SINGAPORE — It has been almost six years since domestic helper Erma has seen her two kids, Liezel and Liezoo.
Since it was difficult for her employers to give her a month off to go home to the Philippines, they surprised her by bringing her children to Singapore instead.
Facebook user Zach Leong posted details on the beautiful surprise on Dec 6, noting that with Covid-19 restrictions finally lifting, their helper Erma could go back home.
However, their schedules clashed because his wife and son were scheduled to go to Europe until early January.
He admitted that it would be close to “mission impossible” for him to take care of their two other children and handle the house chores.
“I’ve no choice but to tell Erma that I find it hard to let her go back to her kids for one month. And hope that she can postpone it to June 2023,” wrote Mr Leong.
Erma informed her kids, and they agreed on an alternative date. However, Mr Leong saw the “disappointment” in Erma’s eyes. He knew that Christmas and New Year were important holidays for her family.
“God touched my heart, telling me that there must be another alternative for this matter,” he wrote.
Mr Leong then got the idea to fly Erma’s children to Singapore. “She might not be able to go back to the Philippines to be with her kids; maybe, we could bring her kids to Singapore to spend their holiday with their mummy and us!”
Mr Leong’s wife agreed, and they shared the news with Erma, who broke into tears. “She said her children never took a plane and never (went) overseas before!”
The family handled everything, from the plane tickets, the passport applications and visas to endorsements and insurance.”
Although the final cost was “way off” the initial budget, Mr Leong said this was their way “to show their love and appreciation to Erma for her dedication to the family.”
He attached a video of their trip to the airport to fetch Liezel and Liezoo. The trio spent some time in a tight hug with tears involved as they were finally together.
The Independent Singapore has reached out to Mr Leong for an update on the family’s holiday. /TISG