A Tribute to OFWs

(An Overseas Filipino is a person of Philippines origin who lives outside of Philippines. This term applies both to people of Filipino ancestry who are citizens or residents of a different country and to those Filipino citizens abroad on a more temporary status. Most Overseas Filipino migrate to other nations to find employment or to support their families in the Philippines.

Often, these Filipinos are referred to as "Overseas Filipino Workers" or "OFWs". There are about 8.7 to 11 million OFWs worldwide, equivalent to about 11% of the total population of the Philippines. Each year, more than a million Filipinos leave to work abroad through overseas employment agencies and other programs, including government sponsored ones. Others emigrate and become permanent residents of other countries. Overseas Filipinos often work as doctors, physical therapists, nurses, accountants, IT professionals, engineers, architects, entertainers, technicians, teachers, military servicemen, students, caregivers, domestic helpers and household maids. - Wikipedia)

I personally know of an OFW. And this is her story.

She went to Dubai three years ago to be a caregiver. She left home her five children in the care of her husband, who has many hang ups in life and is a habitual drinker. She thought it would be the best thing to do since her husband cannot support the family by himself. Not to mention the constant fights they would have due to his gambling.

Her employer is a handicapped-daughter of a well to do family in Dubai. Her contract stipulated she would just care for her. But as time passed, her employer's siblings would call for her and ask her to do things for them. Now, she works as a cook for the whole family at the same time an aide to her employer's parents. She would only have 4 to 5 hours of sleep daily. All of these things she willingly accepted, even without an increase of salary, just to keep her job and be able to provide for her family.

She worked hard in the hope that her family would have a better life. But much to her dismay, the money she sent home wasn't put to good use. Her husband, still a drunkard and a gambler, would sometimes use the money for his vices, not minding the needs of her children.

She would cry all night whenever she misses her kids. She would not spend a penny for her own needs just to save up for her children's future. Only to be disappointed. Her eldest son hated her for leaving them. Her daughter (2^nd) and other son (3^rd) ran away from home.

And now, she's back in the country. Not for good, 'though. She's home because her daughter, who ran away from home was rushed to the hospital due to high fever caused by an infection. The sad part, her daughter wasn't admitted because they do not have money to pay for the hospital bills. What's worst, at 15, her daughter is four-month pregnant.

I can feel her pain as I listened to her. She isn't crying but her eyes say it all. The regrets, the sadness, the suffering. I wondered, would things be different if she didn't leave in the first place? I can only imagine. Three years of hard work in Dubai, yet she doesn't have enough money to buy or rent a decent home. Three years and her dreams still shattered into pieces. Was it all worth it? Yet, she's still willing to go back to her employer.

It's sad to think of the fact that she's not the only OFW having the same flight although there are also many successful OFW stories. To date, many Filipinos are still willing to work abroad in the hope of a brighter future. We hear stories of racial discrimination, maltreatment and abuse. Yet, many would still want to be an OFW despite the many names being associated with them.

I read of a story about an international beauty pageant where a Filipina candidate was asked by a foreign judge how she feels that the word "Filipina" means "maid" in the US. To which the candidate replied "If being a Filipina means taking care of your own children instead of you taking care of them, then I'm proud to be one". I hope every OFWs would have the same pride as hers. And I pray that the time will come when our country will be able to provide jobs for every Filipinos so that we won't need to go to a foreign land to find a decent source of income.