BESIDES the competition, Rhenz Abando admitted it’s the crippling loneliness in Korea that’s one of the hardest challenges he had to endure.
The Anyang Jung Kwan Jang high-flyer, who’s in his third season in the Korean Basketball League (KBL), shared he can now emphatize with every single overseas Filipino worker (OFW), after experiencing working away from home.
READ: No definite timetable yet for Rhenz Abando return after scary fall
“Gustung-gusto ko i-express yung mga [nararamdaman ko] sa mga nakakausap ko na OFW sa ibang ibansa, gusto ko sabihin sa mga kamag-anak nila, sana wag naman nilang abusuhin ‘yung [relative] nila kasi alam ko ‘yung hirap,” he shared during a media presser with the East Asia Super League (EASL) on Tuesday.
The 6-foot-2 forward bared it was not easy working in a foreign land by his lonesome after he accepted an approach by a KBL team in July 2022.
“Nag-stay ako sa Korea, alam kong masaya pero hindi laging masaya, sobrang hirap ‘yung pinagdadaanan,” he said. “Sana mas alagaan nila ‘yung family na nasa ibang bansa.”
For the love of family
He also admitted that if not for the livelihood, he would’ve loved to stay in Manila.
“Lagi kong sinasabi kung kaya kong kumita ng ganito sa Pilipinas, mag-stay ako. Pero ‘yung opportunity, mas maraming challenges, mas gusto ko ‘yung nacha-challenge ako para mas mag-grow,” he said.
Growing up, Rhenz watched his mother go back and forth the country as an OFW, too. And when he started earning, he requested for her to take a rest, but it’s already something she grew accustomed in.
“Pinauwi ko na siya pero bumalik kasi mas sanay na daw siya nagta-trabaho,” the La Union native shared. “Ngayon mas naramdaman ko and mas na-appreciate ko siya kasi alam ko na ‘yung feeling na nasa ibang bansa.”
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