In the search for a better life, many Filipinos have crossed oceans and embraced new beginnings. For Precious Karen Villeza, a 34-year-old Filipina from Bulacan, her story in Finland began with the humble rhythm of a kitchen—cleaning dishes, scrubbing surfaces, and pushing through freezing mornings. Today, that same grit and perseverance have brought her somewhere she never expected to be: appearing in Kyllä Isä Osaa, one of Finland’s well-known movie sequels.
Building a new home away from home
Precious’s move to Finland wasn’t a spontaneous decision. It was a carefully thought-out choice rooted in love for her family and concern for her daughter’s future. “When I had my own family, and we started going abroad for vacations, we realized that we wanted to live in a first world country with better government,” she shared with TGFM. “Don’t get me wrong, I love the Philippines, but it may not be the best country to raise a child right now, especially with all the crimes happening even in the provinces. We want to raise our daughter in a country where she can grow and nurture without getting scared that criminals are on her back.”
Leaving home was bittersweet. Precious knew that once her residence permit was approved, there would be no turning back. “That’s when I knew I was really leaving my home country—the Philippines. Leaving family, friends, familiar places, and comfort zone,” she said. “Yes, pinakamahirap ay leaving my comfort zone.”
As a student in Finland, she quickly realized that studying in a foreign language would not be easy. “It’s another level of difficulty, but it’s a good thing there are applications that help us translate Finnish to English,” she said. “We’re all Pinoys in our class, and studying in Finland is easy because they are not after your grades—they want you to learn at your own phase. What’s difficult is the on-the-job training.”
Despite the challenges, she embraced life abroad wholeheartedly. “It’s tough to get a job here and earn euro,” she admitted. “But the most important lesson I carried with me from being a student to worker is to follow the rules—ALWAYS. Life is not a race, and I’ve always chosen to take the right path, the one where I know na walang tinatapakan na tao.”
A life transformed by hard work
Before finding herself in the spotlight, Precious spent her days working as a dishwasher and kitchen helper at a local cleaning company. These experiences, though far from glamorous, molded her character and deepened her gratitude for life. “It was a very different job from my work experiences in the Philippines, and I would say those jobs taught me to be humble and to love my work,” she reflected. “Getting a job in Finland is difficult, and having one is already a blessing.”
The Filipino work ethic, known for perseverance, shone brightly in her story. “I’d go to work even if the snow was knee-deep with -15° temperature,” she said. “I’d still show up even if I was tired from my on-the-job training and had to wake up early the next day to prep my child for school.”
Her words capture the heart of what it means to be an OFW—doing what needs to be done, no matter the circumstances. “As an OFW, there are really things that you’d do here that you didn’t do in the Philippines. Life will change 360 degrees, but it’s always worthy,” Precious added.
From Finland’s kitchens to its film industry
One fateful day, a classmate sent her a screenshot of a job posting from a Finnish producer who was looking for a Japanese woman for a small role in a movie. “I tried sending my picture to their email, and fortunately, they chose me and my child to appear,” Precious recalled with excitement. “At first, I thought it would be a simple act—like a passerby or someone just standing somewhere. But no, they gave me a role alongside the main characters. Two scenes with a script. But I had to speak Nihonggo.”
Her appearance in Kyllä Isä Osaa was brief, but it left a deep impact on her life. “It’s a long shot, but I am willing to try and try. No matter how many rejections I get, I never give up on getting another role,” she said.
Through this unexpected opportunity, Precious found a new passion—one that allows her to represent Filipino talent in an entirely different space. “Yes, I want to do more roles in film and media. I want to participate in local events and show them what a Filipino talent can do,” she said.
Beyond the glitz of film sets and cameras, she remains grounded. Her dreams are simple yet powerful: “I’m dreaming of becoming a permanent resident here and be a citizen. To travel around Europe and show the world that I can do more than sweeping the floor and washing the dishes.”
Inspiring others to dream beyond borders
Through her Facebook page, Precious shares her journey—not for fame, but to inspire. “To the Filipinos working abroad like me, I want you to keep an open mind and consider a life with your family in the country that you’re in,” she said. “Working abroad is temporary, but living abroad with your family gives you another kind of contentment. You may not consider it now, but think about it for your children’s future.”
Her reflections also echo a sense of realism about life back home. “Having a good life in the Philippines is not enough because you’ll still be surrounded by corrupt government officials who steal our taxes, criminals, pollution, and traffic,” she said. “We love the Philippines, but we can love it from afar.”
