Burning Passion & Courage are the recipe for Success.
It was the summer of 2024 when Lisa Mae Abatayo heard about Anchor International Manpower Services Inc. With an encouragement from her acquaintance she decided to try to apply and with luck, Lisa is qualified for the position of Domestic Helper bound to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Despite hearing the hardships of a domestic helper is, our feisty dreamer still pushed through and continue her application. When she first arrived in the office to finalized her application, her cheerfulness and confidence is the first thing the staffs noticed.
Lisa has all the good qualities for an applicant back then. Confidence, courage, positivity, readiness and heart are the traits that she brought with her from home. Only her short hair and a bit of boyish character, made the supervisor a bit worried for her. The conservative Muslim country might reject her, but Lisa did not give up. If there might be a problem with her appearance, she is willing to grow her hair long and put on make-up to show her willingness for the job right in front of her. This eagerness for the position is the one that won the CEO’s trust and faith that this girl can rage through the storm of being an OFW.
As soon as she was fit-to-work, Lisa was chosen by an employer. Even though she is first timer she is picked rather quickly, her lively and friendly picture (the photo on the left) might be the reason her employer liked her. Now that she has an employer, Lisa’s schedule suddenly became packed. TESDA, OWWA, PDOS and Biometrics were carefully planned for her to take.
Before the rainy season starts in the Philippines, Lisa was booked to fly on June 16 2024 to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As the deployment date closes in, she frequently visits the church to pray for safety and good fortune. Praying that this journey of hers in another country will be the start for a better life for her and her family.
Just as the summer season bidding farewell in the Philippines this 2026. The office of Anchor International Manpower Service Inc. is once again greeted by Lisa’s cheerfulness. The staffs were shocked to see her again. The first thing they asked was, “Has it been two years already?” “You finished your contract already?” Lisa happily smiled and nodded. “Yes ma’am!” she confidently answered.
The same old Lisa who went to the office two years ago, is here again just to inform us that she made it. All the hardships and happy moments in Saudi Arabia, she shared it to the whole office. She is still as feisty as she was before, her energy radiates throughout the whole office. Her hair, once again cut short from the hips length hair that she grows while she was in Saudi. (the photo on the right) When asked why she cut it short as soon as arrived, she giggled and said, “It’s heavy (the hair) and also hot (to have a long hair).” According to her , the short hair is always her style and more comfortable with.
Lisa shared a lot of stories about her experience as a domestic helper. Apparently, her employer is very strict but they get along most of times. She is also glad that her employer is very caring and always makes sure that if she is not feeling well they always bring her to the hospital to make sure she in top shape. She even joked that she might have wings already from eating mostly chicken back there, and that she once ate a camel and a goat during one of the party in her employer’s home.
When the staff asked her did how did she cope up with homesickness, she answered while laughing “Tiktok ma’am.” Browsing on Tiktok is the one that keeps entertaining her during her free time. Also, keeping in touch with her family and seeing that her hard work is becoming into something is the reason she made through her contract. She said whenever the homesickness strikes her, she focuses more on her work than wallowing in loneliness. She always keeps thinking that two years will be done before you even know it.
When asked if she is glad that she took the opportunity to be a domestic helper in Saudi back then, “Of course!” she said without a doubt in her eyes. That decision back then was one of the best decision she ever made, she says. According to her, that this experience is the proof her determination and that she can be more than what other people thinks of her.
She also shared that checked one her dreams in her list, that is to have a bank account with enough money that if there is an emergency in her family they will not have a hard time looking for one.
Now that she is back in the Philippines, she said she will have a rest first and next time she will take another journey and opportunity in another country.
I went back here in the office because I promise you guys (the staffs) that I will buy you pancit when I’m already for deployment. And because I didn’t have money back then you guys just said, its fine. Now I will buy you pancit for my promise to you back then. This is thanks for the opportunity that Anchor gave me.”
With that Lisa bid the office, now with more confidence and more ready to face any storm in her life. The Anchor hopes to see you again with more stories from your endeavors. Take care Lisa!
