In Defense of Overseas Filipino Workers
In my regular online readings, I usually come across articles about locals of other countries griping about the presence of Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs in their territory. Apparently, OFWs are taking the jobs meant for them. Apparently, OFWs which they describe as inefficient, unintelligible, and underpaid are grabbing the opportunities which they should be getting.
Enough is Enough
When I came across an article last April Fool’s Day of a supposed blunder committed by a national service company in another country of making a mistake in delivery, it looked liked any other article about such topic. However, the last paragraph of the post mentioned that the company is operating under a foreign CEO. The author did not offer his or her own view but the mere mention of a foreign CEO opened the floodgates for the hateful comments to come rushing in. The worst part is that the hateful comments did not merely attack the blunder of the delivery man and the executive who handled the problem, it likewise attacked the foreign CEO and “the inefficient Filipino workers”.
I had to make a complete backtrack of the whole article as I did not remember Filipinos being mentioned in the article as part of the problem. In fact, Filipinos were not even mentioned at all, compared to the others who were considered part of the controversy. But Filipinos, along with the other foreign workers in the country were all lumped in two words: foreign trash. The commenters literally had a field day going over the very tired lines of pinay prostitutes, cheaply paid foreigners, and other comments that merely showcased their ignorance about the Filipino people in general and Overseas Filipino Workers in particular. This is not an isolated case and I have just had enough of this view.
The OFW Phenomena
OFWs are renowned all over the world as one of the most hardworking foreign workers. Their work capabilities and attitude are deemed desirable for many job positions. It has been a point of wonder even among Filipinos themselves why those who appeared to have lackadaisical work attitudes here are able to transform themselves into workhorses abroad. Working in another country usually brings out the best in Filipino workers. It is not actually clear whether it is the challenge of excelling in another land, the desire to provide for the family, or both.
The OFW Struggle
Overseas Filipino Workers face extreme challenges in all aspects of their lives including personal and work-related issues. Personal struggle begins from being separated from family. Doubts, fears, insecurities, and temptations are part of everyday life. Discrimination, employer abuse, and unfulfilled promises about salaries, benefits, and living conditions are realities that have to be faced.
The OFW Dream
When an OFW boards a plane to his or her destination, he or she brings the dream of a better life for a family. There will be dreams of comfort, some even dream of riches. Most will simply dream of a happy homecoming after all financial obligations and responsibilities are settled.
The Usual Whipping Boy
OFWs are being made my many as their whipping boys. They are being made as the scapegoats of other people’s personal failures. They are being criticized and maligned for doing good or excelling in their work.
My Say
Overseas Filipino Workers have been called as the new heroes because of the amount of money they pump into the Philippine economy. I’m sure they don’t need such accolade more than they need to be treated humanely and respectfully in the places where they work. They don’t mean to get the opportunities meant for locals but would like to have part in the opportunities meant for foreign workers.
They perform beyond expectations. They work without complaints. Make no mistake however that they are humans who bleed for their families and they have families whose hearts bleed for them as well. In defense of the Overseas Filipino Workers, they should not be blamed for proving that Filipinos are a force to reckon with in work.
nz2r
INSECURE and ENVIOUS….that’s what most of them are. Over the past years here in Thailand, most of the schools prefer Filipino teachers than “FARANGS”. Simply because Filipinos, do not complain no matter how difficult and tedious the job is, and most of all Filipinos go out of their way just to do the job efficiently (I am talking about Filipino Teachers here in Thailand). Let them be envious and let them grind their teeth as far as I know, there will always be OFWs no matter how far those countries who are going to need one. 🙂
Teresa Martinez
I read somewhere that there will a tremendous impact if all OFWs decide to stop working in other countries all at once and how highly possible it is that certain industries will literally stop at a standstill if this happens. Given the difficult economic condition here in our country, that may never happen. Hardworking OFWs only need to be appreciated by their foreign employers for their true worth.
nz2r
a Big Amen to that 🙂 Filipinos are not hard to please after all.
