you move closer to realizing your lifelong goal. Therefore, as the journey continues, one should continue to persevere, be determined, and be empowered without giving up as an option, regardless of how many or how harsh the trials of life may be. It may appear to be so far away, and one may grow weary and restless after so many struggle; however, every sacrice is worthwhile as long as you are genuinely happy in your chosen path, continue to believe in yourself, and your abilities, passion in everything you do for yourself and family, and being good to those people around you—most notably, sailing onwards those dreams that were rmly anchored in the depths of yore. No one can stop someone who is dreaming and believing. Distance will not matter to those who want to soar higher. To sustain and provide for her family, 32-year-old Mdpwn. Myrene Castor Jandic bravely crossed borders and worked as a domestic helper in Hong Kong while being an aspiring cruiser here at John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Molo where she is now a 4th-year the Bachelor of Science Management (BSCSM). “I rst came to Hong Kong to work because I have a son and family to support back in the Philippines. However, when I learned about online learning at my school, during the pandemic, I grabbed the chance to advance my education. I saved up my own money to pay my school expenses and at the same time, my remittances to my family. I need to make some sacrices, such as spending some of my days off studying instead of going out with my friends and nishing my school laboratories and activities late at night to complete my school requirements, even though I may be physically and mentally exhausted already,” Mdpwn. Jandic expressed. The teenage Myrene rst began to fantasize about working in the cruise line sector in 2007. Her adventure began in the center of this institution, where she put in a ton of effort while striving toward her objective. Myrene, though, was persuaded to abandon her objective by an unexpected turn of faith. She decided to temporarily leave school in 2009 because she was pregnant. But like any other dreamer, she did not let her dream linger during her formative years; instead, she carried it with her at all times. “My life is a mixture of moments, some are happy and others are not, but regardless, these experiences have made me the person that I am today, and I don’t regret anything that has happened. I consider myself a strong and unwavering person. I have dreams to ll the world, and I am willing to make the necessary efforts to attain those dreams. I am the type of person who is always positive, even though I encounter many problems in life; still, I conquer them, as the saying goes, “Filipinos are resilient,” and that’s what I always remind myself,” she added. Working as a domestic helper for six years felt like a ash in the pan, Myrene realized how far away her heart belongs—the distance and the longing, knocking her system out, but it makes her braver and more motivated to accept the reality of being separated from her son and family, as well as the hardship and sadness she must bear alone. Vividly picturing her family with a “smile of living a better life”, made her heart utter and she never felt an ounce of regret choosing that path. Her longing for her family leads her to the calling of the Hands of Hope. This is a nonprot organization based in Hong Kong that aims to aid the children of the Philippines suffering from health problems, where she poured out all her longing for the family she missed most. Through that organization, she helped her fellow Kababayans with various fundraising and fun activities that involve OFWs in Hong Kong. “I love what I am pursuing right now, especially for a working student like me, who works as a DH. Even though I have a hectic schedule, it doesn’t slip my mind that I have other priorities, like the organizations I am part of. Joining organizations makes me more productive because of what I learned during our meetings, gettogethers, and even fundraising events. Also, by joining various organizations, I gained a lot of knowledge and even met new friends,” she stated. Despite all of the trials and tribulations that had overtaken her well-being, giving up never enters her mind. Mdpwn. Jandic stays courageous and hopeful for the new opportunities of today, as she continues to traverse the quest of her aspirations in life. She is a living testimony of a woman whose chances were once taken away by fate in the past but never surrendered, and a woman who is willing to cross borders to pursue her dreams for herself and her family.