Many Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong are pursuing higher education while maintaining full-time employment, supported by a local nonprofit organization aimed at helping overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) fulfill their academic goals.
Among them are Dyan Agonoy and Gelanie Aguilario, who each put personal ambitions on hold to work abroad and support their families. Agonoy, who left university after marrying and starting a family, and Aguilario, who faced interruptions to her studies due to pregnancy and family responsibilities, both resumed their educational journeys through FullPhils, a Hong Kong-based non-profit founded in 2022 by Emilio Baja.
FullPhils offers an accessible path to bachelor’s degrees through a Philippine government initiative known as the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Programme (ETEEAP). This program converts relevant work experience into academic credits, allowing students with at least five years of employment history to earn degrees in as little as six months by completing online coursework. The organization partners with Philippine institutions, including AMA University, Philippine Women’s University (PWU), and the University of the Philippines, to provide asynchronous modular courses subsidized by FullPhils, reducing tuition fees substantially.
Agonoy and Aguilario enrolled in hospitality degree programs at PWU and managed to balance their studies with demanding work schedules. They described a rigorous routine involving early mornings and late nights to complete assignments, supported by understanding employers as well as family and friends. Both acknowledged the physical and emotional challenges involved, with Agonoy experiencing health issues during her final term.
Beyond academic instruction, FullPhils conducts monthly workshops teaching practical skills such as financial literacy and software proficiency to supplement formal education. These activities foster a supportive community among student domestic workers navigating similar struggles.
In February 2024, both Agonoy and Aguilario graduated, marking a significant milestone after years of sacrifice. Aguilario attended the ceremony in Manila alongside her mother, expressing a sense of accomplishment and hope to open a business with her siblings. Agonoy, while unable to attend the ceremony, has since continued her studies in education with aspirations to become a teacher, emphasizing the desire to transcend the confines of domestic work.
Baja, who is starting university at Harvard, said FullPhils has awarded around 30 scholarships to date, with plans for expansion. While acknowledging that non-governmental organizations offer only temporary remedies, he stressed the need for systemic reforms in the Philippines to provide accessible education domestically, reducing the need for Filipinos to seek employment abroad.
“Sacrifice shouldn’t require surrendering your own future,” Baja said. “It’s not too late to return to education. Your dreams still matter.”
The program exemplifies how targeted support can empower migrant workers to complete their academic goals despite the challenges posed by overseas employment.