There's no place like home

you couldn't have said it better!
For each day passing, I would put a tick mark on that day in my calendar and comfort myself by saying, " One day done!".
i'd sit down to dinner, stare at the food and think of the very juicy and crispy lechon i had during my vacation.
on payday, i'd stash away a little amount for my daily expenses and run to the nearest bank.as i am filling out the form to send money home, i'd imagine my children's faces with smiles. nothing could feel beter.
Yes. We are OFWs. We fuel the country's economy, we help make the politicians pockets heavier, but the bottomline is, we have obligations...our children should go to school, they should not eat paksiw everyday like us, we should help our aging parents financially. We should sacrifice.
OO nga..TIIS lang, sige lang..may awa ang DIYOS.

This article is GREAT! i had this printed in the office yesterday and read at home only this morning. As a former OFW, i could still perfectly remember how my life was. Touched talaga ako while reading the content. When my reading came to "Inday
diin ka na subong haw?" my tears started falling. i was talking to my mother over the cell phone. She was asking the same question while i was in Lebanon looking for refuge with the family i'm working for during the 1-month-long summer war on July 2006. i was crying then. i wanted to convince her I'm "OK" and safe but can't tell her exactly where i was. Working for one of the top government officials is indeed life-threatening. Time comes you don't know where you're going and leaving the place is in no time. Staying in the house may not be safe. Being attacked and fired in the middle of the night is something you probably can't imagine happening. Despite of these, i still cherish my 2years and 3months life in Lebanon. i miss my work and all the people i came to work with. And forever i will remember the lessons this experience has brought me. 'Twas never a wasted time. I am part of the history. Salute to all the OFWs out there....

you right, OFW is tough job, but is our choice for the seek of our family, it is part of our life wether OFW or not everybody has its own suffering and sacrifices but in different aspect of our life. I for one, never in my entire life dreaming to work abraod but we cannot avoid some circumtances in life that we are force to go outside our country for the future of our children and to help also our sibling. Yes we need to save for ourself for us to send huge amount of money to our love one without their knowledge what really our life abraod, but if we see at the greater picture, I think we are more fortunate than others who don't have the chance to go other places. it is for us how to handle it. me i told my family what am i doing, so they don't expect that i am picking money, then i used to reward my self once in a while, be contented and thank God for the strenght and life he give me everyday, for giving me the chance to be an instrument for the better of my family is a big blessing for me. So don't worry offer to God all the burdens that we have and it is easy for us to handle. GOD Bless .

Majority of Filipinos who are perpetually agreeable to the Yanks have poor analysis in knowing what is true from reality. They tend to believe what they've read or seen in the news/books that are US-influenced. Many claimed to have studied in some Phil. refutable universities but lacks a clear analysis of what is really happening or they are just liars and cowards like their master Uncle Sam. And don't brag about the dollars the Fil-Ams or illigals are sending, they're able because they worked for it, same with an OFW who's working in other parts of the world. Surely US accepts immigrants in their country since everbody knows they're not the real owners of that land. Whenever a US Aid cometh, reality is, you can't be sure if it's true or just a propaganda to portray them as generous.

1. Invaded the Americas and killed the owners of the land, the native american indians. A gross sin to humanity.
2. Colonized various lands in the 1800s. Plundered and hindered their potential prosperity forever.
3. Used nuclear weapon 2X in Japan without thinking about the innocent lives.
4. Made war with NoKor and the Viets with all LIES.
5. Economically/militarily mingled with the south americas in the 60s to 80s but covertly hindered their development.
6. Prolifirates gossips and insecurities just to sell military hardwares. Claims to be helpful and generous towards weak allies like Phil. but actually a wolf in sheep's clothing. Looks like they handed US Aid regularly through the years but can't be sure if it's true or just an advertising. Pinoys will never taste prosperity as long as they look up to Uncle Sam as a friend and move away from his influence.
7. Liberated Kuwait and Iraq but with an unjustified price.
8. Controls the worlds News & Media to maintain an innocent, charismatic, lamb-like profile. But its truth are distilled with lies.
9. What else is new? Make war with developing nations to maintain dominance? Claims to be rich and a role-model but actually plundering the wealth of nations. Incessantly complains when losing economically or militarily. Spread lies, lies, lies, lies ...... Land of milk and honey? American dream? Land of daydreamers who hopelessly wishing that all worlds' wealth and pride comes to their table. I hope the whole sane world will wake up and confront this arrogant pseudo policeman.

