TFT Awardee’s Life Story on MMK Trends for Two Hours Worldwide
When Vagelyn Federico’s life story was featured on the longest-running drama anthology Maalala Mo Kaya (MMK), thousands upon thousands of inspired netizens stormed social media sites, making the hashtag #MMKOFW the top trending topic worldwide for at least two hours.
Named Hotel Professional of the Year in last year’s The Filipino Times Awards, Vagelyn has led a life that’s certainly one for the books, from being the farm girl of San Fernando, La Union, to now being a multi-awarded human resources director in Dubai. She also leads the 500-member-strong Filipino Human Resources Practitioners Association (Fil-HR).
Flying to Dubai to seek the proverbial greener pasture, Vagelyn didn’t have it easy at all. Life hasn’t always been kind to her throughout the years, but she kept pushing on, determined to take on the world to give her family a better, brighter life. Her love for her family was bigger than all the odds thrown unto her back when she was still starting out in the UAE.
The MMK story, which starred Maricar Reyes and featured the official TFT footage of Vagelyn accepting her award as Hotel Professional of the Year, successfully mapped out the back stories that made up the person, the leader, and the inspiring Pinoy expat she is now.
Vagelyn is currently the HR director at Dusit Thani, Dubai, and she is also doing charity legal services for her fellow Filipinos in the UAE, among others.
It was a story that moved a nation of dreamers, giving hope to all who are bravely pursuing their dreams no matter the circumstances.
“Kung kaya nya, kaya din natin (If she can do it, so can we),” said Prince Monter (@princemonter) in his tweet.
“Success! Fruit of hardship and sacrifice. You inspired us. You showed us that there’s still hope in every failures. Thanks. #MMKOFW,” tweeted Girlie Mejes (@girliemejes_).
“#MMKOFW has parallels w/ #JoyMovie. Strength, determination, grit, belief in oneself,and never quitting are just some of their life lessons,” said Marsh (@ashram3072).
Vagelyn’s story also prompted salutes to all the other OFWs across the globe.
“#MMKOFW A very beautiful and inspiring story. I salute all OFWs for working and sacrificing so hard for their families, just like my bro,” said Rica Chiu (@ricalovesbooks).
The hashtag #MMKOFW garnered more than 40,000 tweet just two hours after it first appeared.