When Republic Act 8042 was enacted in 1995, the now-familiar “overseas Filipino worker” (OFW) came into existence. OFW refers to Filipino migrant workers, or Filipinos who reside in another country for a limited period of employment.
Known as “modern-day heroes,” OFWs are scattered all over the world: from seamen to nurses, from engineers to chefs, from teachers to caregivers, and from domestic helpers to laborers.
During my travels abroad, I have the opportunity of meeting them at the airports, hospitals, hotels, malls and restaurants. There are also those who engaged themselves in the entertainment industry.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) estimated 1.77 million OFWs from April to September 2020, of which 96.4 percent (1.71 million) were overseas contract workers. The remaining 3.6 percent comprised OFWs who worked abroad but without working visa or work permits like tourists, visitors, students, and other types of non-immigrant visas.
More women worked abroad as they accounted for 59.6 percent (1.06 million) in 2020. In comparison, only 0.72 million men were OFWs (40.4 percent).
Asia accounted for 83.6 percent of the country’s total OFWs. Most (26.6 percent) of them worked in Saudi Arabia, followed by the United Arab Emirates (14.6 percent), Kuwait (6.4 percent), Hong kong (6.3 percent), Qatar (5.4 percent), and Singapore (5.3 percent).
In Europe, OFWs working registered at 6.7 percent. North and South America came second (5.2 percent) and Australia came third (3.4 percent).
All in all, the total remittance sent by these OFWs during the period reached P134.77 billion, according to PSA. These included cash sent (P113.08 billion), cash brought home (P18.98 billion), and in kind (P2.71 billion).
Most of these OFWs have some interesting stories to tell. Some of them are inspiring like the one that happened to Joffrey L. Emasula, who is from Digos, Davao del Sur. He started as a waiter in a foreign hotel and became a recruitment manager in a matter of nine years.
In 2011, Emasula came to the United Arab Emirates and worked at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi. “My first opportunity to work in hospitality was when I joined Fairmont as a server. I was promoted to F&B Concierge that handles restaurant reservations and groups events involving food and beverage,” he recalled.
From there, he was transferred to Fairmont The Palm from 2012 to 2016. Then, he became assistant human resources manager at the Fairmont Fujairah Beach Resort from December 2016 up to March 2017.
In March 2017 until December 2019, he returned to Fairmont The Palm as assistant recruitment manager. “Reporting to the director of human resources, I was managing the daily operation of the recruitment department. This role involves end-to-end recruitment process, maintaining the recruitment platform, and portal and working closely with department heads for the organization’s recruitment needs,” he said.
He was promoted as recruitment manager from January until March 2020 at the same hotel. “As a recruitment manager, I prepared departmental and manning budgets, forecasting, annual merit review and reporting,” he said.
“It is fun,” Emasula said of his work. “You get to work with a lot of professionals from different parts of the globe. You get to learn a lot since learning and development is a huge thing.”
Being involved in hospitality, they are trained to exceed guest expectations. “There is no room to dislike a guest as we must provide them the best experience they could have (during their stay),” he explained. “You have the support of the team, which makes the job easier. Teamwork is the key.”
Emasula also gets to learn about discipline while working abroad. “Rules are implemented and strictly followed,” he said. “When I say rules, it is both the company policy and the rules of the land. Being on time is a must.”
On the negative side, he said, is homesickness. “You get to miss your family and friends as well as being absent on special occasions,” he said, adding that during the first few years, he had a hard time assimilating with the “new normal” of his daily activities. “Adjustment period is challenging,” he pointed out. “Settling in a new workplace as well as location requires flexibility and open-mindedness.”
As days became months, and months became years, there are two things that he missed the most: family and food.
Despite this, Emasula looked at the brighter side of being an OFW. In fact, he urged others to work abroad. “There is so much to learn apart from the monetary aspect,” he said.
When COVID-19 hit hospitality was at its lowest. So, he decided to return home. When asked if he is thinking of returning, he replied, “Not too sure yet but I’m open, depending on the opportunity.”
One aspect he is thankful for are the friends he gained during his OFW days. “Colleagues and even guests became your family away from home,” he said. “When I travel overseas, sometimes, I get the chance to meet some of our guests before in their homeland I get to experience their culture in a local way.”
