Dear Kabayan,

There comes a time in every OFW’s life when we say “Ayoko ko na! Gusto ko ng mag for good!”

And that’s the day when you decide to change your life for the better, by trying to check for options that will help you go home for good and be with your loved ones while still having a source of income that could support the financial needs of your family.

I know what it’s like. I am Liza Dela Cruz, a former OFW.

After 9 months of seriously pursuing virtual career, I was able to come home for good and still having a stable income, earning dollars from home, while spending more quality time with my family here in the Philippines.

But let me be clear. Virtual career was only a part of the recipe why I successfully come home for good.

There was a more important factor, and I'll share that with you today.

Being away from my family was so difficult. Sometimes, at night, I just cried myself to sleep. I missed them so much. Homesick was killing me.

And as a parent, I was not able to take care of my daughters when they were sick.

I was not able to watch and cheer them during their school performances.

I was not able to celebrate with them during their wins, their birthdays and all those special moments in their lives.

I was not there when my daughters needed a parent.

One night, I received a call. It was from my mother. She said that my 6-year old daughter did something bad in school. I was working abroad for a better future for my kids, but that time, I asked myself, “Can I really provide a better future for my kids by working abroad?”

Tears fell down my eyes because I knew my daughter needs me by her side. I wanted to pack my things and take the first flight to the Philippines.

I left my youngest daughter when she was just 6 months old and I regret my decision of leaving her that young. When I went home for a short 30-day vacation for the first time after more than 2 years of working abroad, my youngest daughter at 3 years old, didn’t know me.  She loved her nanny more than me. I wanted to stay for good.

But settling in the Philippines that time was not possible because I had zero savings. I also had credit card debts. I had no other source of income but my job in Abu Dhabi. I had to go back.

I tried to earn extra income, so I could pay my debts. I joined Multi-Level- Marketing. I met mentors and they told me that MLM could lead me home for good within three years just doing the business.

I mastered the business and conducted mass presentations. I presented any where possible, in cars, flats, fast foods even in parks. I distributed flyers in the malls and streets.

But with all those efforts, I failed. But as they say try and try until you succeed. I joined in several MLM companies exerted the same time and a lot of effort but still I failed.

I decided to quit MLM, but I never quit on my dream that me and my husband would be going home for good and be with our daughters someday.

So, I continued searching opportunities that could help me achieve my dream.

Until one day, I discovered the possibility of working and earning from home.

June 2013 when I pursued my virtual career.

During the weekdays, after my 8am-5pm job in Abu Dhabi, after dinner until midnight and sometimes until 2am, even during the weekends, after chatting with my daughters, I worked on establishing my virtual career.

After 5 months, November 2013, when I got my first virtual client. She’s based in USA and I managed and built her websites.

But since I was in the corporate office in Abu Dhabi, doing administration, coordination, operations, accounting and management tasks,

literally “all-around” I also submitted proposals for managerial projects.

December 2013, when God answered my prayers and I was hired full-time as Virtual Operations/Project Manager by an executive coach based in Netherlands.

After a lot of reflection and prayers, January 2014 when me and my husband decided to submit our resignation letters to our employers in Abu Dhabi.

After a two-month endorsement period, April 2014 when we finally said goodbye to Abu Dhabi and went home for good.

Since then, working virtually from home as Virtual Project Manager for foreign clients has become our bread and butter.

I have been managing executive coaching projects for executive leaders of start-up to Fortune 500 companies.

I still had a decent paying professional career even though I was working from home!

Going home for good and choosing to become a Virtual Project Manager to earn money is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life.

Being with my daughters every day, guiding them to their true success is so priceless!

Another gift I received for deciding to go full time as Virtual Project Manager was an all expenses paid trip to the Netherlands in November 2015. It was such a heart-warming experience to finally meet and hug the person who became God’s instrument, so I can be with my daughters every day with a viable income I receive every month, in advance.

Yes, you read it right, I am being paid a month in advance.