My former driver, who worked in Saudi
Arabia for a few years with his older brother, has a sad story to tell about
working abroad.
His former employer was murdered by his
business partner, but instead of investigating thoroughly, the local policemen
just picked him up unceremoniously and immediately imprisoned him without the
benefit of a lawyer or questioning. Their rationale behind this unfair
treatment was, according to them, a logical thing. He was the closest person to
the victim and he is a foreigner who could have a lot to gain from the murder.
While in prison, he was forced to “confess”
to the crime, and was incessantly beaten, prevented from sleeping and allowed
only one meal a day. His hands were tied in chains and he was hang up in such a
way that his feet were above ground. His saving grace was his brother who
secretly brought food to his cell and had to bribe his guards to allow him to
visit his prison cell.
After more than a year of his imprisonment,
his slain employer’s maid could no longer keep quiet. She was the only witness
to the crime, but was so scared to tell anyone, for fear of retaliation from
the assailant. Her conscience was the
reason why she finally came forward and narrated the murder scene to the police
authorities.
My former driver still bears the scars from
his merciless beatings and he walks with a little limp. He has understandably
developed a clear disdain for figures of authority.
There are many more stories like his, and
they just keep on growing, which makes me ask, “what is in store for our OFWs?
Do they have a better future ahead?”
For almost three decades now, the Overseas
Filipino Workers have kept the Philippine economy afloat, and contributes over
$18 billion a year to our GDP. That is formidable!
There is a price to pay for this bonanza of
course. The families left behind have to contend with loneliness and the
emotional and psychological void caused by the absence of a husband, a wife, a
brother, a sister, or a friend.
Often, children of absentee parents fall
into the wrong company and get in trouble and all kinds of scrapes with the
law. Spouses, on the other hand, either get into gambling, gossiping or find
escape in an illicit affair. Seldom does an OFW family sail thru life without
experiencing some difficulty.
What has our government done for our OFWs
and their families?
Among all of our government officials, it
was Sen. Manny Villar who showed the most empathy and concern for the OFWs. He
made numerous trips to various countries to help the OFWs in distress. Sadly, I
don’t see anyone following his example.
Even if our government officials do follow
Sen. Villar’s example, it is not enough to help the OFW families. It takes a
portion of our government’s resources and concerted efforts on the part of our
government agencies to marshall their forces and focus on the OFWs and their
families.
What are some of the ways that we can “pay
forward” for the great sacrifice that they have done for our country?
The
following steps can be undertaken by our government:
1. Conduct a free cultural assimilation
workshop for each OFW before he leaves for his country of destination. This
will hopefully decrease the chances of his getting in trouble, due to ignorance
of local culture, traditions and certain taboos.
2. Provide support groups with proper
funding and guidance on how to counsel the members of the families who are left
behind, and give them time and attention.
3. Set up an education center with the sole
purpose of explaining the different types of investments and small businesses
that they can engage in, so that they can prepare for a future without
depending on their loved ones to keep on working abroad.
This should include coaching and guiding
them thru the initial stages of setting up the investments or small businesses
that they have chosen, until they become savvy enough to sail thru their new
ventures without any outside help.
This sounds like a gigantic project, but it
will at least pave the way for a better future for our beloved “heroes,” our
OFWs and their families!
Here is the video to my interview on OFWs
and their fate:
