Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) – A video of a child crying at the airport, as she tries to stop her Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) father from leaving to work abroad–has gone viral on Facebook. And it’s breaking the hearts of many viewers worldwide.
The video, posted by Icar Perdido, shows her daughter, Ayn, clinging to her father as he carried his luggage to the Davao International Airport.
Ayn, 5, was hysterical and refused to let her father go. She did not understand why he had to leave and begged him to stay in the Philippines. In a heart wrenching scene, Ayn told her father he did not love her anymore, and begged him to take pity on her and stay home.
The video now has over 7 million views on Facebook.
In an interview with CNN Philippines, Perdido said that while she expected the video to go viral, she did not think it would get so many views at such a fast rate.
Perdido and her husband have been OFWs for 7 years. Aside from their daughter, Ayn, they also have a 3-year old son. Her two children were raised by her parents until this year, when Perdido decided stay in Manila for good.
While her husband has been going abroad for nearly a decade, saying goodbye is still difficult for her and the children. She said that she let Ayn cry in order to help her come to terms with her emotions.
Perdido said “Inaallow ko lang talaga siya mag-express freely. Para sakin chance nila yun na ma-express yung emotions nila kasi pag i-hihide mo kasi yung sarili mo na aalis ka tapos di nila alam paguwi mo, din di rin nila mafeel.”
[Translation: I just allow her to express it freely. For me it’s a chance for her to express her emotions because if you hide that you are going abroad and they don’t know when you’re going home, they won’t be able to feel.]
She said that Ayn is okay now, and understands why her father has to leave. But this doesn’t make it easier on her when he has to go.
Perdido said that separation may be hard on families, but it is a reality many Filipinos have to face to make a living. As of 2015, over 2.4 million Filipinos are working abroad.
“Di lang naman yan nangyari sa amin kundi sa lahat ng mga parents na bumabalik sa abroad, so nakakalungkot man isipin pero kailagnan eh,” she said.
[Translation: It’s not just us, but all the parents who have to go back abroad. It’s sad to think about it, but it’s necessary.]
Perdido also called on President Duterte to help pave the way for OFWs to stay in the country. She said she hopes for a time when Filipinos no longer have to go to abroad to support their families.
Perdido is praying that President Duterte makes good on his promise that the current generation of OFWs will be the last ones.
“Alam ko na nakikita yan at alam ni Duterte, kaya siya rin mismo naghahanap rin siya nga paraan para tayong mga Pilipino di na rin tayo magtrabaho sa labas ng bansa, kundi dito na para yung mga anak natin di na malulungkot,” she said.
[Translation: I know that Duterte knows and sees this. That’s why he’s looking for a way so that we Filipinos can work here instead of abroad, so that our children won’t be sad.]
