Marina Labenia | Huwarang OFW 2017 Individual Nominee

Pregnant at 15 and living together with her alcoholic husband, Marina Liberia went to Taiwan to escape her miserable situation.

Just like how she thought that having her own family is easy, Marina also thought that her life would be better abroad. After her husband in a drunken state got into a fight and killed someone, Marina provided the money to settle the case.

As she describes it, Marina wanted to escape the shackles of her life of sin, poverty, and chaos so she decided to work as an OFW in Taiwan. She entered a lending business to gain extra income but she unfortunately incurred debts amounting to more than 100,000 pesos.

Desperate and with nowhere to turn to, Marina decided to join a friend in attending a Sunday worship service where she realized how Jesus Christ loves her. As she realized how Jesus died on the cross for her sins, God gave her the grace to also forgive her husband. She shared the same love she received from Jesus with her husband. Their family, along with their two children, now enjoy their relationship with Jesus. She continues to work abroad and grows in her faith while her family actively attends a church in the Philippines.

Marina was able to find the life God has promised to those who would abide in Him. As stated in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”