Facing fear: Legacy of family tragedy overcome by Filipino domestic helper learning to swim

Jessica Segovia Tubola forced herself to confront her biggest fear by learning how to swim. The 29-year-old Philippine native from the city of Bacolod on the northwest coast of Negros Island has been afraid of water since the death of her five-year-old brother, who drowned when Jessica was just eight. Five years after moving to Hong Kong in 2016 to take up a job as a domestic helper, Jessica enrolled in Splash, a free adult swimming programme for migrant workers. She spends her precious single day off each week taking swimming lessons and confronting some painful childhood memories.