The sweet and mouthwatering aroma of freshly baked pastries now fills Marie Ana Lucero’s home in Baguio City, replacing the hesitation and fear that once defined her days abroad. As she carefully prepares another batch, she sometimes smiles at the thought that the skills she once used while working in Kuwait as a household service worker are now helping her build a future for her family back in the Philippines.

Working abroad for six years, she dreamt of providing a better life for her family. While her husband worked as an accommodation agent, their combined income was not enough to cover the daily needs of their household and the education of their children. Like many Filipino parents, Marie believed that working abroad was the only chance she has at the moment to give her family a chance for a brighter future.

Leaving home was never easy. Every goodbye meant missing birthdays, family celebrations, and the ordinary moments that make a house feel like home. Yet, despite the loneliness, she carried on with the belief that every sacrifice was worth it for her children and their future.

In 2022, Marie decided to return to Kuwait to work for the same employer she had served earlier in 2009 to 2011. She considered herself fortunate. Her employer treated her with kindness and respect, making life abroad a little more bearable despite missing her family.

However, as conflict erupted near the area where she lived, fear slowly replaced the sense of security she once had. Nights became her hardest ghost. In the wee hours of the morning, the sounds of missiles and explosions echoed through the darkness.

“I could hear the bombs. Sometimes the ground would shake,” she recalled.

Every explosion reminded her that life could change in an instant. More than anything else, she longed to go home to embrace her children and simply be with her family again. Understanding the danger of the situation, her employer allowed her to return to the Philippines.

While waiting for her flight back home, Marie found comfort in preparing meals for fellow OFWs. For a few hours each day, the kitchen became a place where worries were replaced by shared conversations and warm meals.

“I just wanted to keep myself busy while waiting to go home,” she said.

Coming home safely was already more than what she hoped for. She never imagined that her return would also mark the beginning of another opportunity. As one of the repatriated Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) identified by the DSWD, Marie was among those welcomed through the agency’s Salubong Program upon her arrival at the airport. During the activity, she received ₱5,000.00 in immediate financial assistance under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), providing much-needed support as she began adjusting to life back home.

Recognizing her determination and potential to rebuild her livelihood, DSWD further referred her to the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), which gave Marie additional livelihood assistance. This enabled her to improve her small business and gradually regain financial stability. More than the financial support, the opportunity restored her confidence and renewed her hope for a better future.

“I am very thankful to the government, especially to DSWD, OWWA, and DMW. The assistance they provided has been a great help to me. I never expected that people I did not even know would treat me with such care and compassion. All I wanted was to come home safely. I was not asking for anything more.” Marie shared.

For someone who once feared losing everything, beyond the financial assistance, it became a reminder that she did not have to start again alone. Drawing from years of experience and her passion for cooking, Marie is now taking the first steps toward establishing her own food business.

Bags of flour, measuring cups, and baking tools occupy one corner of their home. Every batch she prepares reminds her that the skills she once used abroad are now helping build a future for her own family.

“I will treasure the livelihood assistance that DSWD gave me and make the most of it. I am only starting, but this opportunity means so much to me, especially now that I don’t have a job. I tried looking for work but couldn’t find any opportunities. I am grateful that the agency gave me a chance to showcase my skills in cooking and pastry-making. I want to produce high-quality products that are affordable. My dream is to create products that people can proudly support as locally made and, someday, establish my own signature brand,” she said.

As Marie reflected, gone are the days of video calls just to see her children. Nowadays, she now spends time with them, sharing simple meals, listening to their stories after school, and slowly rebuilding the moments they missed while she was working abroad. For her, these ordinary moments have become far more valuable than anything she earned overseas. They remind her that coming home was not the end of her journey, but the beginning of a new chapter with the people she loves most.

The fear that once filled her nights has been replaced by the quiet determination to build a new beginning at home. Instead of hearing the sound of explosions, Marie now spends her days planning recipes, perfecting her products, and dreaming of a future where she can provide for her family without having to leave them behind once again.

Her journey is a reminder that while many OFWs leave the country in search of opportunities, coming home should never mean starting from nothing. With timely assistance, compassion, and the chance to returning home can also be the beginning of a new chapter.

To her fellow OFWs who may still be facing uncertainty abroad, Marie offers words borne from experience:

“Don’t lose hope. No matter how difficult life becomes abroad, there are government agencies that genuinely care and are willing to assist. Have faith in God that you will be able to return home.”

For Marie, home is no longer just the place she longed to return to. It is where she is rebuilding her dreams, one recipe, one opportunity, and one hopeful day at a time,# DSWD FIELD OFFICE CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT Hazel Ann D. Buy-o.