Overseas Filipino Workers OFWs
Posted by admin | Under Financial Wednesday Aug 13, 2008An Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) is a person of Philippine origin who works and lives outside of the Philippines. With a lack of well paying jobs at home and the knowledge of English Filipinos are welcome abroad by many countries. Many Filipinos become OFWs because they are supporting their families at home through remittances.
According to counts there are more than 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide which is equivalent to 11% of the total population of the Philippines. Each year more than a million Filipinos leave to work abroad as skilled workers and also as unskilled workers.
Money sent by OFWs back home is a major financial boon to the country’s economy. In 2005 according to Philippine banks, US$10 billion was sent through remittances to the Philippines. In 2006 that number was US$12.8 and in 2007 the number was US$14.45 which equaled 10% of the gross domestic product. These numbers don’t reflect the money sent overseas via non-banking methods such as door to door and human couriers.
My Filipino family has quite a few OFWs in various countries around the world. I have a sister in law in Israel as well as a niece. I have three nephews that work for cruise lines in the US and I have a niece that works in Canada as a domestic helper. In fact my wife was working in Israel when I met her. I can tell you for a fact that if these relatives were not working abroad and sending money home this family would be suffering. In fact because of their children working abroad my in laws are doing quite well. My concern is that my nephews and one of my nieces have spouses and children at home. The children are growing up without the influence of their fathers and mothers and it could and has led to problems.
Please comment and tell me what you think about the Overseas Filipino Workers. Do you think it hurts the Philippine economy in the long run? How many OFWs are there in your family or are you an OFW? Any stories to tell from personal experience?
[...] Overseas Filipino Workers OFWsAn Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) is a person of Philippine origin who works and lives outside of the Philippines. With a lack of well paying jobs at home and the knowledge of English Filipinos are welcome abroad by many countries. … [...]
Thank You very much!
I hope that these people sacrificing the break-up of their family could find a way to make it work for them. There are very complicated family dynamics that go with the choice, which the OFW should really look into carefully. The break-up has to be as temporary as possible.
This is not just one story, but this is the most recent. This is a request from a friend’s sister in the Middle East. She wants me to introduce her to someone here in the US.
She just discovered that her husband who left as an OFW 3 years ago, did not come home on the 2nd yr to visit the family. He must have come back to the Philippines but with the woman he met at his job. Now their oldest son (of 6 children) discovered it. This son had been an OFW himself and met a young OFW too. They came home and have a child; however, they weren’t able to go back yet.
Now, this OFW woman who was able to leave a yr ago…but is stuck with no husband to hopefully help with 6 children, and another young family with her grandchild to support as well. How would I introduce her to someone here?
Oh, what a tangled web…
Hi Zylla3
Thanks for stopping by. As I said my wife also was an OFW when I met her in Israel. Some of the stories which she has told me about the girls and guys that were there are just sickening. Being alone in a place other than home affects everyone. Some people handle that loneliness different than others.
I know it’s not only for the OFW in the Middle East, but it was the most recent heartbreaking story I encountered. It’s the same story whether it’s the US or Canada. Like you said…loneliness is sometimes hard to handle for most. I had some in the family that I have some reservations about keeping the family apart.
I grew up without a father in the family not because mom and dad separated but dad is a seaman. He comes home only once a year, we are lucky enough if he can come home twice in a year. Mom is a nurse but did not decided to go abroad to care of us. It is very hard for me (as the eldest) having to help mom take care of my younger brothers. We live comfortably since dad is sending $$,$$$ every month and mom also has a full time work in the govt. We are lucky enough that dad was very loyal to mom. I have heard stories about loneliness in a foreign country, I felt scared and afraid that my dad too will leave my mom or just the danger of his work. I always pray that will never happen. I am very happy to tell all that Dad and Mom just celebrated their 25 years of marriage. Stories like this is inspiring since they have somehow surpassed the just few years of their marriage life.
Hi Hope
Just remember it hurts your dad as much to leave you as it hurts you when he leaves. I know I was a seaman for many years and missed so many firsts for my children. There is a saying among sailors that the hardest job in the world is a sailors wife. Thank your mom every chance you get.