The OFW… The Child… The Impact
June 8, 2007The OFW
The OFW or the Overseas Foreign Worker, according to the Philippine government are the new heroes of the nation. They are the ones who who go to other countries and work for the families they have left. And gives remmitance the money back to the country.
The Kids of the OFW
Most of the time, the OFW has a child who they have left with their spouse or with the extended family.
The Impact
Let’s be aware that the Philippines has a Catholic majority and the church states that the family is the primary unit of the community. Now the most usual thing that happens is that the worker (OFW) has a family already and the worker must be separated from the family for quite while. The separation of the worker to the family is a big impact to the emotinal and development of a child. The child will grow up from without a father/mother figure. I say this is the same impact single-parent raising a child in the United States with divorce as the most common cause.
Years later, the worker will be able to get his family to the host country where he/she works in. Well, the worker will then realize how years has passed by withouth being with the child, etc. But the bonding between the child and worker is not emotionally present and thus the connection of father/mother figure is not there.Raising a child singledhandly is tough, missing a father/mother figure will void the child of experience that he/she should have had in the first place.
I’m not sure if there has been studies related to this impact in the family but I’m just relating from what my observations and experience.
One can argue that they’re just doing it for their family to provide better life, education, etc. and family is family no matter what. But is this really how it should be? In the long-run I doubt that being migrant workers are truly answer to the nation's problems but more of a short-term solution.
Do you have any experiences that you can share? If you can please spread this entry especially to OFW's and their children. Thank you.
