When people heard the words OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) and abroad, they thought about more money and a good life associated with them. It's like a dream come true for many, yes it is. But along with it are the risks and uncertainties that they may encounter abroad, unexpectedly, unavoidably, and from minor to worst cases.
It's never as easy as many think it is, because I, myself, is an OFW for more than four years. Four years of holding the pain and experiencing unexpected uncertainties and challenges that I sometimes can't bear alone.
The pain felt from separation from my family was the main challenge I've been through during my first few months abroad. And along with OFWs' lives is the unexpected displacement and the risks that may arise at work. Luckily, God gave me an employer that never hurt me physically and is afraid to do negative acts towards her employee. Although doubt, accusations, and reprimands are part of it, only minor cases that are tolerable.
Today was supposed to be a day for enjoyment but due to uncertainty, it was canceled as the involved person needs more comfort and attention. A friend of my travel buddy suffered from uncertainty and has been terminated on the spot by her employer due to a hefty accusation.
The employer of the said OFW accused her of stealing money and even called the attention of police officers to prove her vicious assertion, but to no avail. The Filipina appeared to be innocent as there was no evidence found in her belongings. So the ferocious employer opted to terminate her on the spot as she was proven wrong.
According to my friend, the Filipina suffered mistreatment from her boss for a long period and was supposed to end her contract this coming August. But due to this uncertainty, she ended her contract unexpectedly and she would go back to our country this Wednesday to take a break from all the pain and suffering she experienced from her boss. I guess that's the best thing she could do, to recuperate before she starts working abroad again as a clean slate. Although it will be a hard journey for her because going back abroad from termination is also uncertain.
For more than four years of staying here in Hong Kong, I heard different bad stories about employers' mistreatment of their employees. Hong Kong is a safe place to work as the law is fair to everyone, to foreign workers and residents either rich or poor. However, there are a few employers who tend to break the rules as they thought they are capable of doing so. Those bosses mentality and treated their employees as slaves and servants.
That is unavoidable and happens not just in Hong Kong, but in other countries too, most especially in the Middle East for those working as Domestic Helpers. Some evil bosses would even plant their employees' belongings with their own things and would accuse them of stealing, just to send their employees behind bars for absurd reasons.
The worst cases were those who worked hard for their families but ended up lying cold in caskets and delivered back home. A scene that I never wanted to see or witness in real life. Because even watching them on television is truly heartbreaking.
The bitter fate, pain, and uncertainties that befell an OFW is something difficult to cope with. They leave their families to seek better employment and greener pastures but sometimes, good fate isn't on their sides and uncertainties are falling in their way.
Even if they go back home, the uncertainties in their hearts and bad memories in their minds remain. So there are cases too that some returning OFWs suffered from mental health issues and ended up in rehabilitation or mental institutions they never expected to live. And the recovery is also uncertain.
So as an OFW, I'm lucky enough to experience things that others can't. But for my co-OFWs, I just pray to God to give them the strength to endure the pain and overcome those unexpected uncertainties and challenges without compromising their well-being.
The grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence, and I proved it. But because of dreams, goals, and a better life, many Filipinos are taking the risk for the sake of their loved ones too, and to lift their lives from being stuck in poverty.
May it be abroad or homeland, uncertainties are truly unavoidable. So strong faith, physical and mental strength is what we need to withstand the odds and thorns our life would throw at us. It may be hard at times, but always remember that, it isn't stormy forever as the sun will always shine to give us hope.
Stay strong and thanks for reading.
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Grass Isn't Always Greener On The Other Side Of The Fence
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