A mother will do anything for her children – this is a proven fact. That’s why even though the separation caused by working overseas is painful, she must endure and sacrifice for the sake of her family. It’s not easy for the children as well, that’s why MoneyGram International went an extra mile and created the MoneyGram Idol Award.
One of MoneyGram Idol Awardees is Johmary Martinez, whose mother embodies the sacrifices of every OFW who has left their children behind in their motherland in order to prepare a better future for them.
A mother’s love
In the Philippines, there are many families whose parents live apart from their children. These parents go abroad to seek their fortune so they can send enough money home to meet their family’s daily needs and put children through school. In the case of Johmary Martinez’ family, it is her mother, Mary Jane, who found work as a housekeeper in Malaysia.
Although Mary Jane would say that her employers were kind and she could come home at least once a year, she missed her family fiercely. Mary Jane would send her remittances without fail, always calling and reminding Johmary to take care of her siblings. Through her support, Johmary was able to finish her schooling and graduate with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management.
In a home shared by her father and her siblings, Johmary devotedly raises their two children, Shazrick John and Sharine Janeah, and takes care of her younger brothers and sisters, as her mother requests. With such a large household, resources can be a little stretched. Her youngest sister is only nine and goes to school in the village. Her husband is employed as a construction worker in Manila, while her father works in the fields around their hometown in Cagayan Valley.
Love on your cellphone
For years, Mary Jane’s remittances were sent through the regular ways, and until the family discovered MoneyGram, they have never been completely satisfied. “Moneygram has helped our family a lot because it is fast and has no extra charges,” says Johmary. That’s important – when every peso counts, you want to cut out as many unnecessary expenses as possible.
It has been a while, and the family has used the service consistently, valuing the benefits that only the online app can give. “Simula nang nagamit namin ang MoneyGram, yun na po ang pinagkatiwalaan namin for six years. (Since we began using MoneyGram, we’ve trusted it for six years)”
Consistency, love, and loyalty, all in one place.
About MoneyGram International, Inc.
MoneyGram is a global provider of innovative money transfer and payment services and is recognized worldwide as a financial connection to friends and family. Whether online or through a mobile device, at a kiosk or in a local store, we connect consumers any way that is convenient for them. We also provide bill payment services, issue money orders and process official checks in select markets. In 2017 MoneyGram received the Technology Innovation Award in ‘Best Governance Risk and Compliance Project’ category from The Asian Banker. More information about MoneyGram International, Inc. is available at moneygram.com