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Joy's world
Everyone has its own place under the sun. Destiny seemed to be a force that unconsciously and consciously led us into our own fated horizon. But wherever we may be, an eternal being guides us and reveals reasons to live life with deeper significance that set our heart and soul free to dream. Anna Joy Novilla is one unique soul who seemed close to my heart and her story touched me every time my soft-spoken aunt narrates her struggles in life that were all exceptional and inspiring. Anna Joy or “ Nang Joy” as I often called her has been someone that I've learned to look up to celebrate her birthday every 29 th of December. She's a 29-year-old OFW in Hong Kong who hails from Bo. Obrero , Iloilo City . My childhood has been filled by great memories and laughter together with her other siblings whom I consider my refuge in times of boredom or loneliness. Her parents were Eddie Novilla , a seaman, and Leticia Novilla , a plain housewife yet a dedicated servant of the Seventh Day Adventist church who live her life in frugality and distributing spiritual books for souls who are hungry to know God's message to mankind. Nang Joy finished her elementary and secondary studies at Iloilo Central Seventh Day Adventist Elementary School and West Visayan Academy . During her younger years, Nang Joy has been a relevant person to me who never cease to amaze me with her dedication and radiant personality. A patient soul who never failed to go to church together with her siblings and enjoy the simple blessings in life amidst the countless hardship her family encountered throughout the years. “After my high school graduation, I really wanted to pursue the Nursing course but my NCEE result (now NSAT) didn't qualified me, so I ended up taking secretarial course instead” she quipped with shades of dismay in her eyes. After her graduation in high school life has been so hard for her family especially when her dad nearly lost his job. They need to struggle, have patience and trust everything to God in order to continue her studies and her other siblings while their mother find various means to send them to school. Fortunately, Nang Joy finished her two-year Junior Secretarial course and then she decided to take up BS Accountancy at Central Philippine Adventist College even though life was seemingly uncertain that time. She did gardening work in the school park, office work and later she was assigned as Assistant Librarian. She was well-trusted and dedicated to her work as working student that earned her the respect of her schoolmates and instructors. “I should have blamed my father for our misery but I didn't because my mother was a spiritually strong Christian who trusted the Almighty One with all our misery and kept a deep optimism in her heart,” she said as we scan their family album reminiscing the past. After years of struggles and hardship Nang Joy graduated from her second course in college that led her to work in a prestigious business firm in Metro Manila for a few years. “As a person, I am a dreamer and my philosophy in life which is… go confidently into the world that you're dreaming of and live the life that you're imagining... spoke of my great faith that If I keep moving on I would definitely reach further beyond the horizon of misery,” Nang Joy revealed a sweet smile from her face. She even unveiled her hidden sentiments and sunny outlook in life like her passion for Julia Roberts and her famous film ‘ Notting Hill' or Julie Andrew's ‘Sound of Music'. She also confessed that she has been an avid viewer of soap operas, ‘ pinoy teleseryes ' and ‘Korean Telenovelas ' such as ‘Stairway to Heaven”. The Korean actor Kwon Sang Won of the same Korean soap opera is her favorite actor while Regine Velasquez and the European singing sensation Dido remains to be her most-loved singers of all time. During her leisure time she loves to read various kinds of books, singing and do a thrifty shopping. “For me real love is unconditional, I hope I could find the right man someday with a responsible attitude, good perception in life and integrity who knows how to keep his feet on the ground” she said after we talked about her lovelife and various experiences. So, after few years of working in Manila with her elder sister, Nang Joy decided to go back in Iloilo City to take a vacation and rest from her hectic life. But fate knows how to direct people's destiny even without our notice. One day she was strolling the city when she decided to inquire for an interview about a company that hires Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) to Hong Kong . She passed the interview and there was no turning back, she finally pursued her plan to work abroad to find better job opportunities and earn salary that would help her family.
“I don't view working abroad as running away from the deplorable condition of our country, it's just that our government doesn't end its unending scheme for corruption and failed to address the welfare of the people. Thus we are finding means outside the country to prove that we are working hard to show that we Filipinos are survivors in our own humble way and at the same time we learn to look back to our country, to our family who are praying for our safety,” Nang Joy explained with great optimism and positive perception. For her, as long as we keep within our heart and hold on to our values that our work is embedded with honor and pride we will still be respected by other countries. Filipinos are very talented, gifted, dedicated, humble, passionate, God-fearing, and flexible enough to adjust to the cultures of the nation they are working. We should be proud of our roots. Presently, she plans to migrate and work in Canada or America if destiny permits but for now she needs to be contented and have faith. “Right now my wonderful experiences in Hong Kong as a very pleasant place where I could continue to dream of reaching America as a place of milk and honey kept me hopeful and have faith in God,” she said with optimism while showing me her wonderful pictures taken in Hong Kong . “Ten years from now, I wanted to have my own family, have a successful career and give comfort to my parents whom I owe my life,” she added. “I really want to emulate the noble deeds of the late Princess Diana who has the heart for the less fortunate if fate will help me succeed in life,” Nang Joy revealed an optimistic plan. But right now she is having her few one month vacation from her work in Hong Kong . She missed our Ilonggo delicacies, our primetime teleseryes , the laughter of her mom and my unending wackiness every time we see each other. Well, what can I say now? My dear cousin has indeed proved and continues to search life's unfathomed meaning. So I never hesitated to write this inspiring article for her and others like her who never falters amidst the countless obstacles of destiny. (Dream big! email the writer at rslphoenix@yahoo.com) |
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