MANILA, Philippines – Before Rolando Paule became a superintendent for a major engineering and construction company in Saudi Arabia, he was helping his family even at a young age.

“Lumaki po siya na kailangan pong tumulong sa bukiran ng family and relatives nila para may pandagdag baon daw po siya sa pagpasok po,” recalled Rolando’s second son Jayb. 

(He grew up with the need to help the family in the fields so he will have his school allowance.)

Jayb, the third child of Rolando and wife Alma, wanted to share the story of his father, who worked part-time as a security guard at the Supreme Court (SC) to finish his civil engineering degree at the University of the East-Caloocan. 

Rolando told Rappler that his father got sick sometime on his second year, which made it difficult for his parents to support the schooling of their 7 children. 

“I wanted to pursue ‘yung pag-aaral ko so nag-apply ako sa Supreme Court (I wanted to pursue my studies so I applied at the Supreme Court),” said Rolando, who worked as a security guard in 1987 until he took the civil engineering licensure examination 3 years later.

“Napagbigyan din ako ng boss ko na mag-aral [habang nagtatrabaho] kaya in-assign ako sa pang-gabi. At tuluy-tuloy ‘yan hanggang sa nag-grad ako,” he said. 

(My boss allowed me to study while working so he assigned me to the night shift. And that went on until graduation.)

Rolando said topping the examination was his goal during his review. He felt the stakes were higher then because the fatal 1990 earthquake in Baguio City was still fresh in the country’s memory.  

“So talagang kailangang magsikap. One month, nag-leave ako from work. Nag-stay ako sa Pampanga to review,” said the man who grew up in Sta Cruz, Lubao in Pampanga.

(So I had to be persistent. I requested for a one-month leave from work. I stayed in Pampanga to review.) 

The hard work paid off. Rolando emerged as the 10th placer among all the test takers.  

He said a friend informed him that the Professional Regulation Commission already released the results, but its office was already closed. So he decided to wait during his night duty for the newspaper delivery at the SC. 

“Pagkakita ko, maganda naman. Nakakatuwa na nakita ko ‘yung resulta (It was good when I saw it. The results made me happy),” said Rolando. 

Flying abroad for the family 

Rolando only brought the same persistence when he began working as an engineer and later on, when he started taking care of his own family. 

He and his wife Alma have 4 children: Reena, Lemuel, Jayb, and Dianne.  

For 10 years, he tried his luck working at a local engineering company in the Philippines. He also put up his own company. But as the years went by, his earnings could not keep up with the demands of having 4 students in the family.

“Lumalaki na ‘yung mga bata. Gusto ko maranasan nila na makapag-aral at matapos, pero ‘di tulad ng experience ko,” said Rolando.

(The children were growing up. I wanted them to finish school without having similar experiences as me.)

So in 2007, Rolando flew to the Middle East, where he first worked as an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Dubai, Libya, then Qatar, before finding his current work as a superintendent at the Saudi Arabia-based ABV Rock Group.

“Pinakamahirap na ‘yung being away from your family. ‘Yun ang pinakamahirap kasi you have to make do on your own,” said Rolando. (READ: What they don’t tell you about the OFW life)

(Being away from your family is the hardest part. You have to make do on your own.) 

Still, his son Jayb said their father comes home for vacation from time to time. They also manage to communicate with him online and through the mobile phone almost every day. 

“Hindi rin madali. May mga times na may point na lumalaki na kailangan mo rin talaga ‘yung magulang sa tabi mo. Pero in a way, pinapaintindi sa ‘min na kahit nahihirapan siya, para sa ‘min ‘yun,” said Jayb.

(It’s not easy. There were times when we were growing up that we needed both parents beside us. But in a way, they made us understand that my dad’s hardships were for our sake.) 

He said he and his siblings learned to become independent as well.

Finding strength

What is Rolando’s advise to his fellow OFWs? (READ: Life as an OFW: The grass is not always greener)

“Unang una, you have to be strong. Have big faith sa Diyos. ‘Wag ka makakalimot kasi ‘yan ‘yung magbibigay ng lakas sa atin,” he said.

(First of all, be strong. Have a big faith in God. Don’t forget that because this is what will give you strength.) 

Rolando said constant communication must be kept with the loved ones back home, especially with their spouse.  

“You have to have a good understanding and communication with your partner, with your wife, kasi kung ‘di kayo magtutulungan sa ganung panahon, mahihirapan kayo na mabigyan ng magandang bukas ang pamilya (because if you don’t help each other, you will have a difficult time giving a good future to your family),” he said.

Rolando said he asked Alma to became a housewife so someone would look after their children. 

Lemuel already finished his information technology degree, while Reena is finishing tourism and Jayb is taking up psychology. The youngest Dianne is studying civil engineering, following her father’s footsteps. 

Rolando said he is grateful that his children were not involved in vices. 

“And very thankful ako sa wife ko kasi nandidiyan talaga siya. Ako ‘yung sa financial [expenses], pero ‘yung presence na nawala, siya ‘yung kailangan magpunan nun,” he said. 

(And I’m thankful of my wife because she’s always there. I’m taking care of the financial expenses, but she has to make up for my lost presence.) 

Rolando said he plans to put up his own construction and engineering company in the Philippines once his youngest finishes college in 3 years.  

He is looking forward to the day when he will finally be back home for good. – Rappler.com