Interview with an Overseas Filipino Worker

Interviewer: Hello po! Good day. I am Stephanie Venus Panela po. I am from Far Eastern
University, and in our course _______, we were tasked to interview one Overseas Filipino
Worker we know. This is to unravel the struggles of our economy’s heroes and how with grit and
dedication, they overcome anything.

So, as early as now, I would like to thank you for granting me with the permission to
interview you po. Your acceptance to the invitation itself is enough for us. To start, let me ask
you this question po: How are you doing po?

Interviewee: Hello, Stephanie. I feel honored for having been chosen by you. By God’s grace, I
am doing very well naman.

Interviewer: That is very nice to hear po. Let us head right on with the questions po.. How long
have you been working abroad and where do you work po?

Interviewee: I’ve been working here in Malaysia for 14 years now. Naalala ko pa, I left months
after I gave birth to my second child. She’s 15 now.

Interviewer: Ang sad po. Are you close with her po?

Interviewee: Yes because I had the chance to go home frequently bago magkaroon ng pandemic.
That’s when we became closer pero noong bata-bata siya, ang hirap suyuin kapag umuuwi ako.
She always stuck by her father at hindi ako kinakausap.

Interviewer: Ah. How is your relationship with her now?

Interviewee: It’s good na may cellphone at internet na. I can talk to her anytime. It’s also easier
for them to communicate yung mga pangangailangan nila para maprovide ko kaagad.

Interviewer: That’s nice po. That being said po, do you consider yung pagiging at stake po ng
relationship with family as one of the biggest struggles ng isang OFW?

Interviewee: Oo naman. They are the primary reason why I decided to work abroad, siyempre
sila rin yung kauna-unahang dahilan kung bakit mahirap magtrabaho sa malayo. What makes this
situation more ironic is that sa kanila lang rin ako humuhugot ng lakas to go on.
Interviewer: Thank you so much po. Aside from the separation from family, ano pa po ang ibang
struggles ninyo? What are other difficulties that come from working as an OFW po?

Interviewee: Madami. Bukod sa homesickness, the difficulty and heavy work too. I am a
domestic helper here and I’ve tried working for strict employers. Gusto nila malinis lahat ng
sulok ng bahay. Mas mabigat lalo ang trabaho kung may aalagaan pang baby.

Interviewer: Paano niyo po ine-endure ito?

Interviewee: Of course, the compensation is one. As long as alam kong maayos ang sweldo ko,
nacocomfort ako na magpatuloy, para na rin may maipadala sa pamilya. Hindi ko rin naman
nasusubukan pang mapunta sa mapang-abusong amo kasi foreigners sila. Mas mababait ang
foreigners kesa sa locals dito. Gusto nila pulido pero mabait sila in general. Hindi rin nila
sapilitang kinukuha ang passport ko.

Interviewer: That’s good to hear po. Ano pa po ang ibang difficulties ninyo?

Interviewee: Ngayon, ang ikinakatakot ko lang ay yung uncertainty at fear na dala ng pandemic.
May kontrata nga pero hindi sigurado kung makakapagpatuloy ka pa pagkatapos ng kontrata, o
kung makakahanap ka pa ng bagong employer. Last year, I was really scared dahil biglang
nagdecide ang dati kong amo na Australian na bumalik na sakanila. Buti na lang nakahanap rin
ako ng panibagong employer. Hindi rin nila ako hinayaan. Hinintay muna nila na magkawork
ako bago sila umalis.

Interviewer: They are indeed very nice nga po. Moving on to the next po, aware po ba kayo sa
bansag sa inyo na modern-day hero? And as someone who is referred to as a modern-day hero or
bagong bayani, do you feel empowered as an OFW po?

Interviewee: Yes. It gives me so much pride that others can recognize our sacrifices. We do it for
our families, not knowing na may mas malaking impact pa pala yung actions namin. Noong una,
hindi ko maintindihan how we help the economy, but later on, I realized na malaki pala ang
ambag ng mga ipinapadala namin. Of course, ang pamilya pa rin naming ang aming priority,
pero the appreciation of the people sa courage naming to work abroad motivates me at some
point. Parang may konting push that encourages me to keep working hard amidst the difficulties.
Malaking karangalan talaga matawag na hero ng bansa. Nakakataba ng puso.
Interviewer: Thank you so much po. You are really heroes in our eyes po and we cannot thank
you enough for your sacrifices. This is the last question po: As an OFW, how do you believe are
you perceived by your family, your friends, and other Filipinos?

Interviewee: Napakahirap na tanong pero I will try to answer it well. In the eyes of my family, I
believe they see me as the provider. Someone who works so that they can finish school and enjoy
life. Totoo naman yun. Ang pinakaimportante talaga sa akin ay makatapos sila ng pag-aaral.
Kapag nakagraduate na sila at may mga career na, yun na ang sign ko para tumigil na sa
pagtatrabaho dito. It’s time to go home, ganon ba.

By my friends naman, most of them think that I am rich. Others who know I work abroad
thinks I am well-lived. Siyempre, hindi nila nakikita yung hirap sa bawat regalo na ibinibigay ko
sa mga anak ko. Those are my blood, sweat, and tears. Ang pamilya ko sa Pilipinas ay
kumportable pero hindi kami mayaman. Simpleng worker lang ako who seeks for better
opportunities sa labas ng Pilipinas. At ayun nga, nakakawarm ng heart na hero pala ako sa ibang
Pilipino.

Interviewer: Thank you so much po. Bilang closing statement po, may gusto po ba kayong
sabihin?

Interviewee: Wala naman, I just want to let others know na being an OFW is a tough choice. Ang
daming sakripisyo at paghihirap nan aka-akibat, pero kapag pamilya na ang usapan parang
natutunaw lahat ng takot. But if only there were more opportunities diyan sa Pilipinas, I wouldn’t
dare make this tough choice to go. Salamat!