A wife collects trash to raise her children and searches for her husband who has been missing for 15 years. When she meets him again, she is surprised to know the reason…
In a poor barangay in Leyte province, Visayas region, Philippines, 42-year-old Liza is a familiar name to everyone. She is small in stature, her face is tanned by the sea breeze, but her eyes always shine with resilience. Liza makes a living by collecting scrap metal—pushing an old kariton around the streets, collecting beer cans and plastic bottles to raise her 17-year-old son, Nico. Nico is her pride: obedient, good at studying, just passed the university entrance exam with high scores. But behind Liza’s gentle smile is a sad story that has lasted for 15 years.

Fifteen years ago, Liza had a happy family with her husband, Rogelio, who was a fisherman in a fishing village. Life was poor but full of laughter. When Liza was eight months pregnant with Nico, Rogelio said that a friend had invited her to Manila to work, promising a bright future for her and her child. Liza believed her husband and sent him off in the car with great hope. From that day on, there was no news of Rogelio.

Liza gave birth alone, without any relatives to help. To raise Nico, she worked many jobs: construction worker, washing dishes at a carinderia, and collecting scrap. Despite her struggles, Liza never gave up on finding her husband. She believed that Rogelio had met with something bad and could not abandon his mother and child. Every day after pushing the kariton home, she stopped by the barangay hall to post flyers, asked the church, and asked the PNP police for help. But all the clues led to a dead end. As Nico grew up, she felt sorry for her mother and repeatedly advised her: “Mom, let’s stop.” Liza just shook her head: “You have to find my father, even if it’s just to know if he’s still alive.”

One morning, while Liza was picking up trash near the city’s big dump, she overheard two men passing by mention the name “Rogelio.” They said he was now a big boss in Manila…rich after marrying a powerful woman in the real estate industry. Liza’s heart sank. She rushed over: “Brother, is the Rogelio you’re talking about from Leyte? He used to be a fisherman, with a pregnant wife waiting for him back home?” The man nodded, adding: Rogelio changed his name to Miguel Alonzo to cut off the past.

Liza was stunned. It turned out that all those years, it wasn’t an accident or a tragedy—it was a choice. Liza decided to go to Manila, not to hold on, but to confront him, and to let Nico know the truth. She borrowed money everywhere, took the ferry and bus with her child to the capital. After several days of searching, mother and son found the headquarters of Rogelio’s company—now Miguel Alonzo—a famous construction group in Makati/Bonifacio Global City.

Standing in front of the tall glass building, Liza saw Miguel step out of a luxurious SUV, his shirt ironed, next to his beautiful new wife Monica and two adorable children. Nico held his mother’s hand, his eyes blazing. Liza approached, her voice trembling:

“Rogelio, do you remember me? I am Liza. This is Nico, your son. Do you know how my mother and I have lived these past fifteen years?”

Miguel was stunned and then said coldly:

“I am Miguel. You have the wrong person. I don’t have a wife or children in Leyte.”

Monica looked at Liza from head to toe and shouted:

“You are dressed in rags like this and dare to claim to be my husband’s family? Get out of the way, don’t cause trouble here!”

Nico blurted out, “You abandoned my mother, leaving her to pick up trash to raise me. Now that you’re rich, aren’t you ashamed?”

Miguel turned away, trying to keep his composure, but his eyes betrayed his unease. Liza pulled her son out of the building, tears falling but her back still straight. “Let’s go home, son. From now on, I only need you.

It seemed like the story was over, but the past began to haunt Miguel. At home, Monica saw her husband in a daze, revealing many loopholes. She hired someone to secretly investigate and discovered: Miguel was not only unfaithful to Liza, but also concealed and lied about many assets. Monica filed for annulment and sued for fraud. After the trial, Miguel lost control of the company and had to pay a huge compensation.

Empty-handed, turned away by his partner, Miguel returned to Leyte hoping Liza would forgive him and start over. But at this time, Liza and Nico had a new life. Thanks to a scholarship and part-time job, Nico helped his mother open a small sari-sari store at the end of the alley. Liza no longer pushed kariton; life gradually stabilized. Facing the kneeling man, Liza calmly said:

“You have chosen your path. Take responsibility for it. My mother and I don’t need you anymore.”

A few years later, Nico became a civil engineer, helping to build buildings in Quezon City and Taguig, and then built his mother a decent house right in the barangay. Liza, in her 50s, smiled brightly next to her filial son. Every night, she told Nico about her difficult days—a lesson in perseverance and love.

Miguel, after losing everything, lived quietly in a shabby boarding house on the outskirts of Manila, tormented by regret every day.

The story of Liza and Nico is still a testament to the power of maternal love and honesty. No matter how unfair life is, those who live honestly will eventually find happiness. Those who chase after wealth and trample on their families will eventually pay the price with their own lives.