What is up with the previous comment? Instead od singing praises to the OFWs, he is bashing America instead. Most Filipinos that go to America are not usually OFWs. They are immigrants and transported the whole family and make a new life in America. Yes, they still send money and help members of their family back home but big difference to the OFWs.
If you have beef with America, take it in some other Forum or tell it to the American Government itself in Washington. Here, we salute the OFWs and the sacrifices they made to better their families and the country. OFWs are the unsung heroes of the Philippines. We salute you and we wish you all the lucks.

i read the original tagalog version months ago or a year and it was more touchy at ramdam mo talaga. It was circulating in facebook and yahoo mails and mostly people commented they were teary upon reading the article. They felt the sentiments of the author and can really relate as OFWs knew there is no place like home, a place like Philippines, a place together with the family. Though some OFWs were lucky enough to have a comfortable life somewhere in the world, a good paying job, nice working environment, still they were longing and missed there lifestyle back home. Pinoys were really fond eating foods and surely this is the second thing they miss as the family was on the top of their list. Festive, laughter, chismis, birthdays, drinking session with matching videoke, beach, etc were i guess included on the list as well. Obviously pinoys were fun loving people. And as OFW who worked hard for the welfare of thier family, there number one enemy and had put extra effort to fight with was the homesick. It maybe hard on the beginning especially if life abroad is not that favorable on their part, but still they have to sacrifice and must survive for the sake of their love ones and also with their ego. But anyway, i really salute the Overseas filipino workers and do appreciate their goals, determination and fighting spirit. you people are true heros of our nation and of your family. aja!

How true! I too worked in Dammam & Jubail, KSA for more than 8 years. Our love ones back home do not really know the real score of OFWS' lives, esp in the Middle East, where working conditions are generally not that good. We normally hide this from them. I was quite lucky to work with a company under SABIC, but I know too well how several fellow Pinoys and other foreigners live in not so good living conditions. Also, many of us save as much we can while abroad so that we can send a good sum of money to our family. There is no such thing as a life of milk and honey in the Middle East - in general.
We too have to bear the heat, cold and high humidity at various times of the year, not only the harsh culture in the foreign land where we live. Kinakaya ito for the sake of our family. No amount of hardship can stop us, OFW's, from surrendering.

I couldn't disagree with any of your statements. I've worked overseas since after finishing college and can exactly relate to the feelings you conveyed in this article. I'm certain there are millions of OFWs like me who are proud and thankful that we found and made our dreams come true by working far away from home, missing all those important family occasions (e.g., birthdays of our parents and children, christmas and new year, you name them!) just to be able to provide financial support to our loved ones. We take pride on how our neighbors envy our parents and families for having people like us who selflessly continue to defy all the odds inherent to being in a foreign land. We take pride on things we managed to acquire and for being able to give our children good education. Some of us continue to get lucky all the times while some end up with continued miseries. Life is what we make it, as an old adage say. We can always change things for the better. The treatment that we get from our relatives and how people look at us are dependent on how we manage their expectations. We bear the pains to survive life away from our loved ones. Time to make them realize that it isn't about money. It isn't just about what we can give them. It's about teaching them to give value to what we earned and what we share. I salute all the Filipinos like me out there. I never envy the politicians with their luxurious lifestyle. I never dream to be like them. For me, being an ordinary OFW is in itself an honor for my family and for my beloved Philippines.

To my fellow OFWs, I look up to you with pride and humility... For the sake of our family, we sacrifice ourselves to endure all the pains. We just hope that every penny we send to our love ones will be spent wisely...

