First Article: OFW Dad
For some people,
working abroad is a logical step in their career. For others, it’s a necessity
in a tough job market or a desire for a better standard of living. And there are
those who do it to experience a different way of life.
Millions of people throughout the world have a desire to work and live
abroad, to taste a career and a culture within the unknown. For some it is
simply the chance to fulfill a need to travel and explore, to see how others
live and work; for others it is a way to progress in their career, to learn
from the skills of people outside their own country and to reap the financial
rewards that often allure people to work overseas.
If you are interested in working abroad but haven’t got a clue how to go
about it (and don’t think the chance is likely), think again. In this day and
era anything is possible. In the workplace you just have to set your goals and
tread the path in the direction you want to take.
It was not easy to
work a broad; it’s a matter of understanding, support and sacrifices as well as
for their families that they will leave here in the Philippines. It was not
easy to stay away from them or to say goodbye for a long period of time, but
for a better and good future their families they’re doing it.
OFW’s take so many
risks and sacrifices just to earn a living. Some of them accept 3D (dirty,
difficult and dangerous) works just to earn a bit higher salaries that they can
send to their families here in the Philippines.
The wobbly economic and political situation in the
Philippines is one of the main reasons why most professionals and highly
knowledgeable Filipinos choose to work abroad. They could not see any light
from higher authorities to realize success for the country. And for the people
they find more meaning giving in their skills in other countries rather than
staying in a place where stability is far by reach.
Our country is governed mostly by dishonest and
unserious in dealing with the country's economic progress and growth. They are
busy arguing, debating and opposing each other's ideas and projects rather than
making steps in solving the present problems of the country. There is lack of
collaboration, sympathy, acceptance and consideration. They keep on complaining
rather than working hard for the country.
The Philippines is a rich nation because of the
resources that we have. However it's not well handled. That is why many
Filipinos leave yearly to look for better opportunities abroad. Some of them
prefer to work and stay there permanently. They adapt everything in their new
environment. Second main reason is Poverty; some Filipinos acquire work from
factories or manufacturing firms for the purpose of having experience but
really don't have any plan to stay longer in the company. The source of
livelihood is not enough for the growing family, so one of the partners must
decide to go abroad for the good future of the family.
Another main reason is Low Wages - College education is
very expensive, parents really find it hard to pay tuition and school projects
of their children’s. The moment they land a job in the Philippines, he does not
get compensated enough to equal his investment on education.
That is why most Filipino skilled workers acquire jobs
abroad where wage is proportionate to education, skills, and experience. Even
skilled professionals here grab the opportunity to work as maids, care giver,
sales ladies, construction workers and laborers from other countries. As long
as it is upright and high paying. Also, Low benefits- most of the companies
here especially Filipino owned don't have good benefits but foreign-based
companies can give reasonable benefits to their workers.
As a daughter of an
OFW, I want to share to you a short story and experience of having an OFW DAD.
It
was year 2010, the very time I saw my dad leave the country for our future. It
was hard to say goodbye that night, but he have to. He decided to do it because
he want to give us a better future, what we need and what we wants and for us
to survive everyday living.
It
was December 2012, when he gets back in the country after his 2 years contract
in Doha, Qatar. I was so enlightened by that time and so excited to see him
again, as per me I am a “daddy’s girl”. And by that time I really understand
much deeper how hard it is to work away from your loved ones.
As
their family or us, their children all we can do to pay their efforts is to
study harder because, it is the only and most important treasure they can give
to us, a “good education”.
Once my father told
me; “If I can stay here in our country for good. I would love to, but I can’t.
Just look at the state of our living here, it’s not as good as the other
country. There’s a minimal chances of employment. So for now we have to take
risk and to sacrifice, because it’s not only for us, but for you and for your
siblings.”
We must appreciate
effort they do, because without them we’re not here. They are the reason why
we’re alive and enjoying and living the life we wanted to be. Don’t wait for
the moment of their leaving until we sink in to our minds how blessed we are to
have them as our parents or just an in individual who take a big role in our
lives. It’s not too late to say “Thank you and I love you”, it might be a word
but for them it mean the whole world.
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