Guidelines in Strengthening the OFW Family

It is hard to be a Filipino working abroad; in a foreign land where the customs, traditions and common practices do not bear semblance to the common notions of everyday life that we have gotten used to.

It is equally harder to be Filipino working abroad without your family with you. The pressure of going through the rhythm of everyday life; work, home, work—tends to become very heavy with the idea that you are in a different place; far away from your wife, your kids, your friends and just about anyone who you have close to your heart.

Yes, such is the burden that each Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) carries. It is pretty plain and simple; you either learn to cope with it or you don’t. Many families have broken up because of the loneliness that an OFW brings.

Despite the courage to work abroad and be able to send a few dollars back home, the idea of loneliness still fathoms over and there is a longing for human warmth, companionship and just about the privilege to have someone beside you at the end of the day.

Thank God for modern technology though as the longing is assuaged by the presence of email, chat programs and even video messenger types like skype and yahoo messenger. Although significantly reducing the cases of broken families, there are still individuals who may feel the need for more than just a picture or a video on the internet.

The call for stronger OFW families is truly a long and tedious battle ahead. The need to save a failing family relationship beckons over the need to send dollars or send a new PSP, TV or laptop. Maybe, with the help of a strong set of guidelines and guidance, we can avoid the worst, but it will always boil down on the individual OFW—the strength and the conviction that he will not stray should always be there.

1. Reassure—Families should constantly express their feelings for each other. Husbands should always express their love and wives should reciprocate the gesture, regardless of who is abroad and who is left back home. This act of love aims to give strength and confidence to both individuals and other family members.

2. Reassess—Ask yourself, is going abroad really necessary? If so, do I have what it takes to be away from my family? Can I handle the pressure of being away? Will I break or will I make it?

3. Relax—OFW’s break under pressure on account for the lack of an outlet of relaxation or too much of it. It is okay to have friends and to go out. What is not OK is if you start looking for more. Learn to pick a hobby or a suitable outlet that can help you come to a perfect state of calm and relaxation.

4. Recount—Understand why you have chosen to go abroad; recount each reason and validate it by being the model family member.

5. Reinforce—Strengthen yourself, spiritually, mentally and physically. If you are alone and abroad then most likely no one will be there to care for you. Learn to care for yourself.

Being abroad is truly a challenge in itself but the idea of winning this battle all falls down on you. Love your family—remind yourself that you have made the sacrifice of being away so that you can provide for them. Only when you have the confidence to accept this can you say that what you have (your family) can not be broken.