Ate OFW.

by newfilipinorevolutionary, newfilipinorevolution.wordpress.com
March 18, 2012

“pinaka-malaking pagkakamali ko yung iniwanan ko ang pamilya ko…”

“leaving my family was my greatest mistake…”

Everyday thousands of our brothers and sisters leave our nation  just to look for jobs overseas. They risk everything, even their lives, hoping that good fortune will come their way. They borrow thousands of pesos, brave the culture shock, and endure the pain of leaving loved ones behind just to earn money. They leave without knowing that there’s a higher price they’d have to pay after spending their lives apart from their family. The realization of that one OFW, summed up all frustrations of those who went abroad.

And even if some made it big and succeeded, still, money can’t compensate for the time lost with the family. We know very well of stories of  broken families where wives or husbands became unfaithful and children dropped out of school and became very young parents. The social costs are far higher than the sum of all the dollar remittances earned by the country. We all lost along the way.

We must brave the storms together, just like how we endured the hard times of the past. Our forefathers brought along their families in their balangays when they explored the islands of the Philippines, they did not leave each other’s side. The blood that flowed through their veins imbued with courage, determination and resiliency is the same blood that flows in each one of us. If we would only learn that leaving our families behind is the not the right solution, that is when we will truly succeed. We should learn to create opportunities  instead of just finding opportunities. And if we will work together, and won’t take advantage of each other, everyone will flourish. The crisis we face is just a test. Let’s face it together. It’s better when we’re together!

[Like NFR on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NewFilipinoRevolution%5D

Read more @ newfilipinorevolution.wordpress.com

Human Rights Online Philippines does not hold copyright over these materials. Author/s and original source/s of information are retained including the URL contained within the tagline and byline of the articles, news information, photos etc.