NAG-AABROAD SILA

My mother stood by the door, carrying her luggage filled with essentials and memories.  That day, twenty-one years ago, she would leave again for Kuwait—a Middle-Eastern land full of opportunities—to work as an emergency nurse. The scene had already become too familiar for me; it was her third time leaving, yet I wept like a child not fully-grown accustomed to her mama’s yearly departure. I was five-years old, our bunso was 3, and my two older brothers, 7 and 10. 

“Anos labat, anako. Para naman sainyo tong pag-alis ko,” she said, asking the four of us to endure, while giving a tight, motherly embrace that should last until we see each other again.

Then, I remember the doors closing behind us.

The reality for many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) is a life of separation and longing.

In the Philippines, the economic landscape is fraught with challenges: high unemployment rates, low wages, and the rising cost of living. As of 2023, there were about 2.33 million OFWs, about twice as much as the previous period. Our labor laws even acknowledge the existence of the issue at play; for instance, the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 ensures legal assistance to distressed Filipino workers, and the Handbook for OFWs Act of 2018 serves as a guide to their rights and responsibilities.

While these laws aim to safeguard the well-being among migrant workers, they highlight the sad truth that Filipinos continue to seek better conditions abroad. They present opportunities that are still a far cry from higher wages offered elsewhere. 

Mama’s choice was painful. In Kuwait, she faced a world vastly different from our home. She stood for hours, the pace relentless, the cases often critical, and the pressure immense. The stories she shared through our phone calls spoke of the camaraderie among the medical staff and the gratitude of patients; she also recounted the challenges—the moments of deep homesickness, the long shifts, and the emotional toll of emergency care—challenges that she’d willingly suffer repeatedly in exchange of remittances that had become our lifeline.

Our systemic economic disparity drives millions of Filipinos like mama to seek work abroad. The promise of a better life is a powerful lure, but it comes at a high personal cost. OFWs are often hailed as modern-day heroes, yet this heroism comes from a system that fails to provide adequate opportunities.

I had witnessed the door close behind us 21 more times. Mama’s absence had always been a constant ache, but we adapted with resilience born out of necessity. Her story is a testament to the enduring spirit of Filipinos; it also underscores the need for systemic change and for better laws that actually create better opportunities, especially for a Filipino family like ours who shouldn’t have to bear this kind of ache any longer.

After all, a better life should be possible without leaving home.