Every year, more and more Filipinos are leaving abroad to look for a greener pasture. In search for a more comfortable life, they leave their families, made sacrifices and usually suffer the consequences of leaving.

Filipinos are regarded to have close family ties. But this tradition is defied by many Filipinos, mostly women, who leave their children. Children are left at the mercy of relatives who unfortunately, are unkind to these kids. From what I have gathered, these children who were left by their mothers, confident that their children are in good hands, are maltreated and abused, by their own relatives. Children are constrained to work at an early age in exchange of their “free” stay in the house. Some are even being deprived of education just to do chores in the house.

In other cases while parents are away working abroad, making day night, and night, day; secured that the money they are sending is in the right hands, only to find out that their kids are not in school and the greedy relatives are the ones savoring and exploiting the money that should've been for their children.

In worst scenarios, when mothers get home, the three kids she left with her husband are now four, a result of incestuous activity. Really saddening but it's a fact.

Other Filipino workers leave the Philippines in a “standing” position and with full of life, but came back in a “lying” position with no life at all, amusing to hear but a sad fact, even a tragedy.

Despite these, many are still unshakable to leave their families behind, sacrificing countless relevant occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, Christmas, etc. Many are still finding ways to leave Philippines and embrace a whole new different world.

What Can Be Done

This question has been present the whole time but the answer seemed always elusive, addressing these problems is always given little importance, maybe because the government per se benefits form the remittances that these OFW bring.

I believe that to be able to give quality life to your family's future is not by leaving them behind. It's not providing them with all the material things they need. It's more on your physical presence felt during your child’s formative years. It's very basic, and very important. Damn with the exclusive school, damn with the signature clothes, damn with posh subdivisions, damn with luxury cars!! Enough! People have matured but they lack decorous thinking. Who says there is bright future when you work abroad? Who guarantees success is always is when you go abroad? Who??

I am not in my honest self, against any OFW. In fact, I have a relative who is. But should they be heralded for bravely facing loneliness, boredom, sacrifice and courage of working far from their loved ones? Are they really the modern heroes for boosting Philippine economy? Are they really heroes for sacrificing family in search of a better future, or should they be questioned how they can bear leaving their families? How can a mother leave her 2-month old baby? How can she miss her baby’s first steps, first words? How?

If this is the price I have to pay for working abroad, I’d rather stay here. I may not have an SUV and a three-storey house in an exclusive subdivision, I may not have signature clothes and expensive perfumes, my kids may not have entered an expensive school, but I can claim that even without these luxuries, my family can still leave a modest and comfortable life. My family is intact, I have no worries, and I won’t have to gnaw the pain of being away from them.

Written by Karina Taguiang-Yonson