Overseas Filipino Workers: The New Lifeblood of the Philippines

11 million Filipinos are working overseas (inluding myself). That may not be much when compared to the number of Chinese or Indians out of their respective countries, but you have to consider the fact that there are only 89 million Filipinos in the world today. It means around 1 out of 10 Pinoys (Filipinos) are working away from home, or roughly 11%.

This isn't because these 11 million have hopes and dreams of exploring the world, experience new challenges and meet new people. Ask almost all of them and they'll tell you why they're working abroad: they had no choice. It was something they had to do in order to give their families back home a better life. It would have been OK if these Filipinos brought their families along to settle in a new place. Sadly, that's not the case. Most workers fly off and work overseas on their own, leaving the ones they love behind. 

At least, in spite of the loneliness they feel, they're efforts are paying off. In 2007, these 11 million people sent an average of $1,500 dollars to their families. Sum it up, and the total amount Filipinos abroad sent back to their families amounted to $14.5 BILLION (USD). That is a lot of money. Because of that money, their kids have been able to go to good schools. The families back home were able to buy houses, lots, and cars. They were able to pay for medical bills for their sick relatives. Indeed, these overseas workers have been the new lifeblood of the Philippines. This is why even though unemployment and underemployment remain high in the country, people are still treading above water. This year (2008), it's estimated remittances from OFW's would increase to $16 billion, resulting in even more money for families to spend especially during the tough times. 

But this trend comes with consequences.

1 out of 10 families are broken. Children are growing up without 1 or 2 parents. Sure, they may have money to have a better life, but it's not everything. Money cannot buy a hug, a caress, or a kiss. It cannot buy the company of the people who are not around. 

A lot of Filipinos face discrimination in the countries they're working for. These 11 million people are not all professionals or white collar workers. Majority of them are maids, nurses, caregivers, waitresses, and construction workers. These jobs are prone to discrimination from all who believe that a person's job denotes his / her social status in life. 

And the worst consequence for me is that bad habits of Filipinos are reinforced because of the money being sent by Filipinos abroad. The families back home think the Filipinos abroad have a lot of money, when in fact they're starving themselves of having a better life so they can send a bit more money back home. Relatives of relatives suddenly ask for money to finance their needs, taking the easy way out of their financial needs instead of looking for jobs or thinking of ways to better their lives. Suddenly, some people are sending money to finance the education of their uncle's brother's nephew, kids that these workers do not even know or care about. Some families become lazy and are not motivated to work or start a business, because they can always rely on their lifeblood abroad to get them out of their financial problems.

The new lifeblood of the Philippines these people may be, but the tremendous amount of money is not the whole story. The Overseas Filipino Workers and their families are suffering everyday. Money may solve some of their problems, but it will never be worth the price of living a sad and lonely life that's experienced by those who are away and left behind. 

In an ideal world, every Filipino would want to be home with their families without worrying about their future. Hopefully, the massive exodus of Filipinos is the first step to the end goal: for everyone to come home. 

layman