Epifania “Ping” Flores Fuyoc, proud and strong at 56 from Dumalag, Roxas, Capiz, has always been a woman driven by ambition. She epitomizes pride and strength. Her career life has always showed determination, resilience, and a strong sense of responsibility.
Having grown up in Dumalag, Ping was reared in a family-oriented and community-based setting. As the firstborn child of Rafael and Carlileta Fuyoc, she was nurtured by her parents with such values as hard work, modesty, and a taste for creativity.
At the heart of her journey her guiding principles became a directional compass directing her decisions, shaping her interactions and influencing her choices in every situation she faced in.
These core values and founding principles would later take her to a journey overseas to empower her fellow Filipinos, the Overseas Filipino Workers. Likewise, as the eldest child among the two siblings, she naturally assumed the responsibility of supporting her parents.
A passion for dressmaking
She studied at the Miraflor Fashion Academy in Iloilo City in 1992 where she was equipped with the insight and knowledge that synergized about learning to create beautiful garments. She was not only taught the deep intricacies that come with dressmaking, but the sheer art of fashion itself.
When she moved to Manila in 1995, three years after completing her studies, she made the bold decision to search for employment. This was a leap of faith that changed her life. The new capital was teeming with challenges and opportunities alike; Ping was bent on making a difference.
Building a career
Her diligence and hard work opened up a few opportunities in the fashion industry. Thus, she delved deep into the dynamic world of design and production, where experience was gained to chisel her professional identity. Her journey was marked by long hours, relentless perseverance, and a commitment to honing her craft. From there, she moved to Bahrain.
In 2023, marked a new twist in her life, she was invited by Dinah Sta. Ana, the president of Pinay Ikaw Na (PIN), a community-oriented organization aimed at empowering Filipino overseas workers in Bahrain, to volunteer as a trainer in the OWWA program set up for OFWs.
The Philippine Embassy in Manama, through the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), is committed to addressing concerns of Filipino migrant workers, especially those who are due to be repatriated upon expiration of their employment overseas. It also provides them with support, training, and resources.
Since the inception of the OWWA dressmaking training program, a total of five (5) batches have been completed, each consisting of at least 30 students. These took place every Friday. In addition to imparting fundamental sewing techniques, Ping has also served as a mentor to her students.
The curriculum delved into the artistry and craftsmanship that define the fashion of dressmaking the participants learned about fabric selection, pattern making, and the importance of design aesthetics.
In general, dressmaking workshop/training she facilitates and revolve betterment of skills and towards financial independency which prepares returning OFWs with tools they need to have success in the Philippines-starting a business, up-skilling for a new career, or reintegrating into their communities.
Ping’s goal for empowering OFWs was very much anchored on her belief that returning migrants should be given more chances to thrive, not just survive. She stresses the importance of mental health, proper financial management, and building a community-all of which have become an integral part of the OWWA and MWO program.
Changing lives of OFWs
Like many of her compatriots, Ping was not a stranger to disorientation when it came to adjusting to new environments. Having lived abroad for years, she knew the trials OFWs face: adjusting to new environments, navigating cultures totally foreign, and coping with emotional and physical strain from being away from family.
As Pings looks back on her extraordinary journey, she can’t help but feel proud of the work she’s done to uplift others. Her passion for fashion, mixed with the drive to make a difference in the lives of fellow Filipinos, gave her a unique platform with which to serve.
Her personal story speaks of perseverance, flexibility, and a strong power of reinvention toward the unending possibility of those who were willing to take risks in following passions.
Today, Ping is not only a successful fashion professional but also an advocate of Filipino worker empowerment abroad. Truly, her life is a story of how life abroad, years onward with many challenges and changes, can still open chances to continue giving, keep changing lives, and make new opportunities for continued self-growth.
The legacy continues: To inspire and empower
The journey of Epifania Fuyoc, from the streets of Dumalag to the famous fashion capitals, including her role as a volunteer trainer for Overseas Filipino Workers, is one of strength, compassion, and unrelenting commitment.
In a nutshell, helping others found its way into being her calling. More especially, Filipino migrant workers have motivated several people to come up with enough courage to pursue their dreams, whichever part of the globe they find themselves in. With her contributions to MWO, OWWA, and Pinay Ikaw Na, she has emerged to be a significant catalyst for change, having inspired numerous people along the way.
