Filipino Diaspora

Jouelle Marie C. Lozano CORWRIT ESSAY OFW FAMILY ISSUES

Filipino workers are moving out of their homeland to work overseas so they could get

higher income and sustain the needs of the family. Despite the branding and labelling battle cry

of our agencies in country to OFWs as the “bagong bayani”, these people are encountering much

bigger problems such as family issues, relationship gap between their children and prolonged

separation that leads to infidelity and other problems regarding their family.

Overseas Filipino Workers have a positive influence to our economy. The remittances

they send to their family strengthens our economy.

But on the other hand, working abroad means being separated to their family and being

separated from their family creates gap. Despite the benefits like higher income,

things and other stuffs, Filipinos must be discouraged from working abroad because of the

negative major effects it could bring to their children. This gap may result to certain and even

numerous misunderstanding within the families.

Moving out of the country to work is dangerous for they will never know their luck.

OFWs may encounter certain circumstances where they can be maltreated. Some

sexual harassment and rape.

These Filipinos are more likely to have problems with their children through their

absence and lack of care and love for them. Being separated from their family for work may also

result to having intact emotional support and commitment but no physical intimacy which is very

important. Through their absence and lack of care and love for them, children might rebel and

have a relationship gap between them.

They can even long for fellowship company and because they are all alone dealing with

different people in different races. The sadness they feel being away from the persons they love

and care the most is the main problem of these Filipinos.

Extreme awkwardness between the parent and children every time they are on the same

roof. Hard feelings are common problems among overseas Filipino worker families. Due of their

absence and being away from their families left in the Philippines, hard feeling between them

and their children is one of the biggest problems they face. Extreme awkwardness betweem their

children arises every time their on the same roof. Children preferred to be with their friends

where they feel comfortable and happy rather than worth their parents.

Prolonged separation destroys a family. Infidelity to each other is also an effect of

prolonged separation can lead to separation.

Depite the positive effect of the Filipino overseas in our economy, it must be still

discouraged for Filipino parents to work overseas because the profit that they earn abroad isn’t

worth it if their family shambles because of the prolonged separation. The government must

provide more job opportunities for Filipinos to avoid moving out of their homeland.