By Leonora Lo-oy
DAISY Budca-eng from Besao, Mountain Province, had been looking after Marie, her Portuguese employer, for over 11 years when the latter passed away and totally changed her life forever with the inheritance Marie left for her.
In her recent interview with Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, Daisy, who had her own family at 16, narrated that she used to sell salt to provide for her family’s needs.
However, the P100 – P300 income every day wasn’t enough and so she thought of going abroad, just like her neighbors who were in Hong Kong.
Unfortunately, Daisy had a hard time with her first employer in Hong Kong since she was only getting two to three hours of sleep in a day. But what devastated her more was when she learned that her kids were seen loitering in the streets.
“’Yung mga anak ko na nasa kalsada daw na pakalat-kalat, ‘yung isa daw ‘yung nagkalambitin sa jeep. Pumasok ako sa ilalim ng lamesa, dun ako umiyak,” she recalled.
Daisy left her first employer and transferred to another. It was then that she met her elderly employer, Marie, who treated her like family. It was why even if her income back then was only P2,700 a month, she stayed on with Marie.
With the strong bond formed between the two, Marie flew with Daisy when she went home to the Philippines, as the old woman didn’t want to stay at a home for the aged in Hong Kong.
“Namamasyal kami doon sa Manaoag, lahat ng mga catholic na simbahan,” she said.
However, Marie passed away while in the Philippines in 2002. Her remains were brought back home to Hong Kong by relatives.
Daisy’s life changed forever
One day, after the passing of her employer, Daisy received a letter.
She did not expect its content and asked herself if it was true.
“Totoo ba ito?” she recalled asking herself because Marie, in her last will and testament, gave Daisy an apartment worth P25 million and stocks in some companies.
This changed Daisy’s life forever. From being a salt vendor to a domestic helper, she became a businesswoman and a millionaire.
At present, Daisy, who invested well the inheritance left to her by Marie, has properties such as a five-storey building where her penthouse is located. Moreover, a part of the building was also made as transient accommodations, commercial establishments, a place for events, and a gym.
Apart from this, she also has properties in some other places.
‘Sobrang mahal ko siya’- Daisy to Marie
To honor her late employer, Daisy built a memorial of Marie inside her penthouse. “Sobrang mahal ko siya,” she said.
Daisy, who turned emotional, vowed to do her best to be that person Marie wanted her to be. “As you told me before, that ‘if they bully you one time, shame on you the second time’. I am very sure that you are so happy looking at your legacy.”
Meanwhile, Daisy advised Overseas Filipino Workers that patience and hard work are the key to success and that whatever job they have abroad, they have to do it right.
“Sa mga OFW, naghirap man kayo ngayon, patience and hard work are the key to success. The overall denominator ng ito ay ‘yung honesty. Kung anumang trabaho meron ka diyan, gawin mo na ng tama,” she said. – Guru Press