Tama yung sinulat niya. Nagreflect sa sitwasyon ng mga OFW . Tutuo lahat yun, Lalo na yung sinabi niyang survivors at tumatanda din ang mga OFW. Nasa 1 milyon na ang OFW dito pagpapatunay lamang na patuloy ang pagdami ng umaalis sa atin dahil sa kokonting trabaho kumpara sa lumalaking populasyon.
Para sa akin bilang OFW din....(paumanhin po kung malayo man sa topic). Sana wag ng ituloy ng DECS na dagdagan pa yung taon ng mga estudyante. Na akala nila eh solusyon ito sa dahil daw sa mababang kalidad ng ating edukasyon. O sige nga....pagkatapos magsigraduate ng mga milyong-milyong matatalinong Pinoy, saan naman sila maghahanap ng trabaho. Lalo lang tatagal yung pag-aaral ng mga bata.
Pagkatapos ng ikalawang digmaan nung 1945 dapat naituwid na ang orientasyon ng ating edukasyon, palibhasa nasanay na tayo sa orientasyon ng sistemang edukasyong maka-Amerikano. Kaya tayong mga Pinoy masyado ring maka-stateside. Kaya magmula nung panahon na iyon ni isang produktong Pilipino eh walang sumikat sa pandaigdigang merkado. Sino nga namang imbentor na Pilipino ma-eenganyo kung tayong mga Pinoy eh nakatingin sa produkto ng iba o sa mga stateside. Tuloy ang tanong: Saang category ng industriya ba namayagpag ang Pilipinas sa merkado sa buong mundo tulad ng (kotse, electronics, eroplano, plastic, tren, barko, cellphone, pelikula, musika at mga makinarya) Wala di ba? Ultimo nga bala ng kanyon ng AFP sa Pakistan pa natin binibili. Kahit kopyang kopya pa natin mag-inglis ang mga Kano pero kung di rin na natin nasusuportahan ang lokal na produkto, wala rin. Kung walang sariling industriya.....natural walang trabaho.....kung walang trabaho.....dadami ang OFW. Di naman tayo pwedeng habang buhay na licensee na lamang ng ibang bansa sa pagproduce ng kanilang mga produkto.
Dito nga sa Saudi....minsan nga Tagalog SMS pa ang sinisend ng mga mobile operator dito pag may promo sila. Yung no 1 English na dyaryo nila dito, pag Linggo merong tagalog na newspaper na bukod tanging sa mga Pinoy expat lang nila ginagawa. Yung ilang mga bangko at remittance center dito pag may promo imbes na inglis sa tagalog nakaprint ang kanilang mga ads. Ano ba ang pakiramdam na magbasa ng isang tagalog na dyaryo na inimprenta sa labas ng iyong bansa? O kaya mapakinggang kinakanta sa ibang lenguwahe ang pamosong kantang "ANAK". Kaya yumaman ang bansang S.Korea sa maigsing panahon ay dahil sa milyon-milyong trabaho ang naproduce ng kanilang mga lokal na kumpanya.
Kaya suportahan natin ang sariling atin......lalo na turismo, kultura, teknolohiyang Pinoy at higit sa lahat ang agrikulutura natin. Sana lang yung mga Pinoy na nasa Saudi...bago bumili ng produktong Pinoy...tingnan nyo muna kung saan galing ang produkto na binibili nyo sa bakala. Maraming produkto na akala mo eh gawa sa Pinas pero pag tiningnan mo galing pala ng Thailand at Malaysia. At ginagamit pa nila ang mga pangalan ng mga lugar sa atin bilang brand name. Tutuo may karapatan tayong mamili ng gusto natin bilang indibidwal.....pero wala tayong karapatan na manumbat kung bakit tayo naging mahirap na bansa.

Sa ating mga kababayan saan man tayo naroon sana wag natin kalimutan ito.
" Ang Pilipino- Maka-Diyos, Maka-Tao, Maka-Bayan at Maka-Kalikasan "

Mabuhay po ang mga OFW !

I could tell that this article is referring to the old school/generation OFWs. The ones working as factory workers, domestic helpers, construction workers etc... Right now, the younger generation ofws are skilled professionals working as accountants, nurses, engineers, IT consultants which they earn tons of money without the hazards which many people think ofws get while working abroad. No racism, no skimping to provide to families, etc. Generally life is good for them. Sad to say, most of the younger generation ofws dont want to go back to the philippines simply because life is better abroad.

