OFWs in the News
September 15th, 2005 at 7:51 am (General, Brain Drain, National Politics, Media, Economics)
The past few days we have been reading and hearing reports on the Filipina Domestic Helper in Singapore who killed another Filipina Domestic Helper, allegedly because of jealous over a Singaporean taxi driver. Today, we read a new head on Inq7.net: “OFWs send home $885M in July, a 26% rise.”
The two news items provide for a good illustration of our OFWs.
On the one hand, they are seen as the new breed of heroes in this country, siphoning off foreign money into our beleaguered country. A 26% rise in their remittances is very good news indeed. Or is it?
On the other hand, we hear of two Filipinas allegedly fighting over the affection of a Singaporean taxi driver, which, in my opinion, is brought about by desperation, loneliness and helplessness. Imagine being in a foreign country, doing all you can short of selling your soul to the devil just so you can feed your family. Imagine living in isolation, away from all that is comfortable and familiar, away from your family. Then, something as trivial as a fight over a guy comes along. You might just snap and do something horrendous. Not that there’s any excuse for committing a crime.
It’s not rare nowadays to hear to that our greatest export, our greatest commodity is human labor. Everyday, thousands of Filipino line up outside embassies, outside the Department of Foreign Affairs, outside overseas recruitment agencies. And not because they’re out for a challenge or a new adventure. Most of them, simply want to survive. Going abroad, for most, is not a matter of thriving. They go abroad because they have to. Otherwise, they are likely to rot at a dead end low-paying job. And consequently, they would have no chance of ever progressing economically. Thus, they are forced to abandon their families and likely live sad, lonely lives abroad.
True, our OFWs help a lot in keeping or country afloat. But does it always have to be this way? Is there no other way for Filipinos to progress? Is there no way for us to keep afloat or maybe thrive without having to make thousands of Filipinos suffer abroad? I would like to think that there is hope, that one day, Filipinos no longer have to go abroad just to survive.
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myepinoy said,
September 16, 2005 at 9:41 am
I am an OFW. I thank you for taking your time to write something about us.
I agree and i am also hoping that one day a Filipino should not go abroad and suffer just to survive. That A Filipino goes abroad not as part of ‘government policy’ to shore up its economy but as respected individuals and who has a bargaining chips against the abusive employers.
I am not saying that these maids and workers are not respectable Filipinos, but most of them are helpless individuals. Most often, their foreign employers consider them as slaves and thus being subjected to all kinds of abuses. I’ve seen a lot of them here. It breaks your heart.
Also, it is unfortunate that our government doesn’t seem to care considering that OFW’s are one of the most precious assets that these government rely on to keep the economy afloat. Di ba sa company, kung ano ang precious product (sorry for using this term) that brings more income, yon ang well protected para protected din ang income ng company.
Again, Thank you so much.
Bloghead said,
September 19, 2005 at 11:49 pm
If only the people itself rise to ask for better job, better economy, better government etc. It’s important to educate the people and then come back to help their own people. Open their own business, employ their own people. Import and exports philiphine own products and services. Encourage tourism, settle the terrorism. They way I see from afar is that the government sucksz and in the end the people suffer.
Well that’s my own opinion!
micca said,
March 16, 2008 at 4:14 am
hello. i’m micca basco from the university of the philippines Los banos, i wpuld like to use your blog for my speech about OFWS for not being the heroes of this country.. pls. give me your whole name and occupation if possible…. so that i can properly cite you. this is my email-ad– miccacute18@yahoo.com