After two decades in the United States, 79-year-old Erlinda Flores grew increasingly homesick and unfulfilled, realizing she didn’t want her life revolving solely around caring for her husband. “Ganyan, ginagamot, punta kami sa doktor gano’n, tungkol lahat sa kanya. Ako? wala, sama lang nang sama. Anong buhay ‘to? Ayoko. I have purpose pa,” she shared with ABS-CBN News, expressing her desire for more independence and meaning.

Flores, a former overseas Filipino worker (OFW), first worked in Israel for five years to fund her children’s education. Upon returning, she discovered her first husband had started another family, leading to a divorce in the US where her eldest child lived. She then spent 20 years as a caregiver, marrying a retired American soldier. Despite facing stereotypes from his daughters—who accused her of seeking a green card—Flores passionately defended Filipinos’ hospitality and vowed to promote Philippine tourism if they visited.

Returning permanently to the Philippines in 2022, Flores applied to the Department of Tourism (DOT) and National Commission for Senior Citizens’ (NCSC) Community Tour Guiding Seminar for Senior Citizens. The 56-hour program, aimed at preserving heritage through storytelling, trains 30 seniors (with Flores as the oldest) from September 24 to October 2, aligning with Tourism Month celebrations. Out of over 100 applicants, she advanced through three interview rounds at Manila City Hall and is now in the final stretch to become an accredited guide for Intramuros.

Her overseas experiences have honed her English proficiency and charm for engaging tourists. “Kailangan din yung mukha mo, very charming na ma-eenganyo yung mga turista, diba? 20 years ako sa Amerika eh, ‘pag wala pa namang akong napangiting Amerikano dun, ewan ko na lang, diba? Nasayang naman yung 20 years ko dun,” she said confidently, adding that enduring US weather extremes has prepared her for Philippine conditions.

Driven by patriotism rather than financial gain, Flores sees this as her dream realized: sharing stories of Filipino kindness, beauty, and talent with foreigners. “Gusto ko yung learning eh. Matututo pa rin ako dahil malakas pa ako, masigla pa ako, wala akong sakit,” she noted. She encourages fellow active seniors: “Inaanyayahan ko ang lahat, [mga] senior na malalakas pa, na huwag kayo dyan sa bahay lang umano. Kung talagang gusto nyo na humaba ang buhay nyo, lumabas kayo, at ito na ang pagkakataon.”