REALITY NG BUHAY OFW - Part 1

This is my life... my story as an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) abroad.

As they say, being an OFW is difficult. But behind every OFW, is a story that needs to be heard.

 

 

 I’ve been a witness to a lot of dramas that usually take place at the NAIA airport. Families hugging at the parking area, husbands, wives and children crying, and well-wishers who incessantly give requests and final instructions to their “dearly-departing”. Yes … overrated as it may sound, but for us OFWs, leaving is like a yearly trip to the lethal injection chamber. That’s why, teary-eyed, highly emotional and hyper-sensitive passengers normally roam around our busy airport every day, and that includes me.

 So to keep myself busy while waiting for my flight, I normally observe my fellow OFWs and most of the times have small chats with them especially with the first timers. Then, after the small talks, I would usually sit back and stare at the airplanes outside the departure gate thinking about the life I am about to embrace again going back to the foreign land.

 Honestly, the feeling is unbearable even since I started working abroad. That’s why, I cannot help but wonder how could someone who stayed for 25 years or more in the Middle East to bear to go through the same feeling (technically) for 25 times?

We have this notion that when someone is an OFW or based abroad, he or she is loaded. Not true. An OFW might earn from P50K-P300K a month, depending on the location. Those in Saudi Arabia or the United States might earn in the high range. But to say that they're 'rich' is a fallacy (amen!).There's no place like home.

For some OFW's the notion maybe true but for most it's a fallacy like what the author of the article where I got the excerpt said. I have seen the plight of some unfortunate Filipinos working here in Qatar and even heard of some earning as low as QR 700.00 that is roughly Php 8,360.00. Imagine the hardships and the sacrifices it takes just to earn that meagre amount so they can send money home. I just can't imagine how they are surviving with that salary as the cost of living here is relatively higher compare to Saudi Arabia. My food allowance here ranges from QR 500 to 700 depending on what I prepare for my meal. I don't even want to know what he or she may be eating on every meal. Just the thought makes me feel bad but for the sake of their love ones back in the Philippines they are willing to take and bear everything.

• If you go and work abroad, expect hard labor, not just strolling and shopping.
•  Salary value is not that high in the foreign country you will be in but it is a good money because you can support your family in the Philippines.

  Expect the worst but use your mind in everything you do. Do not let others discriminate you. Just learn to manage difficulties – away from home, family and working with different nationalities.

 Your employers give you the salary so spend wisely. Employers are not that emotional or sensitive to your needs. They just expect you to work. Use your other skills, they value the money that they give to you, so work hard for it.

• Don’t trust anyone quickly as not everyone could sympathize with you. You have to learn to face your own battles alone.

Imagine how hard it is to go and work abroad, just to earn money? People in the Philippines better show your OFW family the value that they should get in exchange to the hardships they experienced when they are working abroad.

OFWs standing in the queue at NAIA Immigration

OFWs going to OFW Lounge at NAIA for OEC Verification / Authentication hours before flight departure.

Isda at kamatis as normal food by some OFWs to save and send more money back home.

 

Many Filipinos are migrating or working abroad because of the uncertainty in the growth of the country. Around 8 to 10 million land and sea-based Filipino workers worked as immigrants and permanent residents, contract workers, and undocumented or illegal migrants.

 Many OFWs are employed in "3-D" jobs: dirty, difficult, and dangerous. Filipinos are often subjected to unfair working conditions, long hours, low pay, and human rights abuses. 10% of migrant Filipinos are undocumented or overstaying in a foreign country. They are often employed through unofficial channels, so are afraid to complain about any wrongdoing, as they will lose their jobs. Most of the money OFWs earn overseas is sent home as "remittances" to support their families.

OFWs at POEA for POEA documentations application

OFWs waiting in the queue at POEA

OFW arrived from Libya; meeting parents at NAIA for safe arrival from foreign land.

There are many Filipina professionals who stepped down from their recent jobs (most are teachers) because of having low salary and not enough to meet their daily needs, some were been laid off and left no choice but to work abroad while others were unlucky on their search for a job in the Philippines and after numerous failed attempts gave up and work abroad. When a college or university graduate Filipina will work abroad as a domestic helper, she'll be probably looked down in her hometown which caused her more pains but a heroine in her own family.

Life of a Filipina domestic helper abroad is not easy . Only a small percentage are considered lucky , most workers receive verbal, emotional and physical abuse from their employers , rights are violated, privacy is invaded with meager food , long working hours , sleep in a corner or uncomfortable little space. The challenge of being away with the family is tough and thanks to the new technology, it helps a lot because video chatting with family back home, it makes somehow close to them , touching their face on the computer screen will temporarily ease the loneliness .

Working abroad is not abandoning one’s obligation to the country, especially if the purpose is to pursue higher knowledge and acquire new experiences and skills while getting better compensation. In fact, the OFWs are our modern heroes. Higit na may malasakit sila sa ating bayan kaysa sa mga dayuhang negosyante at bangkong global na nagpapautang sa atin. Ang mga OFW ang tumutulong na makalutang ang ating bansa para makasabay tayo sa agos ngpag-angat ng Asya.

>>> Read more: REALITY NG BUHAY OFW - Part 2