In this powerful episode of Rise Tayo, I sit down with my college classmate and dear friend Silica (“Lica”), whose journey reflects the resilience, faith, and perseverance of so many Filipino nurses. A graduate of Silliman University in Dumaguete City in 2005 and originally from Iligan City, Mindanao, Lica began her nursing career at Cebu Doctor’s Hospital. Moving to the United States was never part of her plan—until a friend encouraged her to apply. In an act of faith and sacrifice, they mailed their applications together to save money. That single step led Lica to California in 2009, where she faced the realities many immigrants know well: limited resources, no transportation, job uncertainty, and the pressure to survive while supporting family back home. When the company that initially hired her dissolved during the recession, Lica was left without a job—but not without hope. Through community support, relentless hard work, and resilience, she found work at a local Los Angeles hospital, often juggling multiple jobs while navigating licensure reciprocity and building a new life from the ground up. As the demands and safety challenges of bedside nursing increased, Lica began questioning its long-term sustainability. Always dreaming of becoming a doctor but limited by finances, she pursued a different path and became a nurse practitioner, graduating in 2015 while working full-time and alongside her husband. Motherhood followed in 2017, bringing clarity to what truly mattered—time, family, and purpose. A profound turning point came when Lica’s father passed away in the Philippines while she was still in school. That loss reshaped her perspective, teaching her that time is more valuable than money. Determined to build a life with greater freedom and presence, she eventually ventured into real estate, focusing on residential care facilities (board and care homes)—a stable, tangible business that allowed her to reclaim time, create passive income, and serve others well. As she says, “Comfort is the enemy of progress.” Throughout every transition, Lica’s faith in Jesus has been her anchor. Her walk with God has deepened through grief, forgiveness, and surrender—including reconciling with her mother before her passing last year. Her nursing background, discipline, and work ethic continue to shape her leadership as a business owner. Her life verse, Philippians 4:13, reflects the truth of her story: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” As the episode closes, Lica offers heartfelt encouragement to nurses and aspiring entrepreneurs: to fully surrender everything to the Lord, follow Him in obedience, pursue purpose over comfort, and be faithful stewards of what God entrusts to us—no matter how small it seems. She anchors this truth in Scripture: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” (Luke 16:10) Lica’s story is a testimony of immigrant grit, faith-led transitions, and the power of trusting God through every season. ✨ If this episode encouraged you, please share it with a friend—especially a nurse or immigrant who needs hope today. Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Rise Tayo so you never miss stories that remind us we rise together.
