How this Island Girl crossed the seas to build a life once out of reach

Chelley learned early that reaching for a better life meant crossing water — sometimes under dangerous conditions, and often, almost every day.

Growing up on a far-flung island in the municipality of Pilar, going to school every day was never a simple trip.

Some mornings meant crossing the water by motorized boat, hoping the sea would be calm enough to let the boat pass without too much delay. But sometimes, when the subasko is unforgiving, the ride becomes rough. The strong squall would rock the boat, the waves would rise, and the saltwater would splash in, soaking everybody on board. There were days Chelley would arrive at school late and all drenched wet.

Small island, small dreams

Like many who grow up in this kind of hardship, Chelley learned to dream of simpler things in life because “better life” is just very difficult to reach.

As she puts it, “When you grow up focusing on how to help your family and how to finish school despite financial struggles, you don’t really think about big dreams. You just hope for a stable job and a better life someday.”

Back then, having enough food, finishing school, and helping her family already meant a “good life” for her — when there was pork or chicken on the table, or when her parents didn’t have to send them to the sari-sari store to buy rice, sardines, or noodles on utang.

“We didn’t dream of big things before; we just dreamed of a stable life,” she said.

When she finished high school, Chelley pursued a degree in education at a community college three to four hours away from the island. She kept going — she finished her course and passed her board exam.

On paper, it looked like she was getting closer to the life she had worked so hard for. But even then, a better life still felt very far from reach. She worked at a fast food chain. She worked as a private school teacher, earning less than ₱10,000 a month — just enough to get by, but still not enough to build a stable life she wanted for herself and for her family.

That became a turning point for Chelley who spent two decades of her life on the island.

“I knew that if I stayed in the Philippines, life would probably be okay but it would be hard to save and help my family the way I wanted to,” she recalled.

And so, she decided to leave her comfort zone.

And that meant, starting from zero, and almost a thousand miles away from home.

Chelley in Taiwan

From crossing the sea just to get to school, Chelley went even farther — all the way to Taiwan.

“Taiwan was not part of my original plan,” Chelley said. “But that decision changed my life…”

In a foreign country where she did not speak the language, Chelley knew that the reality of working abroad was far from what people often see.

Behind the idea of a “better life” were days of uncertainty, pressure, and the weight of figuring everything out on her own.

“I had to learn the hard way that nothing happens overnight,” she said. “There were times when I felt left behind because my life was moving slower compared to others, but I realized that everyone has their own timeline.”

The life she once imagined still felt distant — only now, the distance came with unfamiliar streets, language barriers, and many lonely days away from home.

“It was not easy,” Chelley said. “But those experiences made me stronger and taught me how to stand on my own.”

Building from Zero

While working long hours as a factor worker, Chelley continued to invest in herself and took up her Master’s degree.

At the same time, she also ventured into content creation, documenting her life in Taiwan, offering tips, and showing the realities of being an Overseas Filipino Worker.

But more than growing her audience from 5K to 79K as of writing, Chelley was rebuilding herself.

After three years of hardwork and perseverance as a factory worker, she found her way back to the path she once trained for four years in college. She explored teaching again as a foreign english teacher in Taiwan.

“Living and working abroad changed me not just professionally,” Chelley said.“I discovered that I am capable of more than I thought.”

And indeed, she was.

She built a huge follower base online. She built a life away from all the comforts of familiarity. She worked long hours and was able to return to the profession she had worked hard for, growing into a more confident and independent woman her family could lean on.

“Through the years, I was able to support my family financially, especially with education, bills, and daily needs,” she said. “But more than financial support, I think I was also able to give them peace of mind, knowing that someone is helping and that our situation is slowly getting better.”

What Once Felt Far

For years, life in the island made Chelley dream small. The distance from her small baranggay to her former high school seemed really far then, making it a drag to take the trip every day, and amidst storms and the strong surges of the sea.

Many years later and she finds herself in Taiwan, speaking their language, teaching their children. And from that distance, she’s able to reach back home.

She supported her siblings in their own dreams. She helped provide for her family. And she gave her parents the peace of mind she had long hoped to give them.

For the other women and dreamers out there, Chelley has this to say:

“Progress does not always happen quickly, and sometimes the path will be different from what you expected. But just because your dream feels far doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Sometimes, the long way is the way that changes your life the most.”