This article refers to all! either you are factory workers, domestic helpers, construction workers, computer specialist, engineers, nurse, doctors, etc. We have different experiences in work or in life, but we are all away from our families. Well, I want to point it out that immigrants and OFWs are different. Luckily, some of OFWs can bring his/her family in his/her work place fully paid by his/her company. I fully agree to the author of this article, ika nga sapul na sapul! Mabuhay ang Pinoy! Mabuhay ang OFWs.

If we try to scrutinize ourselves, what is the primary reason for going out of country ..... either going to the US or somwhere else? Is it for fun, experience, or what? If pinas has offered us, through our politicians, the things that we get from other countries, I don't think a lot of us are going abroad.
We must go back to how politicians are running the country? How many Americans are going out of country to look for a living ? Almost close to nothing!
Because they can find them in their country. Governments have something in common ..... they have laws! It's how they are implemented that matters!
How many injustices .... like killings, robbery, etc which had been unsolved?
America is not exempted from that. But if it happens, the government must act on it! In Pinas, you can just kill somebody and still be walking around unscratched. Especially if you belong to a prominent family, somebody is in the military, etc!

God knows, Amen!

Mahirap na masarap ang maging OFW, mahirap because you have to leave all things in your country that makes you comfortable, masaya at the end kasi may pay check ka which is your reward inspite of all your hardships and trials. Kahit minsan gusto mo nang pukpukin ng bakya ang kasama mo sa trabaho dahil inis na inis ka na sa kanya pero nagagawa mong magtiis kasi dahil sa paycheck. Common denominator ng lahat ng OFW is to have a better life not for themselves but also for their respective families (unless na magdagdag ka pa ng iba na pakainin). And in Filipino culture kapag alam nila abroad ka, ang tingin nila sa'yo ay walking atm machine. They don't even think what are your experiences bago mo makuha ang tumataginting na dolyares. Sa isang nagtatrabaho sa abroad, dalawampung tao ang nakaasa, may panay ang parinig at mayroon ding laging nagpapadala ng sukat ng paa!(size 7 nike)... Kaya karamihan nga sa mga OFW di umaasenso kasi isa ang nagtatrabaho dalawampu ang nakadagan! Sorry for being rude but this is the reality, kasi naeexperience ko ngayon. Now i set my limits, for i know at the end ako din ang lugi. I am not pointing out na huwag ka ng tumulong but you can still extend a help for your family or to anybody(usually kapag OFW dami ask sa'yo ng tulong) pero, kaya nga may pero eh! mag set ng limit! magsave! mag-invest! make wealth! wag puro gasta ng gasta! Para di naman masayang ang panahon na tiniis mong makasama at makatrabaho ang mga buraot dun sa ibang bansa! Because we cannot predict what will happen tomorrow but we can do great things today if we will learn how to differentiate and prioritize what are the needs and the necessities of our lives!

Mabuhay ang lahing Pinoy, Mabuhay ang lahat ng OFW kaya natin ito! God bless to all of us!

I am an OFW's wife... being one is a challenge in itself. A challenge to raise the kids based on their daddy's expectations, to manage a household wherein one has to act as both the father and the mother at the same time, to invest wisely hubby's remittances, to maintain constant communication with hubby, and the list goes on.

To add to that list, I also have a career of my own which also has its own list of challenges...

I am not complaining here, but my point is, an OFW is not alone in his/her sufferings. The family left behind also shares the burden... OFWs' families are often portrayed as capricious, spoiled, spendthrift, etc. But not all are like that. There are also some of us who endeavor to shorten the OFW spouse's stay abroad.

My husband knows that his earnings are invested well. In the 3 years that we are married, we were able to acquire a big house, a commercial lot, a farm, a subdivision lot, an 8-unit apartment, a car, etc... A big chunk of hubby's remittances (and also my own salary) go to installment payments. We may enjoy a "controlled luxury" (as my husband calls it), but there's a constant eagerness to invest, invest, invest...

I am confident that in a few years, my husband would come home to enjoy the fruits of his labor. My job is to make that home-coming sooner and to ensure that he would still enjoy the same level of income here in our country, but with much more comfortable life and happier family...

