Homesick Birthday

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Capture

I now understand the experience of being an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker), or in my case, an OFT (Overseas Filipino Tambay).

My sister sent me a video of my daughter wishing me a Happy Birthday. It's a mixture of joy and sadness.

I'm filled with happiness seeing how my little girl greeted me. She even performed a dance to that silly Nae Nae song.

However, I'm also overwhelmed with sadness because I miss her immensely. I don't know when I'll have the chance to see her again. Despite my imperfections as a father, I love my daughter deeply. It's challenging to explain how leaving her behind is for her future, but this is a common story among OFWs.

Yesterday, as I blew out the candle on my cake, I made a wish for my birthday. I wished for the opportunity to find a job here, as it would be a step towards providing a better future for my daughter and reuniting with her.

I hope those candles fulfill their purpose.

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