Life Being an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker)
The day my husband left to work overseas was one of the saddest days
in our family life. I pity my daughter because she is very close to
her father and I was quite worried that she will be upset when her
daddy leaves for a long time.
In the life of a typical Filipino family, this situation is very
common because parents would like to give better future to their loved
ones especially for their children. Good opportunities in the Philippines
are not abundant to achieve most of their dreams. Working abroad is
one way of fulfilling these dreams.
But working abroad does not always give full beneficial returns for
each of the Overseas Filipino Workers. Some may be very lucky to have
a very kind employer but some may not. Some can get the perfect job
that they really wanted, others cannot. Some gets high paying jobs,
some do not. Some Overseas Filipino Workers have the opportunity to
bring their families with them but some do not.
Along with financial gains from working as an OFW comes sad-ending
stories, disadvantages or sometimes a permanent damage. Take for example,
cases of abuse against our Filipina domestic helpers, battling illness
alone in a foreign land without any member of the family to attend
to your needs and homesickness.
Family relationship wise, the foundation of this relationship becomes
weak because of the physical distance that is built when one leaves
home for another country. Usual contractual jobs would last for two
or more years. There are cases that an OFW who left his wife and children
in the Philippines would be weak enough to give in to philandering.
But this does not happen only abroad, it could also happen with the
spouse who was left behind.
Children were not guided properly. Sometimes, both parents are working
abroad and children would only be left under the guidance of one of
their relatives. Sometimes the guardian cannot fully discipline them
that can cause children to be stubborn. Long separation also creates
gaps between the parents and children; closeness with each other is
not firm or strong anymore.
For the Overseas Filipino Worker, working abroad without saving extra
income for the retirement years is one of the big mistakes that should
be avoided. This is the reason why many Overseas Filipino Workers
are coming back to the country for retirement but are not successful.
Finding local jobs after working abroad is also a problem for the
Ex-Overseas Filipino Workers. Some company are choosy and doesn't
want to accept applicants whose job experience is outside Philippines.
You can be accepted in a local job sometimes, but the salary would
not be the same as when working abroad. That is why, although they
would like to stay at home, they are forced to leave the country again
and bear the hardships of being alone and far from loved ones….and
so the cycle goes on.
The sacrifices of Overseas Filipino Workers cannot be avoided as
they need to struggle to fulfill their dreams and to achieve success
in life. Those hardships and sacrifices should bear good fruits rather
than withered tree.
The other article, "How to Be a Successful
OFW”, will give some helpful tips and advices on how to
succeed as an Overseas Filipino Worker.
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Copyright©2003 OFW Connect (Revised November 2004-LH)
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