REFLECTION

The life of an OFW was never easy; they pack up their things and work to foreign
countries and sacrifice their time as a family. They go and find a job there, so that they can earn
enough money to support the daily needs and give a better future to their family here in the
Philippines. They adjust to almost everything like language, their way of living, culture, customs,
belief, foods and etc. Life in Brunei for him makes it easy like it’s a natural thing to do but
actually the sacrifices he did such as celebrating Christmas and New Year away from his family
was a different level to tell. In the life of a typical Filipino family, this situation is very common
because any family member or parents would like to give better future to their loved ones. Good
opportunities in the Philippines are not abundant to achieve most of their dreams. Working
abroad is one way of fulfilling these dreams.

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I have realized that there is so much more than being able to know the lifestyle they have
been doing in different countries. First is that OFW are not rich, the way our discussion in the

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interview is that he wants to earn a living that will benefit his family and not just full fortune of
being an OFW. We forget that those who work in a place where a decent salary can be earned

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also have a higher cost of living and their own financial commitments. Many Pinoys go
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into debt because of these responsibilities and the ready availability of credit cards which easily
trap the inexperienced consumer. But rarely will an OFW admit that money is in short supply.
They will borrow just to send money home, only if need be. Their reasoning is that if their loved
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ones can't enjoy the rewards of their efforts, why else would they make sacrifices in their lives?
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Second, setting aside money for savings is never easy. With the bills that need to be paid and the
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everyday expenses in the Philippines and in abroad to sustain, there is little left for savings. This
is the reason why OFW continuously work overseas to be able to finance the family’s everyday
living. Third, income is not as big as anyone could imagine. Yes, OFW earn bigger income, but
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knowing the cost of living is higher which explains that OFW find their selves to make use of
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small quantities to set aside the money for their family in the Philippines. Lastly, the life of
overseas Filipinos is not as easy as it seems. The life he told in Brunei are not living the carefree
life, even though he tells me about the wonderful journey into working there but also he adds up
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all the sacrifices he had been through to get there. Most of them have more than one job to make
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end meets and be able to send bigger amount of money back home. In other words being an
OFW entails a lot of hard work and sacrifice, which we all need to acknowledge. It's hard to
admit that it isn't always better on the other side. But the more we realize what is at stake when
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our friends and loved ones leave the Philippines for "a better life," it's important to see whose life
is actually better, and what its cost is to relationships and families, as well as on one's long-term
financial stability if they're not careful with their money. It isn't whining to speak about OFW
realities, nor does it mean that they are ungrateful for their overseas jobs. It's simply a peek into
our not-so-ideal lives. Maybe when OFWs speak up about their experiences, more Filipinos

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 won't think of it as the ultimate goal. Maybe that could help fix the broken system back home
rather than be satisfied with constantly sending our labor to other shores.

All Overseas Filipino Workers should be respected and give honor because of all the
things that they did is not just only for their family but also to our country. Some of them bring
honor just like being honest and loyal to their patience. Although Philippines are once called
“The Land of Slave” the Filipinos didn’t care about the discrimination of other countries, instead
they continue to work and prove to other countries that even they are away from the Philippines;
the Filipinos are united as one. When a Filipino finds himself in a foreign country, having left
what is familiar and comfortable in exchange of a culture that is unfamiliar and unwelcoming
and sometimes even unkind, he should not allow himself get caught in the maelstrom. He needs
not to allow himself to fade in the background so as to survive. The sacrifices of Overseas
Filipino Workers cannot be avoided as they need to struggle to fulfill their dreams and to achieve
success in life. Those hardships and sacrifices should bear good fruits rather than withered tree.

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