Millions of Filipinos as of now are working as an oversease workers. For the most of us, being an OFW is a promise of good life. To be able to give the best to your family is indeed an equivalent of rendering a vehement hardworks and sacrifices. It is not easy to stay away from home but thinking of the way you will earn a living more than the way you will have in your country and to give a comfortable life to your family is another story. Although not everyone is aware how difficult it is, many still tries and bids their luck outside their homeland bringing the hopes and dreams of a brighter future ahead. Many people are envy when they see an OFW posting travels, good food nice gadgets etc but have you really thought what’s behind those beautiful smiles and nice photos?
For all the parents who missed chances to see and guide their children’s milestones because they need to work far away from them is such a hurtful feelings. Being one of those who is experiencing this kind of heartaches is really stressful but still we cannot show weakness instead we need to fulfill more strength to hold onto. I pity those kids who cannot experience growing up with their parents beside them and I also pity those OFW parents who cannot be there with their loving children. The long separation where in it creates gaps between parents and children that made the relationship not firm anymore. Those parents who cannot attend to their child’s birthdays, first day of school, first communions, school activities even special holidays like Christmas and New year which really give them emotional feeling of pain. As an OFW we can give what our child wants in materialistic way and support all the things that they need financially but its different from giving them the caring that they deserve, for them to see and feel our presence physically.
An OFW is considered to be heros, why? Because of the hundreds, thousands and millions of remittances each day which helps in the boost of Philippine economy. We are a hero because of sacrificing to leave our homeland and our beloved family just to stake and binds to other cultures and works with efforts and hardships to make our love ones live comfortably. We are honored and respected workers abroad because Filipino’s adaptation are really good and nothing compares to the patience, diligence and good working skills of our countrymen. Although discrimination abroad is severe, OFW’s doesn’t mind as long as they are doing good, earning better and giving the best to their families are most important to them.
It is not as what other people might think that OFW live a carefree life. Most of us here make the most out of it to let both ends meet. Others may have part time jobs aside from their full time jobs and make their rest days more productive to earn extra income. Many OFWs are letting go of their basic needs just to fulfill the needs of their families in the Philippines and send them everything without complaining and hesitations. Others may have lack of sleep and will not eat on time depends on the capacity of works that they need to finish but they never mind being tired because their mindset is to fullfill what their family needs. In other words being one of us is not as easy as you think it is. It entails a lot of hardships and sacrifices even sometimes we can buy the latest gadgets and material things or you think we live in flamboyant way because of posting in Instagram or Facebook, or because we wear the latest shoe trends, you’ll never know what is behind those things until you feel what we feel and you experience what we are experiencing in foreign land. We always want to post happy moments parties, food porn, shopping etc but no one will post of cruel hours of overworked, living conditions and struggles dealing with superiors or bosses because what you sees on social media is only half of what is really happening to the life of an OFW.
Working abroad doesn’t guarantee success. Sometimes its a matter of luck, sometimes its a matter of struggles, efforts etc. sadly sometimes its a matter of being a slaves on a foreign land. Along with those luxurious life are mostly a sad ending stories or permanent damage on relationships between husband and wife or else sometimes an illness that we need to keep all by ourselves which is unknown to family members in the Philippines just to prevent worries on their part. Homesickness which is one of our biggest enemy along the battle of working abroad but thank you to the modern technology at least we can ease the sad feeling. Although having chats, videocalls and phone calls are not enough to compensate for lost times and presence to be with our families, I am still grateful that it serves as a tunnel to get through and fill the space of melancholy and loneliness in our hearts and minds.
Mostly people who wants to work abroad might study 4 year course or even having bachelor or masteral degrees, but it isn’t the standard or measures to become successful abroad because all of those are nothing, sometimes even a great teacher when working abroad will apply as nannies or assistant teachers, an engineer in Philippines will only work as foreman, assistant etc. A nurse sometimes works a s caregiver it depends on the salary and financial opportunities that may exists and opportunities of financial stability. They never mind the degree as long as it will give them high salary to support their families way back home. This is how an OFW think “family first.” This is how life goes on when you work abroad, mostly you will be discriminated. Of course we are Filipinos even how degraded we are, we always see the good sides in every bad circumstances and uses it as our strength on future endeavors to succeed.
For all the success and failure behind Oversease Filipino Workers are huge sacrifices and struggles. OFW’s cannot afford to get sick because no one is around to take care of us, thus we have no choice sometimes even how sick we were it is much better to work rather than stay alone in the four corners of our room. Please do not look after the success only because it takes a long turn to achieve one. Don’t judge them as wealthy or rich because every single peso, dollars etc. that they earned and saved is equal to the sufferings, discomforts, pressures and difficulties along their long way battle of being an oversease workers. When they fail to save and go home with nothing do not judge them as bum because we do not know their struggles, the tribulation and forbearance they endure while they are away.
I am an Oversease Filipino Worker and I am proud to give the best to my family. I am happy to gain success and lonely at times because behind those success are sacrifices to overcome which means we are strong enough to face everything. In every storm I can see the sunshine, in every darkest nights I can see the light and I hope that sooner or later no Filipino like me would sacrifice to work far away from their families and endure evey consequences, no more anxieties, self pity and homesickness companions because the homeland or country that we live in can promise us a good life. Every hardships and sacrifices will bear fruits so don’t stop dreaming and don’t be hesitant to risk something because in return the seeds will grow again as a strong tree that don’t withered.
At first, yes! it is really hard to become an Oversease Filipino Worker (OFW) but because of our patience and diligence all those hardships disappeared. The mindset and motivations are to reach our dreams and the goal is to give the best to our families. Time will come and we are going to return back home and by that time our guilt will surpassed and change into profuse, abundant and joyful contentment as we can see the fruit of our labor and be together with the family that we are longing for years and decades. All will have the unreachable happiness ever to all KABAYAN’s abroad.
“No dreams are hard to reach just keep on believing, give an extra effort, travel an extra mile and carry an extra load with a joyful heart”
Maerz
Proud OFW
