In every corner of the globe, Filipinos are always making their mark. Recently, a Filipina made a record-breaking feat after becoming the first-ever Filipino mayor in the town of Hertsmere, Hertfordshire in England. Cynthia Alcantara Barker is the daughter of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who works as an in-house nanny in the United Kingdom. Cynthia moved to be with her mother in the UK at an early age.
Cynthia has already been a resident of Hertfordshire for almost three decades. She immigrated to the UK in 1983 after graduating from Adamson University with a degree in industrial engineering. She managed to find jobs in the government sector by working for the British council and helping scholars. She also worked in different companies as an immigrant law practitioner.
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In 2015, she became the first ever elected town councilor of Borehamwood Brookmeadow ward, as well as councilor for the Potters Bar Furzefield ward under the Conservative Party. She was the first-ever Filipina to achieve this milestone in the history of England.
According to online records, Cynthia Alcantara Barker hailed from the town of San Pablo, Laguna. She was nine years old when her mother, Nelia Bartolome Alcantara, left to work in the UK. Nelia was also a teacher, but since the pay was meager back in the days, she had to look for other means to earn money. At a young age, Cynthia was already honed by her mother and father’s hard work.
While their OFW mother was away, Cynthia’s father took care of her and her four other siblings. Just like Cynthia, her four siblings are now living in other countries as well. Their eldest brother is a retired civil engineer living in California. The second works as a journalist in London, while her two other siblings are working for the health sector in London and California.
With her newfound position and influence, Cynthia aims to allocate resources for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Aside from holding a position in public office, she also has her own business in the field of recruitment, healthcare training, and immigration law.
Were you also inspired with this Pinay’s story of hard work and perseverance? We’d love to hear from you, so don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. For more updates on the latest happenings, feel free to follow us on Facebook.
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