Women Who Rise: Honoring the Strength of Filipina OFWs

by: Jane Ashley Villa

This month, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and growth of every woman in our community. Every Filipina story is a journey of courage and empowerment—one that deserves to be heard and shared.

Take a moment to reflect on your journey and inspire others through your story. 💜

1.Paano mo ini-empower ang sarili mo para ma-achieve ang long-term goals mo?

I empower myself to achieve my long-term goals by remembering how I started, failures and the resilience I inherited from my parents. Their strength and perseverance have taught me to keep going even when things become difficult.

I also remind myself that, at the end of the day, no one can truly do the work for me but myself. This mindset keeps me accountable and focused on what I need to do to move forward.

To avoid feeling overwhelmed, I break my goals into small, manageable steps. Each small step brings me closer to where I want to be, and every bit of progress motivates me to keep going. By staying consistent, believing in my abilities, and learning from challenges along the way, I continue to empower

 2.Bilang isang OFW Filipina nurse, ano ang pinakamalaking pagbabago sa’yo — hindi lang sa career, kundi sa pagkatao mo? 

As an OFW Filipina nurse, the biggest change in me is realizing that I was strong enough to become an OFW. My journey has not been easy. I experienced bullying, constantly moving from one house to another, losing friends, missing important family occasions, experiencing heartbreak, and coping with the loss of loved ones.

All of these challenges shaped me into the person I am today. They made me stronger, more resilient, and more determined to keep going despite the difficulties.

 3.Paano mo ginagamit ang platform at success mo para makatulong sa kapwa Filipina?

I use my platform and success by sharing knowledge and experiences that may help others. I started a YouTube channel with my husband, Ash, called Ash & Dima. Through this platform, we create podcasts and tutorials where we talk about different topics that can support and inspire people.

Many of our discussions are helpful for women and nurses, especially those who may be going through similar journeys, but our goal is to provide guidance and useful information for anyone who can benefit from the topic we are discussing. In this way, we hope to empower and support other Filipinas and our wider community by sharing what we have learned through our own experiences.

4.Paano nag-level up ang self-confidence mo mula nang maging OFW ka? 

Being the youngest in my family, I used to depend a lot on my older sister and my parents whenever I had problems or difficult decisions to make. They were always there to guide and support me, which made me feel safe but also made me rely on them most of the time.

However, becoming an OFW changed that. Living and working abroad forced me to step out of my comfort zone and learn how to stand on my own. I had to make my own decisions, solve my own problems, and face challenges independently.

Through this experience, my self-confidence grew significantly. I realized that I am capable of handling difficult situations and adapting to new environments. Being an OFW taught me resilience, independence, and the belief that I am stronger than I once thought.

5.“Ano ang ‘breaking point’ mo — at paano mo ito na-turn into breakthrough?  

My breaking point was when I lost my baby last year. It was one of the most painful experiences of my life. There were moments when I blamed myself and questioned everything, wondering if there was something I could have done differently.

However, with time, reflection, and support from the people around me, I slowly began to understand that some things in life are beyond our control. Loss and pain are part of the human experience, and sometimes we have to accept that certain things are simply unavoidable.

I would be honest in saying that I still haven’t fully moved on from that loss. It is something that will always stay with me. But I believe that, in time, healing will come.

I turned that breaking point into a breakthrough by allowing myself to grieve while continuing to move forward. It taught me resilience, deeper compassion for others who are going through similar pain, and a greater appreciation for life. Instead of letting the pain define me, I choose to grow from it and keep going with hope that, in time, things will become lighter.