This is the very reason why I am very much engrossed and affected specially when there are issues regarding OFW. My hubby and my close friends are OFW. Making me a member of the Pamilyang OFW circles.
Read on my views…
Despite of the posing danger of working overseas, they still opt to leave and work abroad. Despite the reports of abuses, maltreatments, hostage-taking and war, they still decide to leave dear Philippines, mostly because of economic reasons. They continue to toil day in and day out under a strange sun hoping for a better future for themselves, their children and for those they left behind.
Working abroad has given many OFWs new bid in life and for some, even comfortable lives. Ofcourse they want to return home to the Philippines someday. But there is always an underlying fear for our OFW, even my hubby experience this, that if they return home they don’t know if they would also experience the same good ‘ol life that they can provide their family because of their work abroad. They would love to go back to the Philippines and be with family and friends again but are afraid to face the harsh realities that grip the lives of millions of Filipinos. It is the reality of not knowing where to find work; where to find money to buy food and medicine, to pay the bills and to send the children to school.
Just this week, there has been attempt to bring home OFW working in war-stricken Lebanon. Some are reluctant to come back to our country, because of uncertainties hounding them. To quote a Filipino interviewed by a newscaster:
Newscaster: “Hindi po ba kayo natatakot sa gyera dito sa Lebanon.”
OFW: “Alam mo, mas nakakatakot ngayon ang aming kakaharapin, dito nakakatakot dahil baka mamatay kami sa bala, pero mas nakakatakot ang pagbabalik namin sa Pinas dahil baka ang buong pamilya namin ay mamatay sa gutom”
This is when the question, ‘Is it possible to have life after migration? And what kind of life is it?’ comes in. To date, this question still remains to be a tough question to beat. From the economic perspective, the bitter truth is that this question is still left unanswered.
As a wife of an OFW, I am longing to be with my husband, I am longing for the time that my family will be together again, When? I still don’t know.
But if my hubby will ask me now, ‘Is it possible to have life after migration? And what kind of life is it?’ “ I will surely answer him, “YES, for you my love there is.” Right now the least I can do for all the sacrifices he has is to return to him the favor. I am handling all his savings that he is sending me wisely, with love and care. The worst part of being an OFW is when you realized that there is no single penny in your savings, I wont let that happen. So that when the time comes that he decides to stay in the Philippines for good, he can start a small business or finance our migration to other country (this is my hubby’s plan).
But ofcourse, going into the business especially with our economy is really risky. It might even cost us our lifetime savings, but then that will be another story.
Others may not fully understand the plight of our OFW, why they have to leave despite of the posing dangers, is it really worth it? But it only boils down to 3 things (1) poverty (2) lack of oppurtunities (3) love for the family (willingness to sacrifice to give their family a good life.
Mabuhay kayo mga OFW, Makabagong bayani.
At sa iyo mahal ko, bayani ka nang buhay ko…bayani ka nang mga anak mo…SALAMAT sa mga paghihirap mo…mahal na mahal ka namin nang mga anak mo at isinisigaw ko ito a buong mundo
= = = = = =
cielo,
i can relate very well with your views. i was an OFW myself and i’ve seen lots of OFWs, some my relatives who’ve come back to our country after putting 10 or more years overseas, only to find all their savings evaporate. back in the phil, they now wonder where all their money went. and the sad thing is that they’ve missed the chance to be with their children when they were growing up. also now they can’t find jobs anymore because of their age.
which is why i feel, me and my family are fortunate to be able to migrate as a family in NZ. kaya nga hinihikayat ko ang mga OFW na imbes na mag-trabaho sa mid-east, kung pwede naman, ba’t di na lang mag-migrate sa ibang bansa kung saan pwede silang manirahan ng permanente na kasama ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay? mas magandang alternatibo ito sa akin palagay, imbes na mag-OFW.
i totally agree with u Ka Uro, sa ngayon ang naisip naming alternative is to migrate to Australia. Sayang talaga ang years na di man lang nakapiling nang asawa ko ang mga anak ko lalo na ang baby namin (turning 3 this october)
Hi Cielo,
Nakakahinanakit talaga tingnan at dinggin ang mga pangyayari ngayon tulad ng giyera. Nakakainis isipin na lahat ng ito ay dahilan lamang sa mga taong gustong maging pinakamalakas, pinakamagaling sa lahat. It is sad to know that there are so many lives affected.
Masuwerte ka nga at ang iyong hubby, you two compliment each other with your love and strength. Keep strong and I’m sure the Lord will guide you to the BEST path to take.
hay… pag pamilyado na talaga kahit anong sakripisyo susuungin. best of luck to you and your family.
sweet mo naman! lucky si hubby wow!
syempre lucky ka rin to have him na tinitiis lumayo sa inyo na very important in his life, just to give you all the BEST…
best of luck to all OFW*.*
happy weekend!
mahirap po talaga ang OFW.. kami nga pong nagmigrate dito sa panibagong lugar eh nahihirapan na, ano pa ung mga pinoy na nawalay sa pamilya nila? mga sakripisyo nga naman ng buhay..
sila talaga ang bagong bayani!!!
Kung di na nga lang kailangan pang umalis ng pinas, walang pinakamasarap mabuhay kundi sa sariling bansa. After namin dito sa KSA, wala pa rin sa plano namin ang umuwi ng pinas. Kung papalarin baka sa ibang lugar din kami mag migrate.
Goodluck sa plano nyo ng family mo.
leah & jenn,
thx for the kind & inspiring words.
bee,
ur totally correct, talagang sacrifice si hubby just to give us the best of everything.
karmi,
i second the motion…
ann,
corek ka dyan, kung di alng tlg mahirap ang buhay sa sariling bayan, walang mas masarap kungdi ang manatili sa Pilipinas
I had a short post about this…kasi naantig talaga ang damdamin ko ng mga kaganapan sa lebanon. Hindi ko talaga napigilan ang mapaluha habang nanonood sa TFC, kasi ang ating mga kababayan na nasa gitna ng kaguluhan ay handang ibuwis ang buhay para sa mga minamahal. Parang nawawalan na talaga sila ng pag-asang makapamuhay ng maayos sa inang bayan.
sabi nga nila, walang madali sa buhay… parang lahat na lang kailangang i-sacrifice. pero sa inyo naman po ate, lucky kayo dahil buo pa rin ang pamilya nyo kahit malayo kayo sa isa’t-isa!
God Bless po sa lahat ng mga plans nyo sa inyong family and I’ll pray na magkasama-sama na rin po kayo! Ingatz po…
sana lahat ng wives ng mga OFWs katulad mo…aba yung iba parang mga one day millionaire…nakakalungkot isipin…
life’s good, few sacrifices pays off afterwards. my pop was once an OFW in Saudi. life’s tough for all of us back then but it’s all good. you guys owe it to the kids and to each other. i have the outmost respect for people like you. God bless with everything ate cielo!