Asking for a "pasalubong" from Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who is going home for a vacation is very common. This is because of perceptions that OFWs comes home with a lot of money and OFWs are rich since they are earning "dollars". Families with members working abroad are being envied by neighbors especially when balikbayan boxes arrives laden with imported things such as chocolates, shoes, clothes, gadgets and any other things.
Advertisement
But what we don't know is the fact that many OFWs are struggling with debt and sacrificed a lot just to provide the needs of families back home. Before they can send their remittances, OFWs must endure first the homesickness and hardship of working away from their families.
Sponsored Links
So if you still treating OFW like ATM here are some truths about their lives.
1. OFWs are not rich
Only very small percentage of OFWs are considered rich or well-off after an average of 10 years working in the foreign land. The rest are still struggling to meet the needs of the family. If OFWs are rich, they should be home right now instead of working in other countries.
2. OFWs have multiple debts
2. OFWs have multiple debts
Before earning "dollars" OFW must pay first his placement fees that raging from P50,000-P100,000. He also needs a lot of money to process documents before can go abroad. Some families sell their properties to fund the application of their family member who wants to work abroad, some took a loan that needs to be paid the soonest because of its ballooning interest.
3. OFWs do not earn big income
3. OFWs do not earn big income
Since they are earning dollars or any currency with greater value if converted to peso, some of us think that OFWs are earning big. But what we don't realize is that while OFWs are earning dollars, they are also spending dollars. This is the reason why many OFWs are looking for a part-time job to support their families back home and to save even a little amount of money for an emergency.
4. It takes how many months to fill-in the Balikbayan Box
4. It takes how many months to fill-in the Balikbayan Box
OFW families are so excited when Balikyaban Box's arrived. But don't you know what sacrifices OFWs has made to fill in that box? There are stories that some OFWs skip their meals and reduced their savings to buy family's request of shoes, chocolates, etc.
5. OFW's don't have a lot of savings
5. OFW's don't have a lot of savings
Have you ever wonder why many OFWs come home broke? Or why at old age, OFW is still working abroad? This is because many of them don't have savings for their retirement. Between paying multiple debts, providing for their family in the Philippines, living expenses and filling the balikbayan box, is there is anything left to save?
6. OFWs don't come home millionaires
6. OFWs don't come home millionaires
We call OFW, "madamot" if we don't receive pasalubong or if they did not treat us with good food while they are on vacation in the Philippines. But what we don't know is that the left and rights spending of OFWs while on vacation is a money from their savings or advance loan from their company. To be "happy-happy" during vacation, some OFWs spend much more than needed.
Most of the time the money that OFWs set aside for their trip back abroad are spent with the family (shopping, going to the beach, parties, emergencies etc.) after a month’s vacation, which leaves them no other alternative than to get an OFW loan.
You may see a lot of OFWs posting pictures of their travels on different parts of the country abroad, but the truth is just like in the Philippines they are mostly budget travels which they have been saving up for months from what little is left of their paycheck and after back-breaking 9 to 5 work. They surely deserve it.
9. OFWs don't live with luxurious houses while working abroad
9. OFWs don't live with luxurious houses while working abroad
You may see that OFWs lived in aircon houses, comfortable living with modern appliances. But the truth they are living in a shared house with more or less 10 people.
Some are even sharing bedrooms just to cut cost and save more for other things. They also share the expense of the food and other bills. Sharing is a thing of beauty which helps keep them fed until the next paycheck.
There you go. Those are only a few truths about OFWs. You may also want to know about OFWs pretending to be happy and okay so that families back home will not worry? These are the things OFWs need to endure to earn money so we should be considerate of them in times that our demand is not given.
SEE MORE: