What really am I as an OFW by Gracia Amor (Kuwait)
para sa PA M I LYA
Yes, I’m an Overseas Filipino Worker, one of the 11 million + working overseas according to OFW statistics and can be considered as temporary workers also at any given time. Still, I’m a part of Filipino Population around the world who eagerly works for the love of family. What Society thinks of me “I can’t stay here anymore, we are not wellpaid.” one of my officemate who graduated Magna Cum laude in a University told me, in Philippines. Salary of Clerk in Philippines is not more than P10,000 – deductions. So why would anyone go into grave debt and keep on struggling. The answer is simple… get out of the Philippines and find a well-paid job in another country. And so here we are, Filipinos abroad. But even we’ve become Filipino overseas workers, some thinks that money can be picked in the bushes just like that, but the truth is they don’t know what really is in every OFW diaries.
What my family and relatives think I do Needless to say, as an OFW, our money earned is directly sent to our family to support them. What is sometimes hard to think and to accept is that some of our family and relatives think that we only do shopping and sleeping in hammock at the beach here in abroad. They become so dependent on the next remittance we send and nothing is left or saved.
What Agencies think of me
6
Many Filipinos are now dreaming to become OFWs. It has become a permanent fixture in Philippine society now. To fulfil this dream, one needs to go to an agency which to some applicants is the most agonizing part in
fulfiling one heart’s desire of going out of the country. It can be compared to a family reminder when we go out “to watch out for your bag and pocket that someone might rob you”. So we need to be extra careful and be very vigilant. We should consider always the legality of agency and procedures according to POEA. What Employers think of me According to POEA, there are plenty OFWs who are employed in 3D jobs : dirty, difficult and dangerous with unfair working conditions, long hours, low pay and human rights abuse +crab mentality co-employees and racism factor. But some are still afraid to complain about these all, as they will lose their jobs; thus, they think that we, as Filipinos, are the new generation robots.
Diary ni Gracia
A soft place to land for the battle weary OFW http://www.diarynigracia.com/