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From Misamis Occidental to South Korea: Arshamae's Story of Courage, Survival, and Hope

Arshamae came to Korea in 2000 with hope — this is her story of survival, motherhood, and quiet courage.


She Came to Korea With Hope — What Happened Next Took Everything She Had

Some stories do not announce themselves.

Arshamae did not walk into my life with a dramatic introduction. She is one of those women you meet in this community who carries her history quietly — and only when you sit with her long enough do you begin to understand the weight of what she has been through.

This is her story. And I am sharing it because I know she is not alone.

A Childhood Built on Someone Else's Strength

Arshamae grew up in Calamba, Misamis Occidental — raised by her grandparents after her parents separated when she was still an infant.

Her grandmother was a farmer. Life was simple, sometimes hard, always honest. Arshamae spent her childhood in the fields, harvesting fruits and vegetables, learning without knowing she was learning — that life requires work, that gratitude is a choice, that the people who love you shape you in ways you only fully understand after they are gone.

Her grandmother was that person for her.

The Promise She Carried Into Adulthood

During college, Arshamae lost her grandmother.

Before she passed, her grandmother told her something simple:

"Finish your education and never allow your emotions to lead you away from your goals."

Those words became the thread she held onto through everything that came after.

Financial support from her parents became unreliable. She pushed forward anyway. Whenever she wanted to quit, she came back to that promise — to the woman who raised her, who believed in her before she fully believed in herself.

Arriving in Korea

On March 19, 2000, Arshamae arrived in South Korea.

She came the way many Filipinas came during that era — with hope, with uncertainty, and without a complete picture of what was waiting for her. What she believed would be a temporary opportunity led to an international marriage arrangement she did not fully understand at the time.

The difficulties began almost immediately.

Her personal belongings were taken from her. She was required to live with her in-laws. Her husband's behavior created a home environment filled with stress and instability. There were days — many of them — when the emotional weight felt impossible to carry.

At her lowest points, she thought about giving up.

But in her dreams, she kept seeing her grandparents. Their faces. Their voices. The values they had planted in her when she was small.

She held on.

The Reason She Kept Going

Everything shifted when her child was born.

Motherhood gave Arshamae something that hardship had been slowly taking away — a clear reason to fight. Without consistent support from her husband, she began tutoring to provide for her child. There were classes where she brought her child along because she had no one to leave them with and could not afford to miss the work.

She did what mothers do when the system fails them and the people around them disappear.

She figured it out anyway.

What Her Story Means to Me

I have been in Korea since 2004. I have sat with women in situations like Arshamae's more times than I can count — women who came here full of hope and found something very different waiting for them.

What I want people to take from her story is not just inspiration. Inspiration fades. I want something more practical than that.

If you are a Filipina in Korea in a difficult marriage or home situation — you have options. Multicultural Family Support Centers exist in most cities and offer counseling, legal guidance, and practical assistance in multiple languages. You do not have to stay silent. You do not have to figure it out alone.

If you are struggling financially as a foreign spouse — reach out. Community organizations, local government welfare offices, and Filipino community groups can connect you to resources you may not know exist.

And if you are simply having a hard day in a country that still sometimes feels foreign even after years of living here — know that what you are feeling is real, it is valid, and there are people who understand it because they have lived it too.

A Final Word

Arshamae's story is not a fairy tale. It does not end with everything resolved and everyone happy.

It ends with a woman still standing.

Still raising her child. Still moving forward. Still choosing, every single day, to get up one more time.

Her grandmother told her never to let her emotions lead her away from her goals. In the hardest years of her life, in a country far from home, surrounded by difficulty — she kept that promise.

That is not a small thing.

That is everything.

Do you have a story to share? Pinoy Sarang welcomes the voices of Filipinas in Korea — the struggles, the victories, and everything in between. Reach out and let us tell your story together.

About the Author




English Instructor in South Korea | 22 Years of Teaching Experience

Majella Pagayon is the founder of Pinoy Sarang, a community platform dedicated to helping Filipinos navigate life, work, education, and immigration in South Korea. She regularly writes practical guides, safety tips, and educational resources for Filipinos living and working abroad.

Connect with Majella:

  • Facebook Page: Chungju Community - Pinoy Sarang
  • YouTube: Pinoy Sarang
  • Website: www.pinoysarang.com


I am Majella, an English Instructor with nearly 22 years of teaching experience in South Korea. Based in Chungju, I am the founder of Pinoy Sarang and Hiraya Filipina Korea. My mission is to bridge the gap between traditional teaching and the digital business world, helping others find their path to success.