I thought of retiring in the Philippines. My wife and I went home and look at places and houses comparable to what we have here in the United States. Sad to say, the prices of the houses that we saw were way more expensive that what I have here in the States. With the prices of the nicer homes in the Philippines, one can buy mansion here.
Aga

Living abroad is not just about you have all the things in life. Hindi naman basta na lang pupulutin ang pera at ipapadala. We need to work hard halos doble pa. Bayad sa mortgage, sa kotse at sa ibang bagay ay hindi basta basta. medyo matagal na din kami here in NZ but palagi pa rin homesick. Miss nami ang pagkain, mga kaibigan, kamag anak, ang buong Pilipinas lalo na kapag malapit na ang fiesta, pasko at bagong taon. Kung minsan nga lang nakakainis kasi yung crab mentality always exist kahit saan. kapwa Filipino nagsisiraan at inggit.

Thanks for the article. I do feel the plight of OFWs and how valuable they are to the Philippine economy and the families they left behind. And this is one of the areas that our Consulate offices should be aware of - that when you do not represent well and do your job in the countries where our OFWs are you are apparently doing a real disservice to your unsung heroes. One of the reasons that you are there is because of them and not the other way around.

Before everyone sinks their blame to North Korea without ever thinking just because it's a communist country, the South Koreans with the constant proddings of the US merchants of death and their culture of sowing tensions so as to sell more military hardwares to South Koreans are to blame. Why this military exercise drills a frequent routine and with an increasing near-border target? Aren't you fools when you're provoking and then after wondering why there's retaliation after repeated warnings even with the sinking of a ship? F_ing bonehead this hawkish US policies! Aren't you humane enough to consider other peoples feelings? You warmongers and global plunderers! Aren't you insensitive when military drills are like going in a strangers neighborhood and reenacting how you will butcher the nearest target family. What if a joint Russia-China military exercise periodically happens in Cuba? What will US feel? Will that a sowing tension while the US drills outside their borders an exception? Stop listening to Uncle Sam, the pseudo-policeman of the world. It's ironic western media doesn't write details and just blaming anyone if they aren't aligned to the west. What a devil in sheep's clothing with a multitude of minions. Poor innocent civilians from both sides just because of this military drills. If a country is peace-loving, why there's still a need for military drills? You're shouting peace yet your actions shows the opposite. If you're persistent with military drills, then do it within your own countries and jurisdictions not on another countries' border. Through all these years even with a status quo between the two Koreas, the US is still in SoKor dictating what and not what to do. East Asia will surely be more peaceful without the warmongering US. And the US is even sending its aircraft carrier this Nov.28 to support the military drills, then calling it defensive? What a hypocrisy! Because of this, probably the two Koreas are now in the brink of another war whenever the US intervenes and asserts their masquerading evil ways. Neither China puts pressure to NoKor since this is not the way China deals with other nations, unlike the US who always meddle. People of diff. nations are same with us having feelings and thinking of their own no matter how diff. their forms of govt., not what most narrow-minded people used to believe. To understand them means not expecting them to eat hamburgers and thread the cat walks. People's culture makes them unique of having their own identity and doesn't make them evil 'cos they're different. Look at the history of World War I how it started from a small incident to learn a lesson. Also look at the map where the aggressors SoKor and US are conducting the drills, an enclosed sea shared by NoKor and China. Then, why conduct their drills there? Before you believe the news nowadays about regimes, govts., oppressed citizens, etc; think and analyze first if it's true because the US is a big liar all through the years. Most often US intervention always leads to bloodshed of innocent civilians, wikipedia exposed this a few weeks ago but as usual, ended in the trash before it reach the knowledge of ordinary folks. While the US has shown dubious humanitarian works in its allies through the years, it has shown too its disrespect to a nation's sovereignty which should never be forgotten. Do you think the US is in SoKor & Japan to help them when needs arise? Partly true but the real obvious aim is to spy on Asia so as to perpetuate their domination forever. It's a pity people who hate others who are different are made to believe this way because of what lies are fed to us by media.

