Merly Oboso (above, center) worked with a family in Bacolod for 29 years. The children she cared for, Sam (left) and Philip (right), are now adults. Sam, 24, is a Kumon assistant teacher for preschool and early elementary students while Philip, 27, is a medical doctor. After Yaya Merly saw him receive his diploma and her senior citizen aches and pains began to set in, she knew it was time to retire and go back to her home province.
Her retirement fund was computed and Yaya Merly later received the first tranche of her pension, a generous five-digit amount. Did she run off to buy the objects of her dreams?
No, she didn’t. Yaya Merly handed over the full amount (with note even a peso deducted for a celebratory gallon of ice cream) to NVC’s Mingo for Marawi Drive.
“I love my work and found fulfillment. Sharing my blessings is my way of thanking the Lord for His love,” she shares. “Sharing starts with caring hearts. I saw it from my parents since I was a little girl, sharing whatever little they have to our neighbours who like us are poor but loving.”
She goes on to reminisce about her youth and how this molded her: “Our parents reprimanded us for our bad habits, most of all at night, when we the children played and our parents talked by themselves but had their eyes upon us. I liked most of all the storytelling time by the lolas.”
Yaya Merly has become a true inspiration, especially on social media! Her story has reached as far as Africa, where a Facebook user commented:
Do not know YAYA MERLY BUT I AM SO MOVED BY the HUMAN BEING SHE IS! MAY GOD REWARD HER LABOUR OF LOVE AND SACRIFICE AND GIVE HER REST ON ALL SIDES! What an awesome inspirational story! There are GOOD PEOPLE LEFT! Take a bow YAYA MERLY!!!
❤
?
?
?much love from AFRICA
