Skip to main content

The OFW Working Abroad and Their Family on Christmas

It's a few days before Christmas. I don't like December because of heavy traffic, some people prefer Christmas shopping at the last minute (since procrastination is a common habit in the Philippines), the stress of year-end work, and December is the end of the year's cycle. I decided to write this entry. There's nothing wrong with celebrating Christmas or having a good time. The problem comes when one celebrates beyond one's means (read here). That means having extravagant Christmas parties that require a music band that one can't afford, inviting the whole village, etc. when one can't afford it. Speaking of which, these incidents remind me of OFW families. I remember a study presented at the University of San Carlos. If I remember correctly, it was done by accounting students. It was a study showing the spending habits of OFW families.

Outstanding Filipinos Worldwide Facebook Page

Here's a meme on Facebook that I found. For the sake of non-Tagalog speakers (so you don't need to use Google translate if English is your default language)--I'd translate the words:
  1. "Ang dalawang mukha ng Pasko ng Pilipino" means "The two faces of Christmas of the Filipino".
  2. "Ang nagdapala" means "the one who is sending".
  3. "Ang pinagdalhan"means the recipient.
It may be dated last 2011 but the meme still remains relevant. It's already 2024 but the same persistent problem happens. Two years ago, I wrote an article discussing OFWs who can't be home for Christmas. Yes, talks about separation aren't drama! As I look at the meme, it starts to show the reality that OFWs aren't "conquering other countries". I wrote an article discussing the need to debunk the myth of a game of conquest between OFWs and MNCs. For starters, OFWs are ironically sent to countries that are more friendly to FDI than the Philippines! For crying out loud, Migrante International has branches in countries that ironically benefit from FDIs!

What causes the situation in the meme I just showed? I would like to present the grim reality. OFWs leave the country because of a lack of job opportunities in the Philippines. It's not mostly because they want to but because they have to. It's never easy to work somewhere, away from your family, only to see them rarely. Sure, the current 1987 Constitution of the Philippines doesn't discourage FDIs but the equity restrictions still discourage FDIs from entering (read here). It has become the norm poor Filioinos apply for work abroad. I even remember two obnoxious Chinese Filipinos who worked in Taiwan (as OFWs) for some time but were presumably fired due to their attitude problem

Common sense will tell us that if it's hard to find a job in the Philippines--being jobless can become normal. I remember an economics textbook back in high school. One comic strip has it where the husband and the wife are arguing. The husband blames the capitalist system. The wife says that the husband is too azy to look for work. However, with the economic activities at the hands of a few (aka oligarchy), how can you expect more job opportunities. The OFW sends remittances to their families, first and foremost. Here's what Pueblo De Oro Development Corporation says about OFW remittances:
Remittances 
The primary way OFWs contribute to the Philippine economy is through their remittances sent back home to support their families and loved ones. These remittances play a crucial role in the financial well-being of households in the country.

Remittances empower Philippine households with increased purchasing power, enabling them to spend more on goods and services. As domestic consumption rises, it stimulates economic growth and benefits local businesses and industries.

These help families meet their basic needs such as food, housing, and education. By utilizing these funds, households can uplift themselves from poverty, improving their living standards and accessing essential utilities and amenities.

Additionally, remittances received in foreign currencies contribute to bolstering the countryā€™s foreign exchange reserves. This strengthens the stability of the Philippine peso and supports a robust economy.

The continuous flow of remittances demonstrates the significant impact of OFWs on the Philippine economy, showcasing their dedication and commitment to their families and the nation as a whole.

Is the OFW program more feasible in the long run? I wrote an article discussing why OFWs are really short-term solutions. Even worse is the destructive obsession with OFW remittances (read here). I don't need a PhD in economics to understand it's just a short-term boost. OFW remittances primarily go to the families. However, with so few job opportunities in the Philippines (and I heard becoming an OFW is easier said than done), it would push people's lazy buttons, and becoming a tambay (idle person) becomes increasingly the new normal. That OFW relative is probably doing a lot of menial jobs that pay more abroad (because of the high demand for work, read here) compared to the Philippines. One may earn more being a janitor in a first-world country than in the Philippines! 

