Sinabacan, Misamis Oriental -- About 11 million Filipinos have been abroad to seek greener pasture (Collymore, 2003). They believe that it is the surest and most plausible way to uplift their family from their status in life. They endure the homesickness and sacrifice the opportunity to be with their children in their growing up years. They hope that by doing so, a brighter future for their loved ones awaits them.

While some dreams become a reality, most overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) bring home traumatic stories. Racial discrimination, human trafficking, and physical abuse are the challenges that most of our fellow Filipinos experience while being enslaved in foreign countries.

 

Nida Sarino, Helen Pang-an, and Lizel Pregonos were among the OFWs who aspired to give their children a comfortable life by struggling the hardship of toiling abroad. They were among the 2 million Filipinos who have gone to Middle East as skilled workers and went home bringing sad stories.

Nida Sarino, 37, was a domestic helper in Abu Dhabi. She studied Education in college but finished only 2nd year because they could not afford the increasing tuition fee. In 1992, Nida decided to work in Abu Dhabi in the hope of providing a better life for her children. She stayed there for more than 2 years earning an unjust amount of P2,700 a month.

Nida never complained about her salary, but she had difficulty taking care of her employer’s troublesome children. She frighteningly recalled that horrible incident when she was preparing lunch and heard a loud splash outside the house. She hurriedly went to the pool, and to her horror, she saw her employer’s son sinking down the swimming pool. She jumped in the water and took the child’s frail body to safety. Her employer, who was fuming mad, scolded and blamed her for the accident. She threatened to send Nida to jail for neglect of her duty. Frightened and scared, she secretly packed her things and escaped the house. With the help of another Filipina, she was able to leave Abu Dhabi that same year, but sadly with nothing to bring home for her family.

Helen Pangan, is an AB Economics graduate but due to limited job opportunity, she was lured to work abroad as a domestic helper in 1992. Helen worked for an Egyptian family in the Emirates and was paid P7,000 a month. After her working contract for two years expired, she pleaded to her employer for a one year extension but they refused. She went back home and never had the chance to go abroad again.

Liza Pregonos, 31, also worked in the Middle East. Like Nida, she took Education but only finished 1st year. In 2002, she decided to work as a domestic helper in Al-Ain, Saudi Arabia leaving behind her husband and child. She earned P10,000 monthly and was fortunate to be with a good-hearted employer. But her body did not cooperate with her will. The climate and the heavy work load aggravated her cough which caused recurring fever and prevented her to work efficiently. Though her illness was not fatal, her employer ended her contract in no time and was sent back home. 
 
Scrolling another page in life

These three unsuccessful OFWs are from Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental. They have their own families now, and are dependent on their low-salaried husbands. Nida and Helen’s husbands are farmers, earning P130-P150 a day, while Lizel’s husband is a tricycle driver who earns P180-200 daily.

These mothers reckoned that it is indeed difficult to raise a family with a meager income to budget. It is a blessing for them that they were chosen as beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). 4Ps is a government program that provides conditional cash grants to the poorest households in the country to improve their health, nutrition and education particularly their children 0-14 years old.

Merrily, Nida expressed her gratitude to 4Ps. “Nalipay mi nga naapil mi sa project sa gobyerno. Gamay ra mi nakuha sa among purok (we were very happy when we became part of the government’s project. There were only few of us in our community who were chosen).” Nida also mentioned that 4Ps developed her personality. The active parent groups in their area have encouraged her to become more participative in various barangay activities.

Helen gladly uttered, “Tungod sa 4Ps, naa mi’y nadawat nga wala namu damha (Because of 4Ps, we received something that we did not expect).”  The mothers stated that it is the first government project that has given them direct financial assistance. Helen is relieved that in difficult times, 4Ps is helping her provide her children’s most essential needs.

4Ps has brought hope to these former OFWs, making them realize that their stories will not close in sad-endings as there is still a good road that awaits them after taking her flight back home.###(4Ps Social Marketing Unit)