Former OFW-turned-vlogger Rowell Francisco brought back with him his found family in the Equatorial Guinea. Courtesy: Rowell Francisco

MANILA — ‘Pusong-Pinoy’ Africans can speak Tagalog, are familiar with the Filipino culture, and know how to cook Filipino food because of a Filipino vlogger based in Equatorial Guinea, who is spreading good vibes and inspiration to everyone.

Rowell Francisco, 40, an overseas Filipino worker based in Equatorial Guinea since 2016 started his vlogging career during the COVID-19 pandemic to entertain himself since he couldn't return to the Philippines.

At first, he just wanted to document his everyday life as a data entry specialist, but everything changed when a kid approached him begging for money to buy some food. 

Life in Equatorial Guinea

A 10-year-old Guinean kid, Misma, brought him to their house, where he met the child’s mother, Marie, also known as Tiya Mame. That was the start of their lifelong friendship, and eventually they became his second family in Equatorial Guinea. 

According to Francisco, he noticed that the majority of Guineans are struggling financially, and he used the money he got from his YouTube channel to help them meet their basic needs. 

He has organized many feeding programs for Guineans, who were able to sample Filipino food served at some of the activities.

“Nakakatuwa ang mga tao doon, paborito ng mga bata ang Filipino-style spaghetti at adobo. Tinuruan ko rin sila mag-tinikling, mag-patintero, at ang pinakamahalaga ay pagmamano,” he said. 

(The people there are wonderful, the kids favorite [foods] are Filipino-style spaghetti and adobo. I also taught them how to play tinikling, patintero, and the most important part is blessing.) 

His documentation of their life in Equatorial Guinea has gone  viral because his content tugged on the heartstrings of netizens.  

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Courtesy: Rowell Francisco 

Teaching Filipino culture

For Francisco, teaching the Guineans parts of Filipino culture is a way to encourage Filipinos to value it and be proud of it.

“Nakakalimutan na kasi ng iba ang ating kultura. Katulad sa mga kabataan ngayon, iilan na lang ang nagmamano. Kaya ang mga bata na Guineano ay tinuruan ko magmano na kapag nakakita sila ng mas matanda ay nagmamano sila,” Francisco said. 

(This is because some people have forgotten our culture, like children now, only a few are asking for "blessing." This is why I teach young Guineans to bless because when they see someone older than them, they ask to bless.) 

The Filipinos and Guineans have things in common, such as being festive, so it became easy for him to adapt and be close to them.

Last year, he brought Tiya Mame to the Philippines when he went home for a vacation. She didn’t expect to see that a lot of Filipinos would recognize and welcome her in the country. 

Tiya Mame was overwhelmed by the amount of love that she received from Filipinos she met, and she can see herself living in the Philippines now.

“Napag-usapan namin ni Tiya Mame na for good na ako sa Pilipinas dahil sapat naman na ang naipon ko, pero isasama ko sila para paaralin ang mga anak niya sa 'Pinas,” he revealed. 

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Courtesy: Rowell Francisco

Guinean family’s life in the Philippines

After 20 years of being an OFW, he wants to settle down in the Philippines and build a business, but he still wants to continue helping Tiya Mame and her family, so he came up with the decision to bring them to study in the country. 

“Nagpatayo ako ng bahay nila na malapit lang din sa amin dito sa Nueva Ecija kasi mas maganda na bumukod sila para talagang ma-feel nila na may sarili silang bahay,” he said. 

(I really made a house for them near our house in Nueva Ecija because it's better for them to feel like they have their own house.) 

In his vlog, Tiya Mame and her kids are seen enjoying their stay here in the Philippines. From visiting tourist spots in the country to trying local food and going to the public market to really experience what it’s like to be a Filipino.

Francisco also enrolled the kids in a tutorial school for them to learn to speak English until he finds an accredited school for foreign students like them. 

He is happy to see the reaction of the kids to experiencing things that they haven’t encountered in Equatoiral Guinea.

He still has a lot of plans for the bright future of the kids, and he will always be there by their side to support and help them in all ways that he can, just like a real family member does, he said.