She raised 2 lonely kids for 17 years. Now, they're flying 1,500 miles to change their nanny's life

Zi Hui's childhood in Singapore had always been shaped by someone outside her immediate family, the person she and her brother called their "Nanay." Both of their parents worked long hours, leaving the two children often at home, and it was their nanny who filled that space with love, care, and stability. 17 years later, she decided to give that love back. Posting a video on her Instagram @zzzihuii, she shared how she flew to the Philippines to meet her Nanay and the emotional reunion that followed. After the video took off with over 3.5 million views and 429k likes, she documented the entire journey through a series of follow-up videos.

In one video posted in June 2025, she introduced the woman who had cared for the siblings who were home alone. Nanay became a second mother until the day she retired because of her age. "I cried for weeks," Hui admitted. It’s no wonder her presence meant so much, as many families who grew up with nannies say the same thing. A 2022 study that observed nanny-child relationships in Turkey and the UK found that the bonds formed in those homes went far beyond practical help. Through both parent surveys and in-home observations, researchers saw that children who felt close to their nannies showed stronger emotional regulation, a greater sense of security, and overall higher well-being.

Even after she left, Nanay never stopped being part of their lives. "She always messages me on Facebook, and she never misses a single birthday call. She even has a whole wall of our baby pictures," she recalled, adding that Nanay spent most of her life in Singapore taking care of them, and now it was time for them to do the same for her. "So now my brother and I are going back to find her before age catches up with her and bring her around to experience life without worrying about the price," she shared.

Another video showed the siblings beginning their trip. "Come with me as we fly to the Philippines to find my Nanay," she narrated. The moment of reunion was pure emotion — Nanay opened the door, saw the siblings standing there, and instantly pulled them into a hug. She welcomed them inside and prepared her famous macaroni salad — the dish they had loved as kids. They unpacked the groceries they had brought from Singapore before taking her out to dinner. Later that night, they video-called their parents and ended the evening with honey-glazed chicken from a food stall, the kind of small joy that made the long-awaited reunion feel complete.

The story touched thousands of people, and they filled the comment section with nothing but admiration. @landwreck commented, "I remember her! She and my mom would talk to each other while they were waiting to pick us up from primary school. This made me emotional. I’m glad your video showed up on my feed. It’s nice to see someone from primary school." @poikphilipps said, "What is it with Singaporeans who give back to their nannies? It’s such a heartwarming, caring, and generous gesture from your generation. What an amazing culture you guys have." @seatownbee added, "I always wonder about the kids of nanays. How heartwarming that you got to reconnect." @clumsymosie_ chimed in, "This made me tear up. You can see the genuine happiness in her face. Thank you for doing this."

You can follow Zi Hui (@zzzihuii) on Instagram for more vlog-style content.

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