cheerful
very well written article, i will always have high respect for OFWs as well as admiration for sacrificing a lot. my mum is one and that’s one the reason we was able to finished college and my parents have good life now! my partner K is always have high respect for OFWs too, he always think other countries will not be as good as they are if there’s no OFWs working. i hope our OFW will get all the credits they deserve and be treated fairly. i wish someday, they don’t need to be one…so, they can spend time with their family. 🙂
Teresa Martinez
In spite of negative circumstances, OFWs should continue working hard to do their jobs well and being honest in their dealings with other people. When done right, being an OFW can improve the lives of families. Someday maybe, Filipinos will not need to leave to have a good life.
kulasa
I owe my education to someone who sacrificed everything by working in a foreign country where she was commended for being excellent in her job and I will always be proud of my mom and every Overseas Filipino Worker…. Theirs is a life uniquely purposeful and many could attest to the greatness of Filipino workers….I just hope and pray one day we won’t need to leave the country to provide the best for our children….very profound thoughts and beautifully written as always 🙂
Teresa Martinez
Thanks, it is good to know that you are one of the products of the sacrifices of a true-blue OFW. There can be nothing more rewarding than having children who made good after going through the difficult time of physical separation.
MC
Filipino’s abroad doesn’t get all the good things from where they are. They get humiliated every now and then. That’s why they’re worth to be recognized!
Teresa Martinez
It is not easy to be an OFW. They have to endure so much sacrifices even if they seem to be enjoying material benefits. Many just actually hide their true circumstances from their loved ones.
lencilicious
If only Filipinos have the choice to stay in the Philippines to make a living, then there will be no OFWs discriminated abroad. But sadly that’s not the case. So we need to drag ourselves to work abroad for a brighter future.
I just don’t understand why some of local people of other countries accused us of getting their jobs. And yet they don’t do anything to make a living. As a matter of fact, they just depend on what government will give them from housing allowance, food allowance, medical expenses and so much more. We pay taxes high enough to feed those dependents. We are working our a**es here sincerely and diligently not only for ourselves and our families but also for their country and their local people. They should be grateful instead of throwing unkind words to us. That’s totally not fair.
The least OFWs can do is to continue to work hard and show those irrational individuals that we are in their country to help them and not to mugged them.
Teresa Martinez
Yes, if there are enough opportunities for us here, I’m sure only a few will consider leaving to find work in a foreign land.
Teresa Martinez
Comment received from Lainy Belle:
Undoubtedly, OFWs are the most discriminated abroad. They had to take loads of craps and shi*s at the workplace just to be able to send some dollars back home. They exceptionally persevere and manifest one of a kind craftsmanship at work. They work hard, don’t complain, and are very capable. They have an international reputation of doing all the work and making everything happen that’s why they stand up remarkably from among the rest. They have hugely been motivated to work doubly hard for their families and mainly to rise up from poverty,
I am not too sure if it’s innate in humans to be bad when someone is up ahead but manifesting excellence at work and be discriminated for being such is unjust and unfair.
Very little is known that the hard-end money sent by OFWs to their respective families meant tears and blood for them. The river of tears that they cry for missing their families and the sheer discrimination they get at work is something that makes them the real Filipino heroes of our time.
As once quoted by an American who has great admiration for Filipinos, and I quote:
“What I have seen, that many of you have not seen, is how your family members, the ones who are overseas Filipino workers, do not tell you much about how hard their lives actually are. OFWs are very often mistreated in other countries, at work and in their personal lives. You probably have not heard much about how they do all the work but are severely underpaid, because they know that the money they are earning must be sent home to you, who depend on them. The OFWs are very strong people, perhaps the strongest I have ever seen. They have their pictures taken in front of nice shops and locations to post on Facebook so that you won’t worry about them. But every Pinoy I have ever met abroad misses his/her family very, very much.”
Indeed, there is nothing valuable than the sacrifice that a OFW has done for himself, family and the entire Filipino nation. Hats off to all OFWs worldwide! You will always have my respect and admiration. Mabuhay po kayo!
P.S I am sorry again for the litany. LOL!
Teresa Martinez
For some reason, Lainy’s comment above cannot come through the usual way of commenting so I copied and pasted it.
Thanks Lainy for being so expressive in your views as always. You have just about covered it all and I feel no need to add more. Thanks again for the big effort of sending me your comment through other means.
