Maid in HK becomes magnate in hometown

Life begins at 40, as the adage goes. For Agnes Leticia Marrero, it began at 45.

Marrero left the Philippines at an age usually associated with approaching retirement, and worked as a domestic helper in Hong Kong for 15 years.

For a woman at the prime of her life to leave her family behind and pursue work overseas is unusual, but Marrero was determined to help finance her four teenage children’s education.

Soon enough, the risk Marrero took bore fruit as the now 69-year-old can finally savor the hard-earned benefits of her work abroad.

From the drudgery of house-cleaning and scrubbing bathroom floors, Manang Letty, as Marrero is fondly called, now manages a throng of family businesses based in Mt. Province: a three-pool garden resort, a dry-goods store and a banana plantation.

"When people find out that me and my husband supervise these enterprises, they say it’s indeed awesome," Marrero said. "I tell them, ‘It’s all hard work and perseverance and faith.’"

As Marrero’s life manifests inspiration and triumph, she will be honored as an outstanding Overseas Filipino Entrepreneur (OFE) at the Go Negosyo Para sa mga OFWs at Balikbayans fair, the latest leg of the continuing Go Negosyo campaign spearheaded by Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Jose Concepcion III, slated on Dec. 15-17 at Market! Market! Trade Halls A & B in Taguig. The award will be handed out by Concepcion and President Arroyo.

Marrero’s success is not limited to her enterprises. She was able to send all her children to decent schools, consequently producing professionals in the family. Her first son, an accountant, is a member of the Association of Provincial Executives while the second, who has a BS Mechanical Engineering degree, is a lessor of a computer shop and a sing-along and billiards hall. Marrero’s third child, who worked as a dental assistant in Saudi for five years, is the manager of a dental clinic in La Union as the family’s youngest finished two collegiate courses: BS Animal Technology and BS Education, thus his employment as the Executive Dean of Mt. Province State Polytechnic University. Aside from Marrero’s established businesses, her family also enjoys real estate and chattel properties that were acquired out of her savings. "My present savings allow us better opportunities," she said. Further, it is worth noting that Marrero, when still abroad and even up to the present, engages in community projects and improvement. Before being awarded a certificate of commendation recently by the LGU, she was given recognition for her meritorious support to her community in 1992 and 1997.

Marrero said, "Ever since, it has been our dream to have a family that can contribute to nation and community building. If I were able to make a notable difference in my own family, why not so in the society?"