Crossing Seas, Chasing Dreams: The Search for Greener Pastures
Everyone has dreams of what they want to do after college and where they want to go. And they try to do everything to chase their goals until they reach them. However, this fairytale ends when costs start to outweigh benefits, political landscapes change, and opportunities are few and far between.
Some of us have ambitious goals, wanting to leave the Philippines for better prospects abroad. But have we stopped to consider those whose decision to leave the country is not just for the glimmering lights but instead to get out of poverty’s shadow? Filipinos who suffer from simply trying to survive in the Philippines have no choice but to leave and work abroad just to provide for their loved ones at home. Have we wondered what overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) experience? Is it entirely true that they all prosper once they leave the Philippines?
Ever since the beginning of the American occupation in the Philippines, the promise of greener pastures has enticed Filipinos to move and seek opportunities abroad. Even in modern times, uncertainties about the price of simple goods or who the next president will be are enough to push people out of the country. Currently, two million OFWs are working abroad, and over ten million Filipinos have already migrated to other countries, all for a better life and the need to support the people they left behind. The money they send back to the Philippines is also crucial for the economy, taking up nearly 9% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), earning them the title of Bagong Bayani or modern-day heroes.
However, life abroad is not at all smooth sailing. Apart from separation from their families, OFWs experience injustice and are vastly unappreciated by our government. In various case studies on OFWs in Hong Kong, it was found that many Filipinos suffer from workplace abuse at the hands of their employers, to the point of having their passports withheld to prevent them from going home. A CNN report stated that these Filipinos are also bound contractually through unfair laws, with little being done by our government to support our modern-day heroes. Moreover, OFWs working manual labor in the Middle East endure horrible working standards, with some not paid at all despite all their effort. OFWs are well aware of these challenges and the risks they have to take. However, in a country where job uncertainty is rampant, leaving the country seems to be the only viable option.
There is no doubt that OFWs and their contribution to Philippine society is immense and overlooked. They continue to be underappreciated, ranging from a lack of recognition to an absence of comprehensive support from our government. We need societal and governmental initiatives to support Filipinos abroad. We should hold our government accountable for taking effective measures and ensuring that the basic human rights of all OFWs are upheld. While it is essential to urge our government into supporting OFWs there is a lot we can do as individuals. Let’s educate ourselves about the issues and be empathetic towards our peers with family members working abroad. It is crucial for us to share the stories of OFWs to raise awareness of their struggles and challenge the norms of abuse and exploitation abroad to break the cycle for future generations.
