Imagine dedicating five years of your life overseas, only to be locked in a dark room for 13 days by your own agency, surviving on nothing but plain rice and potatoes.

For many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), returning to the Philippines is a triumphant moment marked by overflowing balikbayan boxes and tearful family reunions. But for 54-year-old Mina Llaguno Lorente, coming home was not a celebration—it was a desperate escape from exploitation.

Like millions of Filipinos, Mina’s journey began with her mother’s selfless ambition. “Kaya po ako nag-abroad kasi gusto kong mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang aking anak. Gusto ko po siyang makatapos sa pag-aaral,” Mina said.

For five years, she served her employer faithfully. After taking a well-deserved one-month vacation in the Philippines, she returned to Saudi Arabia ready to fulfill her renewed contract. However, upon her arrival, she was met with shocking news as her employer informed her she would only be working for him for five more days before being handed over to someone else.

“Sabi po sa akin ng employer ko na lalaki, ‘Mina, 5 days ka lang at kukunin ka na ng bago mong employer.’ Ang sabi ko, ‘Sir, bakit niyo ako ibebenta? Kayo yung employer ko. Ni-renew ‘yung kontrata ko tapos ibebenta niyo ako? Bawal po ‘yan’,” Mina shared.

Despite her protests, she was transferred. After just one month with the new employer, they attempted to pass her on yet again—this time to the employer’s bachelor brother.

Fearing for her personal safety and security, Mina courageously refused and demanded to be returned to her agency. But her sanctuary turned out to be a prison.

“Ang agency ko kinulong pa ako ng 13 days bago ako makauwi. Ang kinakain ko [na lang] po ma’am ay kanin, tapos ang ulam lang po ay patatas na wala pong kahit anong halo. [Umaalis po sila at] dumadating po sila ng gabi na tsaka lang bubuksan ‘yung pinto para lang po kami makakain. Ang hirap po, ma’am, nakakalungkot po,” Mina emotionally shared.

When Mina finally landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on November 26, 2025, she was empty-handed. More than half a decade of hard work had yielded no savings, leaving her without even the transport fare to return to her province.

It was here that the government’s safety net caught her. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) immediately stepped in, providing her with transportation fare and scheduling her for social benefits assistance.

This initial support was just the beginning of a larger, whole-of-government approach under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure that repatriated OFWs due to crises or abuses are not left to fend for themselves.

On March 16, 2026, Mina visited the OWWA NCR office to claim her benefits. It was a day that would change her life’s trajectory.

“Bale nitong March 16 pumunta po ako ng OWWA NCR dahil releasing na po yung aking OWWA social benefits assistance. Noong time na po na ‘yun parang hinihila po ‘yung paa ko papuntang DMW [Department of Migrant Workers] office po. Nakita ko po ‘yung DSWD doon. Lumapit po ako sa kanila,” Mina said.

Approaching the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) desk, Mina asked a social worker if she could apply for a livelihood program. Without hesitation, the DSWD’s “Angels in Red Vests” assisted her and conducted an immediate interview.

“Noong time na po na ‘yun, tinawagan po ako ni Ma’am Jackielyn. In-interview po ako. Then 2 days ang sabi po nila sa akin: ‘Mina approved na yung [assistance] mo. Kukunin mo na assistance mo sa DSWD. Makakapag-umpisa ka na ng business na pangkabuhayan mo’,” Mina said.

Armed with a new sense of purpose, Mina withdrew her seed capital from the Landbank of the Philippines. A dedicated social worker even accompanied her to purchase her business supplies, ensuring she had everything she needed—from a cooking set to batches of siomai and fishballs—to launch her enterprise.

“Malaking bagay na po na tulong ito sa akin. Kahit papaano po may kinikita na po ako every day,” Mina said.

Today, Mina is now a proud business owner in Barangay Concepcion Uno, Marikina City, a transformation made possible by the rapid, targeted intervention of the Philippine government.

Through the DSWD, repatriated workers are given a genuine second chance, a livelihood opportunity to help them recover from the trauma and threat of human trafficking they experienced.

Today, Mina is determined to grow her food stall business so she can stay in the Philippines, watch her children grow, and never have to work in a foreign land again.

“Maraming salamat po kay President Ferdinand Marcos at kay Secretary Rex Gatchalian na nagbigay po ng pangkabuhayan. Maraming-maraming salamat po,” Mina said.

The DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) is a Philippine government capability-building program designed to provide micro-enterprise development and employment facilitation to poor, vulnerable, and marginalized households.

By offering seed capital, targeted skills training, and ongoing technical assistance, the SLP empowers beneficiaries like Mina to establish sustainable, resilient income sources, allowing them to rebuild their lives and thrive within their own communities. # (KB)