Before she wore a nurse’s uniform in Austria, Evalyn Hernandez-Manalo served quietly in a small hospital in Oriental Mindoro—working long hours without pay, unsure if her dream of a better life would ever come true.
“Kung hindi kami dumaan sa hirap, baka hindi ko naisipang mag-abroad,” she recalled. “Dahil sa mga pagsubok, naging mas determinado akong mag-aral at magsikap.”
Evalyn began her nursing journey as a ward nurse before moving to the ICU and ER, guided by her mentor, Dr. Mario Agosto Lorman Goco. “Siya ang nagturo ng lahat, hindi lang sa trabaho, kundi pati sa pagmamahal sa propesyon,” she said, fighting back tears.
When she finally decided to work abroad, Evalyn had no savings or powerful connections—only faith. She taught herself German through YouTube lessons, often studying after exhausting shifts. “Kahit gaano ka mag-aral, kung wala kang pananampalataya, kulang pa rin,” she said.
Her determination paid off through the Department of Migrant Workers’ (DMW) Government-to-Government (G2G) Hiring Program, which allowed her to migrate to Austria without paying any fees. “Nakaalis ako ng bansa na wala akong ginastos,” Evalyn said proudly. “Hindi lang ito programa. Ito ay pag-asa.”
Now a registered nurse in Austria, she finds her work environment far more manageable than in the Philippines. “Sa totoo lang, hindi ko masasabi na mahirap,” she explained. “Kasi naranasan ko na ang pinakamahirap dito sa Pilipinas. Kaya pagdating sa Austria, mas magaan na ang pakiramdam. Dito sa atin, minsan isang nurse sa 40 pasyente; doon, isa sa 26 lang. Malaking kaibahan.”
On October 27, 2025, Evalyn was honored by the DMW during its flag ceremony in Mandaluyong for her inspiring journey and commitment to service. “Ngayon ko lang naramdaman na may tunay na buhay at pag-asa tayong babalikan sa ating bayan,” she said.
