To be an OFW -- What are the Tradeoffs?

[cottonmouth]

---

I am an OFW, I am working now in JAPAN. True, it is not easy to be away from your motherland because even though you see all the smiles from the Japanese, it is all Tatemae (or plastikan). I miss the motherland but some of us were born lucky and others were not. I for one was not born royally but I have dreams. When you have a dream you follow the road to which you think is shorter or sometimes less traveled.

I believed the Philippines is experiencing what had South Korea experienced on its way up. Many years ago the South Koreans were scattered all over the world, especially Germany, just to be able to feed those who are left. In return, their foreign workers have made their children and their children's-children be educated. So we look at South Korea now, it is rich and progressive.

Everybody needs to make a sacrifice in order to fullfill a dream. We the OFW's have our own dream. Whether it is for ourselves or for our families, it doesn't matter now. What matters are the results of these dreams. Collectively, most of OFW's have made their families better so I hope as a collective result it will also make the Philippines better.

If 20years from now Philippines will be a progressive and richer country, then our pain will not in vain.

[ian_1983]

regardless of the negative implications of being separated from families..the exodus of OFW's and migrants will continue, unless our Government will do their act together and provide better opportunities for everyone. Luckily for the select few who are able to grab decent jobs in IT, Engineerig and BPO..But how about the majority Filipinos (50%) who are very poor?

[Rance]

Loneliness will kill you - being away from your family

[Rance]

one of them is lending your wife to other men or vise versa.

Fair enough when you are also doing the same thing when your wife is not with you.

[kemiko7]

im OFW too..working here in Kingdom of Saudi arabia..reason? i need to send my brother and sister sa college and to feed my family..before pko grad sa college i already plan unsa field ko magwork para dali makagawas, coz i know ang nagsunod nko nga manghod gamay chance maka adto college if dili ko makatabang,(nakahuman lang college kay gamay ra man tuition sa state univeristy, 10 peso/unit, at my time). so after working for a year sa pinas nakaanhi nko dri sa saudi.trade offs?quality time with family..wala ka sa ila side, good times and bad..dili nimo kaau masundan ang pagdako sa imo anak, nga kasagaran dili nimo cla masuod..

is it about money? hmnnn what i know is am here para makatabang, makahatag sa ila og maau nga life..ang sakit lang paminawon na stories sa mga OFW kay abi sa nabilin sa pinas nga gipamunit lang ang kwarta dri..kung mogasto murag walay kahumanan..wala kabalo unsa kahago magwork dri para mahatag ang ila kinahanglan.literal kaayo nga dugo,singot og luha tawon ang nagtulo para makapadala sa pinas..dugo? kay nosebleed sa kainit dri,singot sa kakapoy, luha sa kamingaw..tutok sa pictures na lay mabuhat. first na anhi dri excited pa kay another place...pagbalik dri from vacation..lisod na kaayo itikang ang tiil palayo..sa taxi pa lang paingon sa airport, naghinayhinay na og tulo ang luha nga d ka kabanatay..

but were very happy na nagka chance mi makatabang sa among mga love ones..and to mention dako kaayo tabang sa remitance sa mga ofw sa ato economy.we dont know for how many years magwork dri para ma provide ang kinahanglan sa pamilya..but one thing for sure..mobalik og mobalik jud mi sa pinas...theres no place like home...

[higanstolsdawen]

@kemiko7... agree ko nimu nga dugo, luha ug singot ang puhunan natong mga OFW.

[jdimpas]

im OFW too..working here in Kingdom of Saudi arabia..reason? i need to send my brother and sister sa college and to feed my family..before pko grad sa college i already plan unsa field ko magwork para dali makagawas, coz i know ang nagsunod nko nga manghod gamay chance maka adto college if dili ko makatabang,(nakahuman lang college kay gamay ra man tuition sa state univeristy, 10 peso/unit, at my time). so after working for a year sa pinas nakaanhi nko dri sa saudi.trade offs?quality time with family..wala ka sa ila side, good times and bad..dili nimo kaau masundan ang pagdako sa imo anak, nga kasagaran dili nimo cla masuod..

is it about money? hmnnn what i know is am here para makatabang, makahatag sa ila og maau nga life..ang sakit lang paminawon na stories sa mga OFW kay abi sa nabilin sa pinas nga gipamunit lang ang kwarta dri..kung mogasto murag walay kahumanan..wala kabalo unsa kahago magwork dri para mahatag ang ila kinahanglan.literal kaayo nga dugo,singot og luha tawon ang nagtulo para makapadala sa pinas..dugo? kay nosebleed sa kainit dri,singot sa kakapoy, luha sa kamingaw..tutok sa pictures na lay mabuhat. first na anhi dri excited pa kay another place...pagbalik dri from vacation..lisod na kaayo itikang ang tiil palayo..sa taxi pa lang paingon sa airport, naghinayhinay na og tulo ang luha nga d ka kabanatay..

but were very happy na nagka chance mi makatabang sa among mga love ones..and to mention dako kaayo tabang sa remitance sa mga ofw sa ato economy.we dont know for how many years magwork dri para ma provide ang kinahanglan sa pamilya..but one thing for sure..mobalik og mobalik jud mi sa pinas...theres no place like home...

wer in ksa r u located?.. yeah, indeed u need to struggle "sobrang init at sobrang lamig"

[kemiko7]

@jdimpas...sa jubail ko bai..naa pod ka ksa?

[jdimpas]

as an experience, theirs a lot of tradeoffs being a ofw. for a single guy and not committed yet to feed someone home..
this would be the daily routine in abroad: work->work->work->work->
you can't even spare time to unwind yourself.. no more, barkada moments, tagay2x, hang-out, ug uban pah..
physically your program to work...

[jdimpas]

@jdimpas...sa jubail ko bai..naa pod ka ksa?

al-khobar city, near n Bahrain..
silingan rata, just 30mins drive to ur city