If becoming jobless is the new normal then why work, right? People are prone to following the crowd. Above is a meme I found on Facebook. I used it in my article discussing why following the crowd all the time is bad financial advice. History has recorded many things where the crowd makes a wrong decision. That's why I don't believe in following the crowd. Unfortunately, the Filipino people tend to follow the crowd, as evidenced by election results. How often do actors and athletes become lawmakers over those who know better? Now, it's ironic how some people criticize Senator Robinhood C. Padilla all the while they refuse to change the political system. If it's cool to be jobless because more Filipinos are jobless--it naturally follows that more Filipinos would think, "Hey! It's cool to be jobless and rely on that OFW relative." 

It becomes a problem that the OFW relative (who isn't conquering that country, by the way) is sending money to one's family in the Philippines. I rewatched that problematic film called The Flor Contemplacion Story. I don't know how true but Efren Contemplacion allegedly wasted the remittance from Singapore to spend on a mistress. I heard of stories where the husband of an OFW gets caught in infidelity, aside from being jobless. Another is where wives cheat when the husband is away. I forgot the name of this criminal investigation program. One case of infidelity was that a wife committed adultery while her husband worked in another country. The OFW husband ended up murdering his wife in a heat of passion. If I'm not wrong, the incident happened in Cebu during the 1990s. Is it me or is infidelity becoming more common in OFW families and not just among business families?!

What happens is that the effort of the OFW relative is usually wasted. The money sent to the OFW family might be wasted. The OFW relative isn't even spending Christmas with them. Instead, their Christmas may not even be merry at all. The OFW relative may be lucky if they're spending Christmas with their employer, assuming the country celebrates Christmas. However, Christmas isn't even celebrated in the Middle East, because most countries there are Muslim countries. It's easy to waste money you just received on a silver platter. I wonder if some wasteful employees in the Philippines have an OFW relative giving them money. I can't be certain but that's something I didn't think of before. They're probably splurging the paycheck because they think, "Well I'll just wait for the OFW remittance." Both people may have worked the same jobs. Both may be waiters but one waiter earns a lot more. As said, the price of labor depends on supply and demand. How can wages in the Philippines go up if the demand for labor among businesses is too low? How can demand increase if economic activity is just in the hands of a few? Can the oligarchs truly afford to hire every single jobless Filipino nationwide? 

It becomes easy to take the money for granted. After all, they never "pinaghirapan" for the money, meaning they never exerted any effort, for that money! If spoiled children of rich people can't understand it then neither can family members relying on the OFWs. Sometimes, it becomes even more ironic when some children of rich people understand the value of money because their parents don't pamper them. How can OFWs teach their relatives the value of money when they're in some land far far away?! How can an OFW parent teach their children to manage the money if they're not there in person? 

Even worse, some people think that opening up the economy to foreigners will increase OFWs. Some people even have screwed up definitions of OFWs. I even remember reading someone's definitions of FDI (read here) don't add up! Definitions like foreign debt, a Filipino woman offering herself to a sleazy foreigner boyfriend, or that it will benefit the oligarchs only (read rebuttal here). In reality, first-world countries got better by allowing FDIs to invest in their countries. That's why Kishore Mahbubani is a thousand times more knowledgeable than Hilario G. Davide Jr. Mahbubani understood how FDIs work. Singaporeans aren't going back and forth between Singapore and Malaysia due to FDIs. Singapore is such a small place that housing is naturally more expensive. Singaporeans moving to some parts of Malaysia. Malaysia is a much bigger country. Also, FDIs are regulated by local laws which they're required to follow.

If the Philippines were more open to FDI, there would have been more jobs for Filipinos. More jobs means that employers would compete over who can provide the bigger salary. Local businesses would be forced to evolve or be extinct. Local businesses may start to offer their products or services to MNCs, which in turn can generate higher revenues. Higher revenues will increase profits. The minimum wage will rise up because there's more demand for labor than supply. Even better, more Filipinos would be able to work menial jobs for a better living wage because of that. They would be able to go home to their families and teach them how to manage their money. They can be part of a service crew and be able to enjoy the better things in life. 

Unfortunately, some people just never learn. Even funnier, why are some OFWs even against opening to FDI? Yes, I'm talking about OFWs who still believe in obsolete economics taught by the likes of Bayan Muna and Migrante International. The irony of being an OFW while opposing FDI is incredible! These people need to stop listening to the likes of Bayan Muna and Migrante International. Instead, they need to start listening to real economics spoken from the mouths of first-world country economists! 