Interesting post. I have been wondering about this issue,so thanks for posting

prepaid legal

in fairness to the government, we have jobs in the Philippines- but not enough, as we would all agree.

but still, having enough is just a mindset, because for every human, there will never come a time that everything is just enough.

i am in riyadh now, on my 3rd month. i agree po, malungkot and it's different here. i think, the low profiled saudi, indians, pakistanis, yemenis, egyptians, etc. think the word Filipini (or Filipino, as I always correct them) equates to a sex toy/slave. unfair as it is, pero ganon ang tingin nila sa mga Pinoy. pang-kama lang. i am shocked at this, ano ang pinag-gagagawa ng mga Pilipino ahead of me dito sa Riyadh? bakit ganon? mapa-babae (or madam) or lalaki, sex lagi ang tingin nila sa Pinoy. Kaya nga kung Pinoy ka, kung titigan ka, parang lagi kang hinuhubaran. As I quote "napakasakit talaga kuya eddie"

i went here for a job na hindi naman ganon kalakihan ang sahod, pero feeling ko, tama lang, pero hindi pa rin. kulang pa rin, kasi parang lalong lumaki ang gastos sa family when i left. bakit kaya ganon? imbes na lumiit dahil wala na ako, parang lumaki lalo.. kakaiba..

pagdating ko dito, biktima pa ako ng talangkang pinoy. eh allergic ako sa talangka eh, both literally and figuratively. pero ano magagawa ko, 3 months pa lang ako, it's not easy to make big decisions kapag hindi pa ganon katagal dito sa saudi...

eneweys, ano ba punto ko... para sa akin, iba pa rin talaga sa Pinas. kung may sahod katulad ng sahod ko dito, ok sana sa Pinas. pero wala eh. kaya dadalhin ko na lang pamilya ko dito habang nagtatrabaho, kasama ko sila. huwag na natin sisihin ang gobyerno natin, kasi wala naman sila doon kung hindi dahil sa atin. we are the government. who we put there is a sign of who we are- of how good or bad decision-makers we are.

may purpose si God sa lahat ng nangyayari, lalo na sa mga nananampalataya sa Kanya.

This synopsis about OFWs'is absolutely spot on. I couldn't agree more!

This is life - it's tough but you've got to stick it out, the rewards will be worth it...

This is the real deal, life isn't just one big game of
strip poker it's much more serious than that...

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are not rich. We have this notion that when someone is an OFW or based abroad, he or she is loaded. Not true. An OFW might earn from P50K-P300K a month, depending on the location. Those in Saudi Arabia or the United States might earn in the high range. But to say that they're "rich" is a fallacy (amen!).

Hindi ako sang-ayon sa sinasabi ng may akda na walang mayaman o rich na mga OFW. Dito sa Saudi Arabia ay marami ako kilala na mga milyonaryo na dahil ang hanap nila ay tanging pansarili lamang at walang ibang sinusuportahan maliban sa kanilang sariling pamilya.

Dahil mga milyonaryo na sila ay di ba dapat tawagin natin sila ng rich? Kung hindi, Ano ba ang basihan niya para malaman na ang isang OFW ay rich? Kailangan ba siyang maging bilyonaryo?

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are not rich. We have this notion that when someone is an OFW or based abroad, he or she is loaded. Not true. An OFW might earn from P50K-P300K a month, depending on the location. Those in Saudi Arabia or the United States might earn in the high range. But to say that they're "rich" is a fallacy (amen!).

Hindi ako sang-ayon sa sinasabi ng may akda na walang mayaman o rich na mga OFW. Dito sa Saudi Arabia ay marami ako kilala na mga milyonaryo na dahil ang hanap nila ay tanging pansarili lamang at walang ibang sinusuportahan maliban sa kanilang sariling pamilya.

Dahil mga milyonaryo na sila ay di ba dapat tawagin natin sila ng rich? Kung hindi, Ano ba ang basihan niya para malaman na ang isang OFW ay rich? Kailangan ba siyang maging bilyonaryo?

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are not rich. We have this notion that when someone is an OFW or based abroad, he or she is loaded. Not true. An OFW might earn from P50K-P300K a month, depending on the location. Those in Saudi Arabia or the United States might earn in the high range. But to say that they're "rich" is a fallacy (amen!).

Hindi ako sang-ayon sa sinasabi ng may akda na walang mayaman o rich na mga OFW. Dito sa Saudi Arabia ay marami ako kilala na mga milyonaryo na dahil ang hanap nila ay tanging pansarili lamang at walang ibang sinusuportahan maliban sa kanilang sariling pamilya.

