I am 69 years old. My OFW child sends me money every month, but I haven’t received a single cent. Secretly, I investigated… and when the bank showed me the CCTV footage, the whole family went silent.
Since my husband passed away, I’ve been living with my eldest child and his wife in our old house in the province.
My youngest—Jayson—works as an engineer in Dubai. Before he left, he would always call me and promise:
“Mom, don’t worry. I’ll send money to your ATM account every month. Use it for medicine, food, or anything you need.”
Those words gave me peace. I knew my child would never abandon me.
But almost a year has passed… and not a single peso reached me. My only source of income was my small SSS pension, barely enough to cover my medicine.
Whenever I asked my daughter-in-law, Marites, she would always answer:
“Mom, you’re old… you don’t need money. We’ll take care of your food. It’s all free here at home.”
Her voice was sweet… almost caring. But as a mother, I had a nagging suspicion.
One day, I mustered the courage to message Jayson on Messenger.
“Son, is there a problem at work? Why does it seem like the money you promised hasn’t arrived?”
He was silent on the other line.
“What do you mean nothing arrived, Mom? I deposit it every month! Sometimes I even call the bank to confirm it went through. Do you still have your ATM card? Please check carefully.”
I was stunned. It felt like cold water had been poured over me. If he was sending the money… who was taking it?
The next day, despite my aching knees, I went to the bank in town. I asked the teller to show me my passbook and transaction history.
The employee looked at me with pity and whispered, “Ma’am, remittances from abroad come in every month… but they’re withdrawn immediately at an ATM outside when they’re credited.”
My knees shook. I didn’t know how to use the ATM. I only knew the card was hidden in my cabinet.
I pleaded with the manager to let me view the CCTV footage at the ATM during the withdrawal times. Because I was a senior citizen and they knew my late husband, they agreed.
When the video played… it felt like my world collapsed.
The person withdrawing the money… was Marites, my daughter-in-law.
Calmly… she held my card… counting the thick “Blue Bills” (1,000-peso notes) from my son Jayson’s hard work in Dubai. As if the money belonged to her.
I printed everything: statements, pictures from the CCTV, and withdrawal records.
That evening, after dinner, I called my eldest, Ramon, and Marites into the living room.
I laid the documents on the table.
“This is the money Jayson has been sending… for an entire year. But I haven’t received a single cent. Look… here is the evidence.”
Ramon opened the folder. When he saw the photo of his wife holding the money, he went pale. His hands trembled as he faced his spouse.
“Is this true? You were the one taking Mom’s money?!”
Marites fell to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably.
“Forgive me, Mom… forgive me, Ramon… I was blinded by money. I saw how much Jayson sent, and I thought Mom would just hide it… while we were struggling! That’s why I did it… I took Mom’s ATM…”
Her words pierced my heart. Not because of the money… but because of betrayal and envy.
Ramon slammed the table in anger. “You stole from your own mother?! Your sibling?! In my own home?!”
I held his arm before he could hurt his wife. I was crying.
“Enough, my child. The money… Jayson can earn again. But when the family is broken… it cannot be rebuilt. I only ask this of you: Be honest. Don’t let greed destroy this family.”
The house fell silent. Marites kept crying, head bowed. Ramon clenched his fists in shame.
The next day, Marites returned the remaining money she had hidden and promised to change. She gradually repaid what she had spent through online selling.
I forgave her… but a crack remained. The image on the CCTV… I will never forget.
I’ve learned a bitter lesson: Even blood relatives or family members can change because of money.
I do not cultivate anger. But I also do not forget. Because in the end, it is not Jayson’s remittances that matter… but trust and respect within the home. And when envy and greed enter… that is when a family begins to fall apart.