Popular posts from this blog

I'll Vote for Teodoro A. Casino for Senator, IF His Supporters Can Run a SUCCESSFUL #SahodItaasPresyoIbaba Business That Pays PHP 1,200.00 Minimum Wage

If there's anything I want to say--only economically illiterate people would vote for Teodoro CasiƱo's promise. The chances are that (1) it's all for a vote, or (2) he doesn't understand what he's doing. In my case, I assume that CasiƱo is simply saying it, all for a vote instead of the second option. Chances are that he's only saying it, for a vote. Because nobody in the right mind would push a PHP 1,200 minimum wage, given the condition of the job market! I would like to write this article because what he's pushing is inflationary . It's because no matter how much you look at it, #SahodItaasPresyoIbaba is plain bad accounting (read here ). How can you increase wages without increasing the prices of goods and services? Business & Plans   I wrote about opening #SahodItaasPresyoIbaba stores nationwide . Until now, nobody has ever bothered to do the challenge. Why haven't they opened a single successful #SahodItaasPresyoIbaba store? As one would lo...

Filipino Halal Resto Owners Can't Blame Arab Halal Resto Owners When Their Businesses Sink Into Quicksand

Food Craving Reviews Tomorrow is Hari Raya Puasa. Previously, I Googled "Mhat Am Kape" some time ago, only to discover that the place had been permanently closed . It was closed in 2020 before the Delta Variant came out in 2021. Their Facebook page is still on but the place is already closed . I tried eating there, calling the place mediocre, and when I talked with workers for Arabian halal resto owners, they mentioned that the place was definitely dirty. I could imagine how the Arab bosses would react to the lack of proper hygiene in the place.  I'd like to share a few photos I took from Mhat Am Kape's Facebook page. One needs to find out why the place closed down. I assume somebody sent the Cebu City Health office photos. The pastils (empanadas) on the floor (right) are an open invitation to pests . As a result, the establishment would be forced to close down. If these photos were taken sometime in July 2020 and the establishment closed in August 2020-- I assume Ce...

The Filipino First Policy Caused the Philippines to Succeed!

High School Philippine History Movement Yes, you read it right! I found a hidden gem that I should've read years ago! It's the book Nationalist Economics by the late Alejandro Lichauco, who is part of the magnificent IBON Foundation. It's a shame I refused to read it. I should've read Lichauco's book instead of the late Lee Kuan Yew's book From Third World to First . What a shame that I didn't look into the details that LKY was a dictator, that Flor Contemplacion was indeed innocent, and that Singapore is a state comparable to Nazi Germany. As I bought my copy of Nationalist Economics from the Trust Me Bro School of Economics--I'm now convinced that the Filipino First Policy caused us to succeed! LKY ruled Singapore for 31 years, meaning it's a frightening thing indeed! Six years is the magic number ot establish a benevolent rule!  Who should we all listen to? Should we listen to foreigners or should we listen to our fellow Filipino? We must think st...

Understanding the Supply/Demand in the Job Market, Not #SahodItaasPresyoIbaba Economics

It's really annoying when people keep up with their #SahodItaasPresyoIbaba economics. It's easy to ridicule me because I'm not using a domain, unlike sites like the IBON Foundation. However, they may be very beholden to the WordPress blog of Atty. Teodoro "Teddy" A. CasiƱo (which is currently not as updated as intended, presumably due to his busy schedule as a lawyer), which is a free domain just like BlogSpot. Now, I'm going to write another post on the job market. Since I'm being belittled because of my lack of degrees like the Monsod couple (I'm neither a lawyer nor an economist) or the people at IBON, I'm going to quote other sources.  Graph taken from CFI I came across the Corporate Finance Institute   (where I got the graph above) where I found a useful article on the job market. This would be to help me understand why salaries just shouldn't be increased (or decreased) at a whim . This would also help understand how allowing more MNCs to...

Yes, the Philippines Can Self-Industrialize Because Filipinos Are the Most Powerful Race in the World (NO JOKE)

Yes, you got that right! This meme is a fact that Filipinos are the most powerful race in the world. That has been proven by the Trust Me Bro Factcheckers of the Philippines. It's the case of Filipino Exceptionalism. One can read on Facebook something like, "How many times do I have to tell you that the Philippines isn't Vietnam/Singapore/China/Taiwan/Japan, etc.?" Ever read that? If you haven't then you must be exceptionally stupid. That's why the Philippines should never learn from other countries, especially from Singapore. Why are you always listening to foreigners? Why listen to the advice of a stinky Indian when you can have the advice of the best constitutionalist in the world, Atty. Hilario G. Davide Jr.? You say that nations of the world go to Kishore Mabhubani in Singapore instead. Forget them because the Philippines is so unique that it can do everything on its own. It was proven by the greatest president that the Philippines always had, namely Carl...