Traveling was another incentive he obtained in working in hospitality. “You get paid vacation for a month and free airfare,” he said. “You will be given an opportunity to realize your dream if traveling is your dream.”
Emasula had traveled to about 40 countries: Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and most of the southeast Asian countries. He also went to some parts of Africa, including Egypt.
Where to stay during those travels is not a problem. “Hotel companies will provide you with a colleague rate when you stay in other sister hotels,” he said. “Hence, staycation is cheaper.”
Career-wise, working in hospitality is a plus. “Career advancement is really stable in hospitality,” he said. “In my 10 years, I moved to positions and three properties.”
More importantly, hospitality work is financially rewarding. “I guess the pay is way better abroad (than working in the Philippines) considering that hotel employees are provided with free accommodation, food and transportation,” he said.
So, what’s it really like working in another country?
A photographer who once worked in the Middle East but is now back in Davao said that it depends on one’s status as an OFW: single, breadwinner or married with children. In general, the good things include:
You get to be independent whether you like it or not.
You become a better person by dealing with other people, culture and even foods.
You will have better opportunities, especially if you are a professional.
It is easier to travel to another country.
You can save more.
You become more responsible (this includes sending money to your family in the Philippines that helps them).
He didn’t include the bad things though. “Again, it all depends,” he said. “For example, your boss may not be as good as what you expected him to be or in some instances your salary is delayed. Another is getting sick, and you are alone. There are times when your family messages you, especially if you are about to receive your salary. Even during Christmas time, you don’t feel it because you still have to work.
“You know, bad things really happen in another country. My advice to those who are planning to work abroad: think twice, it’s really a gamble if you go abroad,” he pointed out.
Rhodora (not her real name), who now lives in California and used to work as OFW in Singapore, believes that working abroad is better if you are single. “Singles who work abroad are better than married with children,” she explained. “Homelessness, overworked, emotionally stressed, financially drained due to obligations. It has more harm than benefits. The only thing I found positive was to learn a lot about other cultures, language, taste different cuisines and be able to travel and also, learn a lot of patience in life. Life is indeed a learning process!”
She further explained: “If you are married and with children, I would really discourage you from working abroad. Time lost isn’t worth it when it comes to children and family. Sooner, you’ll have a broken family. I seldom knew married couples who stayed together after all those years of loss and being apart and the worst part is you’re not there to nurture your children, to give hugs and kisses, to celebrate special occasions, to guide, discipline and teach them every day. All the material things are just temporary, but your love, affections and presence are really what makes life go ‘round. Life is short and time and attention is the most valuable thing we can give to our loved ones.”
Jessica (not her real name either), who left the country as a single mother to support her son, answered: “But sometimes you have no choice. The most difficult thing in my life was to board that plane to the unknown world of Kuwait, seeing my infant son crying in the arms of my mother. No, I didn’t get to hear his first words; no, I didn’t get to see his first steps; no, I didn’t get to walk him to his first day of school. But he was always fed, he was always clothed, he always had medicine when he was sick, he always had books at school, and he always knew that I loved him.”
Jessica further said: “I left the Philippines many years ago as a single mother from the province to support my newborn son. I was from a poor family with eight brothers and little chance of anything better.
“Being an OFW has allowed me to lift my family out of poverty, build solid homes for all of my brothers to raise my nieces and nephews in, rather than the bahay kubo that I grew up in, I have sent (or still sending) seven to college or university to become nurses, engineers, graphic designer and teachers.
“They all have electricity and running water in their homes (a novelty in that part of our barangay), and most of the newest generation are tall and strong since they have had proper nutrition since they were young, mostly on what I earned overseas. Yes, there are many negatives, but there are also some positives.”
Another positive thing about being an OFW. “(It) is an investment for the future,” says Joe, who now works in the United States but was working before in the Middle East. “In all aspects, it opens many doors for learning opportunities. The bad thing is that the OFW gets homesick. It creates many problems when the family back home is not supportive. Another problem is if the employer is abusive or if the working environment is worse resulting in the OFW having a messy, troubled life.”