Dahil mga milyonaryo na sila ay di ba dapat tawagin natin sila ng rich? Kung hind, Ano ba ang basihan niya para malaman na ang isang OFW ay rich? Kailangan ba siyang maging bilyonaryo?

there are some OFW's earning a good salary like other professionals but that doesn't mean they are rich. at meron nmang mga iba na mababa lang nman ang sahod but they pretend to be rich. everything they buy, they eat, they do,places they go, all these they they show thru facebook, to show to their friends and relatives in the Philippines, how lucky or how good is life abroad. But do you know that most of this luxury that they have is "utang" thru credit cards and they have to pay how many months for all of this luxury. this is pa "impress" actually, pero kayod kabayo ka para lang makapag pa impress sa mga kaibigan mo. Ang tanong may ipon kba??? mayaman ka ba sa Pinas?? Magagawa mo ba yan sa Pinas?? The reality talaga is OFW's are not rich. problema kc marami ang nagkukunyaring rich sila. yung mga matagal na sa abroad cguro may pera pero hindi mayaman. I agree with the author.

I salute all the OFW's for their numerous sacrifices. Homesickness is the number one enemy. But armed with the determination to provide a better life for their love ones, Filipinos overseas endure discrimination, sometimes abuse by the people they work with and work for. God Bless the Philippines....God bless us all!!!

So true and well said.

from an ex-OFW.

I was in another site News discussions discussing retirement with other Filipinos abroad.For Filipino Americans, life in the U.S. is getting tougher. It now makes sense to head back to the Philippines.

The article is well written, clear and concise. If the author, wanted so, he could have lengthened and detailed it. But it is as good as it gets.
I am in Korea for more than a couple of years now. I would like to add more.
Not only do OFW's endure the test of time literally, the possible onset of a war, the silent or visible discrimination, the homesickness for Mom's food and family, the regular tagayans "for the boys", the superior variety of nature back home: We also have to contend with other cultures, behaviours, lifestyle, and norms, We have to adjust to freezing or infernal tempreatures, unbearable humidity, limited availability of medicines, or the lack to satiate our taste for home cooked stew, or something as simple as fishball,balut, singkamas or sampalok wrapped in translucent yellow cellophane.
Filipinos, are hardworkers and focused, resilient and warm, nice and adaptable. We are
also a stock breed of intelligence, skill and humility. We are an endless well of patience and understanding. And if the color of our skins were a bit lighter and our physique larger, nothing would have stopped us from reaching the top of any corporate ladder ( but we are getting there). There are limits but our persistence, work ethic and drive are incomparable and know no bounds. We are superior as a race in more ways than one.
Who we are is where we came from, and that is where we will always yearn to be,
"There is no place that could ever replace home, Bayan is where the heart and mind is".

I agree it's very nicely said. Home is the most peaceful place.
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A once temporary remedy to fill the shortage of dollar reserve during the 70's became a permanent solution to this day at the expense of the OFW's and their families. A sad reality to note that 10 percent of our population is out of the country working for the sake of the 90 percent left at home. Our country's basic foundation, the family is deteriorating because of this situation. I hope and pray that our present administration and next ones will have the will to ensure the economic recovery will extend to its people so that less Filipinos will leave the country for work. Where the country's best minds and talents will work here for the betterment of our nation. How good it is to see so many Filipinos coming out of the country not as workers but tourists. Now, how's that for a change?

As an American, I want to commend OFW's for the hard work they do and the great attitudes of respect they show in their work and with their co-workers. Americans get upset many times with other countries coming in and taking some of our jobs, but so many foreign cultures like yours - have taught the younger generation to respect their elders, which is a definite quality of character so many of our young Americans have not been taught -thus affecting them getting jobs. Very good post!

We have been very impressed with International Students who come to America for their education. They are very well-mannered and show great respect to their elders. Great qualities for getting jobs here. Homesickness is the #1 problem they have, though.

