Kara David shares how it is being a seafarer's wife

Despite the convenience that technology has brought in this day and age, living away from your loved ones, especially those who work abroad, is still a challenge for most relationships. 

Award-winning journalist and professor, Kara David, is among those who are well acquainted with the struggles of being away from their loved ones. Her husband, LM  Cancio, is a seafarer.

"Malungkot talaga and ramdam na ramdam ko yun every time na magba-babye na ako sa telepono sa asawa ko. Sasabihin ng asawa ko, mahal miss na kita talaga, alam mo 'yun. Tapos sasabihin ko, konting tiis na lang mahal, ilang buwan na lang," she shared in an interview with GMA Pinoy TV.

(It's really sad, and you can feel that every time you end a phonecall. My husband will say that he really misses me. Then I will tell him, just be patient, we'll be able to see each other in a few months.) 

Although the internet has made it easier for them to communicate, nothing still beats face-to-face interaction.

"Actually ngayon, medyo mas okay na nang kaunti kasi may internet na, so every day, kahit papaano, nakakapag-usap kayo ng asawa mo. Pero iba pa rin yung nahahawakan, nakikita mo asawa mo," Kara said.

(Actually, it's better now since we have the internet, so every day, we manage to talk, but it's still different when you get to touch him and see him.) 

This is why when her husband comes home, Kara said she ensures that he is showered with love and affection. She also makes sure to show that she appreciates his hard work. After all, she said, working abroad is not easy. 

"When they go home, just give them all the love, i-appreciate natin 'yung hard work na ginagawa nila. Huwag nating iisipin na pinupulot lang ang pera sa abroad kasi hindi. Hindi siya pinupulot, pinaghihirapan siya. And kapag nagpapadala ng pera sa atin 'yung ating mga asawa, 'yung ating nanay o tatay, talagang paka-ingatan natin ito. I-invest natin, gamitin natin sa tama kasi pinaghirapan ito ng ating mahal sa buhay," she said. 

(Let us appreciate the hard work they do. Let's not think that money is easy to earn abroad because it is not. They work hard for it, and when our husbands, our mothers or fathers, send us money, we should really take care of it. Let's invest, let's use it right because our loved ones worked hard for it.)

"Ako with my husband, pag-uwi niya it's really just shower him with love and affection, kasi deserve na deserve. I-appreciate natin sila kasi ang hirap, ang hirap magtrabaho ng malayo sa mahal sa buhay," Kara added. 

In May 2023, in the anniversary special of "Updated With Nelson Canlas," the veteran broadcast journalist said her husband is an exception to the saying "sea-manloloko."

She said she is secure in her long-distance relationship with her husband despite the fact that he has worked as a seaman for half a year. 

Kara and LM tied the knot in 2018. —Sherylin Untalan/KBK, GMA Integrated News