"I Lost My Daughter": A Filipina Mother's Hope for Reunion After the Pandemic

Some interviews focus on work or relationships. Others reveal a much deeper kind of loss.

When we spoke with Wena, a 29-year-old mother of two, the conversation quickly turned to the child she no longer sees every day. While she now lives with her two-year-old son and her current partner, her seven-year-old daughter has been living with her former female partner since the COVID-19 pandemic.

For Wena, the hardest part isn't the distance.

It's wondering whether her daughter still remembers the love they once shared.

"I really love my daughter."

A Life Changed by One Decision

Before the pandemic, Wena was working in Manila as a freelancer.

At the time, she was in a long-term relationship with another woman, who helped care for her daughter.

When COVID-19 lockdowns began, travel restrictions and changing circumstances kept them apart.

Over time, the relationship ended.

Her daughter remained with her former partner.

Although she stayed in contact occasionally, she says rebuilding that relationship has been incredibly difficult.

"I lost my daughter's love for me."

Those words carried more emotion than anything else she shared during the interview.

Becoming a Mother at a Young Age

Wena became pregnant with her first child after meeting a Korean visitor during a night out in Angeles City.

She explained that the relationship lasted only one evening, and they never communicated afterward.

She eventually accepted that she would raise her daughter on her own.

Years later, she entered a relationship with a Filipino man, and together they now have a two-year-old son.

Today, her focus is raising him while continuing to hope that one day she can reconnect with her oldest child.

Living With Difficult Choices

Throughout the interview, Wena repeatedly questioned whether she had made the right decisions.

She explained that she wanted to bring her daughter home but felt unprepared financially.

She and her current partner rent a small room while trying to provide for their young son.

"I don't have my own house."

That reality weighs heavily on her.

She worries that she cannot yet offer her daughter the stable home she deserves.

Rather than making promises she can't keep, she hopes circumstances will improve before asking her daughter to return.

Hoping Her Daughter Will Understand

One of the interview's most emotional moments came when Wena described what she hopes happens in the future.

She believes that as her daughter grows older, she may begin to understand why they were separated.

"Maybe she's still too young."

Instead of expressing anger toward her former partner, Wena focused on hope.

She wants her daughter to know that the separation was never about a lack of love.

It was the result of difficult circumstances during one of the most challenging periods many families have ever experienced.

Looking Toward a Better Future

Although life remains difficult, Wena continues working toward a better future.

Her immediate goal is simple.

Find more stable employment.

Save enough money to secure a permanent home.

Raise her son in a safe environment.

And one day, if the opportunity comes, rebuild the relationship with her daughter.

When asked about her greatest dream, she didn't mention money.

She talked about family.

Her hope is that one day both of her children will be together again.

A Story Shared by Many Families

The pandemic affected families in countless ways.

For some, it meant losing jobs.

For others, it meant living apart from the people they loved.

Wena's story reminds us that rebuilding those relationships can take years.

Despite everything, she continues believing that time, patience, and understanding may eventually bring her family back together.

Sometimes hope is the strongest thing a parent can hold onto.

FAQ

Why does Wena's daughter live with someone else?

She explained that during the COVID-19 pandemic she became separated from her daughter, who remained with her former female partner after their relationship ended.

Does Wena still communicate with her daughter?

She said they have occasional contact, but she hopes to rebuild a closer relationship as her daughter grows older.

What is Wena's biggest dream?

She wants to create a stable home, continue raising her son, and one day reunite with her daughter.