Ex-POGO worker’s daughter sparks joy in PAOCC’s office

In the past six months, a two-year-old girl can be seen playing in the hallway and taking a walk in the offices inside the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission’s headquarters.

Meet Yao Yao, a daughter of Vietnamese and Chinese workers in a Philippine offshore gaming operator.

Her nickname was given by her Chinese father who was deported seven months ago following the crackdown on POGOs. 

She is currently in the Philippines with her Vietnamese mother, Lucky, who formerly worked in a POGO in Pampanga and in Cebu. 

Lucky is just awaiting her deportation to Vietnam. But bringing Yao Yao with her wouldn’t be easy as she doesn’t have documents when she was born. 

“If Yao Yao stays, I stay. If Yao Yao leaves, I will also leave,” said Lucky in Sandra Aguinaldo’s report in 24 Oras on Thursday. 

Yao Yao’s mother shared that she and her Chinese partner have broken up even before he was deported. 

Lucky is committed to raising Yao-Yao on her own. For now, the PAOCC helps her in raising the young girl. 

“Kung ia-allow naman siya ng embassy ng Vietnam na pumunta sa Vietnam with Yao Yao then ok lang ‘yun. Mas ok sa amin ‘yun, Kasi kailangan talaga ang kalinga ng nanay,” said Gilbert Cruz, PAOCC executive director.

(If the Vietnam embassy allows her to go to Vietnam with Yao Yao, then it’s okay with us. In fact, that would be better. Because she needs her mother’s care.) 

Lucky added that the PAOCC provides them with food, diapers, and milk.  

While the Philippine government is working on her paper, Yao Yao remains a spark of joy for PAOCC’s workers. 

There were times where employees allowed her to use their gadgets to entertain her.

With their days in the Philippines may come to an end soon, Lucky is sure of one thing once they arrive in Vietnam - Yao Yao would be proud that she experienced the warm love of Filipinos. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News