Turning a Father’s Dream for Children's Good Education and Bright Future Into a Reality

JC Enriquez (center) with his family, (from left to right) Jovan Enriquez (brother), Crisaldo Enriquez (father),

Mareng Vicente (grandmother), Josephine Pronebo (aunt)

There are more than two million Filipinos working abroad for various reasons: lack of jobs in the homefront, mismatch and in pursue of bigger pay and greater opportunities in foreign land. The children of these OFWs had gotten used to having absentee parents who miss out milestones and special occasions -- from intimate moments like a baby’s first steps, first words, or first day in school to important events like birthdays and graduations.

The separation is painful for both children and parents, but it’s worth the sacrifice as the parents look ahead to the promise of a secure future.

John Czarleen “JC” Enriquez knows of these aches and pains twice over. He was in Grade 1 when his father and mother left the country to work abroad as electrical engineer and as domestic worker respectively. “My parents asked my lolo and lola, and other relatives to look after me and my two younger siblings,” JC recalled. Still, being the eldest, he taught himself to be independent out of necessity.

He said his parents would go home every two or three years, missing out on some important milestones in their lives. But JC still felt that he was loved. “Despite the distance and the difference in time zones, we somehow made it work through constant communication and lots of patience and understanding,” he shared.

JC graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 2013

Now 28 and an accomplished electrical engineer himself, JC is a father to one- year-old Margaux. He would oftentimes look back with love and appreciation for his parents Crisaldo and Lynn. “Fatherhood has made me appreciate all the sacrifices my parents had to endure to give us a more comfortable life. Now that I’m the head of the family, I learned that necessary sacrifices are in order to provide a better life for my little girl,” he said.

JC was a beneficiary of a Philam Life education policy, which helped him achieve a degree in Electrical Engineering at the Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP). For him, it was his parents’ wisest decision – saving up for education for him and his siblings through insurance. And the best part of it he said he doesn’t need to go abroad to work like her parents did and be a full-time husband and dad to his family.

As a father himself, JC will pass on his precious daughter Margaux the two greatest gifts that his parents worked so hard for: unconditional love and a good education.

JC with his wife Rose and baby Margaux

“Like my parents, I will give Margaux every ounce of love and financial support that I can provide,” he said. “Life is unpredictable, and as a parent I want to give her that certainty to have a better future through good education. I followed my father’s advice and got an education policy for my daughter’s college education.” Enriquez concluded.

Schools and universities increase their tuition fees almost every year, so it is best to ensure the child’s education early.  It is good to get a plan with guaranteed education benefits and has potential growth to cope with annual tuition fee hikes.  Like JC, who is just starting a family, it is important to find a stable and trustworthy insurance partner with a good track record of keeping its promises.

Philam Life has released over P10 billion in education benefits over the past decade. Last May 2016, around 50,000 scholars nationwide received their education funds in time for the first semester of school year 2016-2017. This October, Philam Life is set to release another 51,000 checks to its education policyholders.  This is a testament to the company’s ability to fulfill its promise and help parents give their children a good education year after year.

For more information on Philam Life's education policies, please visit: http://www.philamlife.com/en/our-products/education/future-scholar.html