(MENAFN- Asia Times) A Filipino domestic worker in Dubai was named the United Arab Emirates' Best Nanny for 2018, beating out 42 others who were shortlisted for the award.

Rosie Villa, 39, who has been working in the UAE for 17 years, was nominated for the award by her current employers of almost six years. On Friday, Villa won the award, the initiative of a financial-technology platform for migrants, which saw more than 2,000 nominations from families all across the UAE, Khaleej Times reported.

Villa will receive a retirement fund of 1 million Philippine pesos (US$18,860) as her prize, which will allow her to pay for her daughter's college education. She said the money came at the time she needed it the most.

Villa started working after her husband left her and her one-year-old daughter, who is now 17. She decided to take a job in Dubai as she needed to finance her daughter's education, as well as support her parents and siblings.

'My parents are bedridden and it is my sisters who take care of them. They also play the role of mother for my daughter. I am grateful to them,' Villa said.

Last year, Filipino domestic worker Melanie Manansala won the UAE's Best Nanny award. Manansala worked in Dubai for 25 years and said the prize money she got would help her retire sooner and return home to the Philippines for good.

Read: Filipina to retire after getting 'best nanny' award in UAE

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