From Josie to Sarah to Joy: A mother, a wife, and a daughter as OFWs

By Patricia Matalog

<div><em>[Editor’s note: This story, first published on September 9, 2019 and updated today, is brought to you from our Star Cinema Archives.]</em></div><p>Being a family woman has been depicted at its most challenging in some of Star Cinema’s most enduring classics, particularly in films tackling the lives of <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/starcinema/articles-news/10-truths-behind-every-ofws-sacrifices-as-seen-in-hello-love-goodbye-23652">Overseas Filipino Workers</a> (OFW).</p><p>In these three films that precede the upcoming “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/starcinema/articles-news/kathryn-bernardo-and-alden-richards-face-hard-relationship-choices-in-emotional-hello-love-again-trailer-23487">Hello, Love, Again</a>” premiering on November 13, we see three characters – a mother, a wife, and a daughter – from whom we can gain an extra layer of awareness on how being an OFW becomes even more demanding for a woman already emburdened by society’s expectations of her.</p><div><strong>Vilma Santos as Josie in ‘Anak’ (2000)</strong></div><div><img alt="" src="https://asset-ent.abs-cbn.com/ent/entertainment/media/star-cinema/film news/2024/10 october/31/anak-vilma-santos-joel-torre.png?ext=.png" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><p>Perhaps one of the most iconic Filipino films of all time, &quot;Anak&quot; depicts the huge sacrifices of a parent, in this case a mother, who took the chance of working in Hong Kong to give her children the good life they deserve.</p><p>The irony lies in how Josie, while providing for the needs of her children, loses precious years with them as they grow up. By the time she returns, she faces her alienated children, particularly a daughter harboring anger against her and unable to understand why Josie had to be away.</p><div><img alt="" src="https://asset-ent.abs-cbn.com/ent/entertainment/media/star-cinema/film news/2024/10 october/31/anak-vilma-santos-claudine-barretto.png?ext=.png" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><p>Vilma Santos and Claudine Barretto&#x27;s highly emotional portrayal of Josie and Carla’s parent-child conflict still moves audiences to tears to this day, across all generations, making this OFW story truly one for the books.</p><div><strong>Sharon Cuneta as Sarah in ‘Caregiver’ (2008) </strong></div><div><img alt="" src="https://asset-ent.abs-cbn.com/ent/entertainment/media/star-cinema/film news/2024/10 october/31/caregiver-sharon-cuneta-john-estrada.png?ext=.png" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><p>Based on real-life stories of caregivers abroad, Sharon Cuneta portrayed the role of a caregiver for the elderly in the United Kingdom. While shooting, she had firsthand experience of taking care of patients in London.</p><p>Her character Sarah is in fact an excellent teacher in the Philippines before she decides to follow Teddy (John Estrada), her hospital worker husband in the U.K., to support him in his wish for a better life for their family.</p><div><img alt="" src="https://asset-ent.abs-cbn.com/ent/entertainment/media/star-cinema/film news/2024/10 october/31/caregiver-sharon-cuneta.png?ext=.png" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><p>But while she overcomes the hardships of working in London and even connects with her patients, her relationship with the surly and unstable Teddy deteriorates, bringing her to a point where she must make a choice of whether to go back with him to their miserable life in the Philippines or to separate from him by continuing her caregiving work in the U.K.</p><div><strong>Kathryn Bernardo as Joy in ‘Hello, Love, Goodbye’ (2019)</strong></div><div><img alt="" src="https://asset-ent.abs-cbn.com/ent/entertainment/media/star-cinema/film news/2024/10 october/31/hello-love-goodbye-kathryn-bernardo-maricel-laxa.png?ext=.png" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><p>Before Joy amazes us as the strong-willed young woman pursued by the irresistible bartender Ethan (Alden Richards), we see her first as the daughter shouldering the responsibility of providing for her own disabled father and two siblings as a domestic worker in Hong Kong.</p><p>In case you are wondering where her mother could be, she (Maricel Laxa) is in Hong Kong too, a former domestic worker with her own complicated baggage, and one whose footsteps Joy never intended to follow.</p><div><img alt="" src="https://asset-ent.abs-cbn.com/ent/entertainment/media/star-cinema/film news/2024/10 october/31/hello-love-goodbye-kathryn-bernardo-alden-richards.png?ext=.png" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><p>Joy later tries to make peace with her mother’s choices that greatly impact her own life choices, as she figures out her place in the world, all while fellow millennial OFW Ethan persistently shows her his affection.</p><p>Who between Josie, Sarah, and Joy tugs at your heartstrings the most? Who do you identify with more? Let us know your thoughts via our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/starcinemaofficial?_rdc=1&amp;_rdr#">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/starcinema/">Instagram</a> pages.</p><div><br/><strong>RELATED VIDEOS: </strong></div><div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ashJTKFtVB0?si=vpgNz9EHt4QrmdWX" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br/><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/khDPJc0QDeI?si=Yg2i0QOiEBASf9CC" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><strong>RELATED STORIES: </strong></div><div><a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/starcinema/articles-news/10-truths-behind-every-ofws-sacrifices-as-seen-in-hello-love-goodbye-23652">10 truths behind every OFW’s sacrifices, as seen in &#x27;Hello, Love, Goodbye&#x27;</a></div><div><a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/starcinema/articles-news/hello-love-again-teaser-gives-moving-tribute-to-ofws-23339">‘Hello, Love, Again’ teaser gives moving tribute to OFWs</a></div>

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From Josie to Sarah to Joy: A mother, a wife, and a daughter as OFWs

From Josie to Sarah to Joy: A mother, a wife, and a daughter as OFWs

By Patricia Matalog

Published Oct 31, 2024 11:50 AM PHT

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Updated Nov 15, 2024 01:19 AM PHT

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