Life does not always unfold the way we expect, and sometimes the path meant to break us becomes the very road that defines who we are meant to be. Such is the story of Marietes Golez Corino, whose 26 years in the UAE reveal a life rebuilt through courage, reinvention, and an unwavering drive to serve others.
Finding her footing in a foreign land
Marietes arrived in the UAE in May 1999 with a job far from the profession she once held back home. “Ako po ay dumating dito sa U.A.E. bilang isang household service worker at family driver,” she shared with TGFM. Yet before migrating, she had been a social worker in a local NGO, juggling young motherhood and unfinished studies. Moving abroad was not a dream but a necessity. “Pinili ko po na umalis ng bansa dahil ito lamang ang naging option ko… para suportahan sa pangangailangan ng aking pamilya,” she said.
Her first contract was difficult, but she finished it with determination, refusing to tarnish her record. She recalls longing for a different kind of work—one that allowed her to step outside the confines of a household job. That dream kept her focused. “Kahit gaano kahirap ang pinagdaanan ko, sinikap ko na matapos ang aking kontrata,” she said.
Rising from hardship through perseverance
After completing her contract, Marietes finally found a chance to work in a recruitment agency as a receptionist. It was a turning point. She slowly learned every aspect of the business until she became a partner in the company. The climb was far from easy, but she embraced every struggle. “Hindi rin madali ang aking pinagdaanan sa kompanya, pero nang lumaan na, unti-unti ring bumalik ang aking sitwasyon,” she recalled.
By then, her mission had become clearer. The work was no longer about income—it was about helping others find opportunities. “Hindi na ako nagtatrabaho para lang kumita, kundi naging advocacy ko na na makatulong,” she said.
The 2009 recession tested her once again, causing their business to collapse. Still, she adapted, shifting focus to domestic worker recruitment, the sector she continues to serve today.
Living her purpose and passing it forward
Now working as a Welfare Desk Officer at Nabd Emirates Labour Assistance L.L.C., Marietes believes she has found the meaning of her journey. “Sa ngayon, masasabi ko na nahanap ko na ang purpose ng aking buhay,” she said. Her legacy, she hopes, lies in guiding and protecting domestic workers—and inspiring others to continue the chain of kindness. “Pass it on… don’t break the chain… be kind to one another.”
To fellow OFWs, her message is simple yet powerful: pray, trust yourself, save for the future, and keep fighting. “Ikaw lang ang mag-iisang lakang sa mga pagsubok at tagumpay sa buhay mo bilang isang OFW. Laban lang.”