It's More Fun In The Philippines Thanks to the Filipino First Policy

I guess it can be called a day, right? This April 1, 2023 , I'm finally calling it quits with fighting for economic liberalization! Yes, that's right! All the advocacy for economic liberalization is just garbage. Why did I even spend so much time writing this blog only to find out that I've been duped? I hereby renounce everything I wrote here. I finally saw how brilliant the Filipino First Policy is. Man, what have I done? How much damage have I caused in advocating for economic liberalization?  The greatest president we ever had was... High School Philippine History Movement It's time to listen to the economic genius known as the late Carlos P. Garcia. Yes, he has to be one of the greatest presidents that ever existed.  I took this note from the Bohol Provincial Library and found this about CPG's Filipino First Policy ; CPG adopted the ā€œFilipino Firstā€ Policy to promote greater Filipino participation in business, and to put the Filipinos in control of the economy...

Continuous Improvement is Better Than Expecting Sudden Perfection

I found this meme on Facebook. Fortunately, there's already an attribution on the picture. In my case, I prefer to say, "Continuous improvement is better than expecting sudden perfection." It's because perfectionism is lethal, and we're all but human beings. As the midterm elections come in, there are still people who may either be (1) reminiscing that "perfect leader" (ex. Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, etc.) or (2) still expecting the perfect leader.  It's sad some people still believe in the old lie repeated all over again, "It's not the system that's the problem. It's the people that's the problem." They still wait for this "grand glorious leader". That's why I often joke on Facebook saying, "Why don't you create this perfect leader so I too may follow him to victory!" Of course, there's no perfect leader, and trying to genetically engineer that...

Trying to Plan Out What to Do as a Bull Market Starts

I was laughing just thinking about ignorance about the bear and bull markets. Yes, we know about social media gossipers (seldom called a marites in Filipino) tend to spread gossip. I ran into several people panicking when the Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) was mostly red. Others would panic but Warren Edward Buffett recommends, "Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful." That's the best market timing. Some people do cost averaging because it's practically less risky in contrast to lump sum investing. Buffett recommends that non-technical people should periodically invest in a low-cost index fund over a period of ten years.  Now, the Philippine Star has an article by Wilson Sy, where the first paragraph talks about the Philippines' entry towards the bull market : Most stock markets have undergone a dramatic shift to start the year, transitioning from a bear market to a bull market. Peak inflation, a slower pace of interest rate h...

Memory is the LEAST RELIABLE Tool, Ever

Tax season can be stressful. I think about how easy it becomes to overlook certain stuff. One can be distracted by either happy events or sad events. I remember how I accidentally signed the wrong document when my paternal grandmother died of old age. I remember how I could easily forget receipts until I started to document them. Memory should be the least reliable tool ever. I tend to get mad whenever I become forgetful. We end up excessively scolding others for their bad memory. I even end up either (1) scolding others too hard, or (2) being too hard on myself. That's why I've grown critical of the education system itself. Just imagine that even honor roll students are forgetting what they learned back in high school. Right now, I even have to download notes to relearn stuff that I learned in college . This may be the best picture for college, especially for those without a board exam. I didn't take the board exam since I'm a business administration graduate. I confes...

Why I Think Many Filipinos Are Easily Fooled By Financial Scams

Dreamstime It's April Fool's Day and I think it might be a great opportunity to write about why many Filipinos get easily fooled by financial scams. I was doing some reviews of mistakes I made and mistakes others make. I can't get over losing a huge sum of money to a family friend . I can't get over how we also lost a lot of money to those who were supposedly close friends. It was also during my MBA days at the University of San Carlos-Main Campus when the scams happened and some MBA students were victimized. I was an MBA student at that time when I defied common sense by allowing a family friend to purchase in credit. I thought she would return the money after she paid for her first transaction. During the pandemic, I had gone on a blocking spree when I'm getting text messages offering to pay me a much higher pay (per day) when it was too good to be true. The Philippines will still need to develop its economy before it can be legitimate that Filipinos can get a min...