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it. is. true. mahirap na masarap. maging OFW. isa. ako sa. isa. na hindi masyado. pinalad, dahil. isang. kababayan na. kasama ko sa trabaho ang. nag pahamak sakin. heto ako back home at masasabi kong masaya despite na back to step 1 ako. there's no. place like home

dre cnsya ka na pro OFW din ako. gusto ko lng na sana hindi pinag-uusapan kung rich ba o poor mga kagaya ko. ang importante my trabaho tau weither abroad or local. whats the difference in being away or close to ur family, relatives, etc. ok close ka nga sa family mo. baka puro away lng naman ang nangyayri sa inyo. so ano sense don. lam ko naman ang point mo eh.. wala ka lng magawa sa buhay mo. malungkot cguro buhay mo kaya ka nagsusulat ng tungkol sa mag OFW kung rich cla o hindi. sino ba ang makapagjudge talaga kung much better ba na close ka or away ka sa mga mahal mo sa buhay. kanya kanya lng naman perception or pananaw yan eh. ang point mo lng eh kung sino lamang. para sabihin ko sau parekoy nobody is better than me or you or kahit sino. lahat tau my kanyakanyang objective sa buhay( to be happy). at hindi sukatan ung closeness or malayo ka sa lahat. bat ako malayo palagi sa family ko. pro masaya pa rin ako kc alam ko kung pano mapasaya sarili ko. kitid naman ng ulo mo kc. bakit alam mo ba lahat ang nangayari sa buhay ng mga OFW. SORI ka na lng Author. nonsense ung sinulat mo tungkol sa mga OFW. ano ba kc pakialam mo sa amin or sa kanila. mine ur own business na lng dre. ANO BA POINT MO TALAGA. BAT KA NAGSULAT NG NG GANYAN. Sabi mo there's no place like home...applicable lng yan syempre sa mga lumalabas ng bansa kc nga they seek work or adventure elsewhere and eventually they must return back. sa tingin mo ba eh ung mga palaging nasa home nila eh masaya lahat un. SORRY but i strongly dis-agree with u. Ung iba ng eh nagpapatayan pa. Hindi porke at home cla palagi eh masaya na cila and mas malungkot ako. and does it mean na much better cla na tao? Its a NO NO NO my friend. ur tottaly wrong. Simple lang parekoy. ito ang igrasp mo kc... Hindi lahat ng tao ay pinanganak na fortunate sa buhay, isa na ko don. eh gusto kung makabili ng kotse na magara to make me happy and I can only do that in getting a job abroad..Kc sa atin wala naman talga kung tutuusin. maliban don sa mga lucky people na kahit d mag-abroad eh swertehen pro very seldom un. Isa pa destiny namin to eh na makapagabroad and am very proud of it. Kc d lahat makakuha ng ganitong opportunity. ung iba mamatay na lng d pa nakakita ng snow in real life or iba-bang places. Dba paminsan minsan gusto mong mamasyal para makakita ng ibang lugar and u have to admit na it makes u happy(sa pinas pa lng un) eh pano kung world class na ang level of places na makita mo. BOBO mo author.

Agree, home is the most precious thing in your life, and you should keep it.
Regards, Max from mobile application development

OFW's can apply for immigration to countries that welcome immigrants with skills. Canada is one of those countries.
They can bring along their families and have a better quality of life as immigrants then as citizens after 3 years.

NAPAIYAK NAMAN AKO DITO...HAY..VERY GOOD COMPOSITION..I AM OFW NOW EVEN IN JUST A FEW MONTHS STAYING ABROAD I FELT THE SAME WAY WITH THE AUTHOR. THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME!!

REGARDS!! KIRKOZ

When I was reading this article, I was really touched by the reality. Being a previous OFW, my life is almost the same as describe here. I worked in HongKong as an OFW for almost six years, and I'm lucky to have an employer who are so nice to me. But, when it comes to financial securities, I have nothing saved for myself. I seldom to have a day off, for extra money for myself. All of my salary, every month are sent to my family in Philippines. I can't emagine my life those days, that poeple always think that I'm rich because I worked in abroad. The thing is that they never reallized what really the OFW are doing most especially if you are a DH. It is hard to clean the bathroom and wake-up in the middle of your goodnight sleep that your employer asking you to do something for them. Even, you are sick, you need to work as you can. I believe that emotional and spiritual support are so important to our love one, who are working as a OFW in different countries in the world right now. Eventhough, I'm not an OFW right now, I feel the struggle and edurance of our fellows doing everything for their family's better life. I'm not living in our country right now, I'm not and OFW either but I do symphatize with our fellows who are one!