Algene
This post reminds me of my dad who is currently working at PNG, as an OFW. It feels good to know that there are some individuals who recognize the great things brought by OFWs for our country. 🙂
Teresa Martinez
Many OFWs are worth recognizing.
betchai
i love every thoughts you put into this Theresa, indeed, you are so right, we Fiipinos raise our work ethics and standards higher when we work in other countries, I think one of the other reason is also we want to represent our country so very well.
Teresa Martinez
Ah yes, you are right. We Filipinos tend to take greater pride in our race when we are in a foreign land. Being among foreigners probably awaken our inborn desire to make our country proud.
riatravelbug.com
You know what, I am an OFW and so is my hubby and we’re proud to be one bec we bring home the dollars. I could care less what these people say about OFWs bec in reality, we do the dirty work, we do it with pride and conviction. We’re loyal and dedicated and we’re smarter than what these foreigners give credit us for.
The reality is, these foreigners are just too proud to do the jobs we effectively and efficiently do and more often, we do it excellently! Do they think their companies or even country will flourish without OFWs or other expatriates? Try having an exodus of the multitude of talents and brains of OFWs and expats and their country/companies will be left with egotistical, proud and brainless people who cannot even do half of our work.
Thanks for posting this. People don’t know what we all go through to have a decent life abroad. But to add insult to injury is just too much.
Ria C
A proud OFW 🙂
Teresa Martinez
I have always thought about that: why some locals of other countries would resent OFWs who took the jobs they didn’t want in the first place. Thank you for your real-life input.
papaleng (@papaleng)
Sad to hear some of our new heroes are treated unfairly. They have to endure being away from their love ones just to earned meager bucks.
Teresa Martinez
OFW sad stories used to be just stories to me until one of my loved ones became one.
Mhie@smarlk
OFW is a broad topic if you want to talk. Mostly people who works in a career path has a better lifestyle and they’re the boss in a company, a teacher, computer designer, engineer and a nurse but some people who just work like a maid are the one who work like a slave in other country which the government think how to stop sending those Filipino’s to work on that category.
Teresa Martinez
You should know that not all OFWs who hold good job titles are exempt from the hardships and persecution. In fact, some locals target them specifically for holding such good positions in a foreign land.
MC Calunsod
I have so many friends who are OFW’s and hat’s off to everyone of them who brave up to make ends meet for their family and I salute you for writing this article to stand up for hardworking Filipinos abroad who are not being treated fairly.
Teresa Martinez
I have people very close to me who are OFWs. I see, hear, and feel their pain, even if they don’t say anything.
Chubskulit Rose
It’s really a shame that some people would label OFW’s some very discriminating names where in fact they are the hardworking ones. Even my husband admire ad respects Filipino workers.
Teresa Martinez
Thankfully, even when OFWs are maligned with name-calling, many have recognized their extraordinary abilities.
Vernz@ Consumer Mom Talks
Amen to this sis. My mother used to be an OFW before, I share same sentiments, she also has gone heights to help his fellow OFW even to the point of spending her own earnings to pull them out of their bad situation. We can only pray that those stakeholders involve in this can dispense fair disposition for our OFWs who did nothing but work for their family back home.
Teresa Martinez
OFWs who work hard and is mindful of the quality of work they provide deserve respect.
OFWWATCH
Well-written article. Thank you for uplifting the hearts and spirits of overseas Filipino workers all across the globe. It’s such a shame that some people don’t know how hard it is to work in a foreign land and sometimes to be treated unfairly. This write-up is so lovely. More power and see you around!
Teresa Martinez
Thank you. Most OFWs hide their difficult situations from their own loved ones and try to carry the burden on their own. To be treated respectfully in a foreign land as a human being is something every person is entitled to, regardless of race or ethnicity.
ZENAIDA OFELIA GATCHALIAN BENEDICTO
like many filipino immigrants in california, i,m a live in one on one caregiver. took care of my patients ’til they passed away. just like other filipino caregivers, my employers considered me as family. they appreciate the loving care i gave their love ones.they trusted me w/ them (they have their own families to care for). they keep in touch, by phone and facebook. even if i had to leave mr. dolcini, his kids told me, the door is always open for me anytime i go there.even attended the dairy princess pageant , the only “outsider ” amidst agri/dairy businessmen and their families.friends of mr dolcini expressed their appreciation when i was introduced “dad’s caregiver.” ” he sure looks great in your care!” PROUD TO BE A PINOY !!!!!