MANILA -- Pokwang, whose real name is Marietta Subong, is a well-loved comedian, actress, and television host. But before making a name in the entertainment industry, Pokwang’s life was quite a roller-coaster ride.
Coming from a family with 12 children, life was difficult, and money was scarce, which was why she bravely decided to step up and work overseas at the young age of 18.
She became an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in the early '90s, where she worked as a choreographer and performer in Japan. That time, life was good, as she recalls enjoying earning good money and sending it to her loved ones, spending her days off in a country as beautiful as Japan, and happily buying pasalubong for her family back home. 
After a decade of working as an OFW, Pokwang has learned her fair share of life lessons, which remain relevant for overseas Filipinos to this day:
Learn how and where to save your hard-earned money
Pokwang used to send money to her family monthly, as supporting them financially was the main reason she decided to work abroad. This also taught her the importance of holding on to part of her earnings as savings. She recalls a time when she needed money as it was a matter of life and death but unfortunately did not have enough at that time.
“I lost my son in 1998 because of a brain tumor. Hindi ako nakauwi noon, nasa Abu Dhabi ako. Hindi ako nakauwi, wala akong pamasahe tapos napakahigpit ng hotel owner kung saan ako nagtatrabaho. Sabi niya, kung hindi ko tatapusin 'yung kontrata, sagot ko ang pamasahe pauwi. Eh wala ngang pera, kinailangan ko pa mag-solicit ng pampagamot ng bata. Yung na-solicit ko napunta na lang sa pampa-libing,” said Pokwang, who is now the face of CIMB Kababayan, the first foray into the overseas Filipino market by digital-only commercial bank, CIMB Bank Philippines.
(I lost my son in 1998 because of a brain tumor. I was in Abu Dhabi and couldn’t go home. I didn’t have the funds for the airfare, and the hotel owner I worked for was very strict. They said that if I didn’t finish my contract, I had to shoulder my flight home. I didn’t have any money at that time and even had to solicit funds for my kid’s medical expenses. The money I solicited eventually ended up being used for his funeral.)
Only use trusted institutions to handle your earnings
Like many OFWs, every centavo counts for Pokwang, which was why she always tried to look for the most cost-efficient method to send money home. She learned the hard way that sending it through informal means has consequences, and the reward isn’t necessarily worth the risk. She tried methods like hiding money inside a box she was sending home and even asking acquaintances to hand carry the money home for her – both of which resulted in theft.
The fees to send money to the Philippines before were so expensive and the process was time-consuming, which was why she was willing to try other, less secure methods at that time. However, she does not recommend these methods and is grateful that OFWs today have better options to send money home without having to risk losing their hard-earned salary.
From challenges abroad to inspiring Filipinos back home
Pokwang remains thankful for her life abroad and believes that it helped shape her into the strong woman she is now. She also truly understands how lonely the life of an OFW can be, having experienced it firsthand. This is why she’s glad that she now has the platform to cheer them up and make them laugh through her comedy sketches or touch their hearts with her relatable dramatic roles.
When asked for a final nugget of wisdom that she would want to share with OFWs all over the world, she said, “Maging wise tayo sa mga pinag-iipunan. Hindi po tayo bumabata at tayo ay humaharap sa kapaguran araw-araw. Maging maingat, mag-ipon at huwag sayangin ang biyaya. Ingatan ang pinagpapaguran.”
(Let’s be wise about the things we are saving up for. We’re not getting any younger, and we face exhaustion every day. Be careful, learn to save, and don’t waste the blessings you receive. Take care of what you’re working tirelessly for.”)
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