In December 2019, Melbe Miao Manipes experienced her first snowfall in Daqing City, China. As the snow fell, her mind drifted back to her hometown in the Philippines, where her family gathered around a table filled with pancit, fruit salad, and humba to celebrate the New Year. It was a bittersweet moment, marking the start of a journey filled with challenges, sacrifices, and ultimately, a joyful reunion.
Leaving Home for a Better Future
Born and raised in Leyte Province in the Eastern Visayas region, Melbe was a public school teacher in Ormoc City. Despite her steady job, mounting debts and financial struggles pushed her to seek better opportunities abroad.
In October 2019, at the age of 28, she left her husband, Emelito, and their two young sons, Lucas Raffy (2) and Sandro Renjie (1), to work as a kindergarten teacher in Daqing. It was a small industrial city in northeastern China known for its petroleum industry—far from the life she had imagined for herself.
Her move was not easy. “It was nearing Christmas. I cried and cried. I can’t imagine how I survived that phase of my life,” Melbe shared.
Life in Daqing
Living in Daqing meant adapting to freezing winters with temperatures well below zero, a stark contrast to the tropical climate of the Philippines. Snow-covered trees and icy winds marked her first holiday season away from home.
“I missed singing with neighbors, making noise to welcome the year, and sharing meals with family,” Melbe said.
Her sacrifice was driven by necessity. The higher salary, free accommodation, meals, and internet provided by her employer allowed her to save money and improve her family’s quality of life.
But the cost of being apart from her family was high. She missed milestones, such as her sons losing their first teeth and calling her “Mama” in person.
Struggles During the Pandemic
Just months after settling in China, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Lockdowns left her isolated, unable to work or see anyone face-to-face.
“That was the saddest Christmas and New Year of my life,” Melbe recalled. “Without social media and video calls, life would have taken a dark turn.”
For three years, she spent special occasions alone, balancing her loneliness with the hope of reuniting with her family someday.
Reuniting with Her Family
In December 2022, after years of separation, Melbe took a break from work to visit her family in Ormoc. During her visit, she and her husband decided to move the family to China.
By December 2023, Melbe flew back to the Philippines to personally escort her husband and children to their new home in Daqing.
For the first time in years, the family celebrated Christmas and New Year 2024 together, surrounded by snow and the warmth of being reunited.
A Filipino-Chinese New Year Celebration
Now, a year later, the Manipes family welcomed New Year 2025 in Daqing with a mix of Filipino and Chinese traditions. Their table featured a feast of crispy pata, garlic-butter shrimp, pancit, and steak, alongside Filipino desserts like leche flan and mango float, symbolizing prosperity and sweetness for the year ahead.
“We celebrate like we’re in the Philippines. It’s not as festive here since China celebrates its own New Year during the Spring Festival. But being together as a family is worth celebrating,” Melbe shared.
A New Chapter Together
Melbe’s husband now works from home as a graphic artist, while their two sons follow a homeschool curriculum. Despite the challenges of living in a foreign land, the family finds strength in their togetherness.
“Life abroad is never easy,” Melbe said. “But as long as we’re together, we can face any challenge head-on.”
The Manipes family’s journey is a testament to the sacrifices many Filipinos make to secure a better future—and the joy of being reunited with loved ones.
