Interview a college student with a parent/s who is/are an OFW:

Name: Berlin T.
Age: 21
Course: BSBA CMA
Contact No. : 09052666880

Questions and Answers:

1. How many Siblings do you have?
3
2. Why is your parent working aboard?
To support our familys needs and it was a good opportunity to grab.
3. How long does your mother been there?
9 years
4. If given a choice, would you let your parent work abroad? Why or why not.
No, because I like it better when the family is complete and someone to be there
for you.
5. How is your life when she/he was away working abroad?
It has been difficult because I am closer to my mom and since shes the one
working abroad, and made me adjust difficultly. And that my father is also in a far
place but here in the Philippines.
6. How difficult is it?
I really cant tell how but I know that it difficult enough for me to adjust to it.
7. What was the most difficult thing you experience or continue to experience?
When I Graduated in High school and seeing my friends with both of their parents
with them.
8. Did you also notice some negative effects with your siblings?
Yes, I noticed that some of them also changed that they become more independent
and since I was the youngest, I became dependent to them.
9. In the future, when you have your own family, would you do the same to your children?
It depends on the opportunity but personally, I would rather just work here and be
with my family.
10. What is your message to your parent if he/she is speaking to you right now?
Always take care there and be strong. Though youre far, we know that youre
working very hard for us to have a good life and we really appreciate everything
you have done for us. Thank you mom and I hope to see you soon.
11. What do you really want to tell them?
I love you mom and I really hope that youre here right now because I miss you
a lot. Thank you for all the sacrifices and hope that one day, Ill see you again and
that youll never leave ever again. Always take care and I love you.




Name: Patrick T.
Age: 18
Course: BS Psychology
Contact No. : 09266573299

Questions and Answers:

1. How many Siblings do you have?
None
2. Why is your parent working aboard?
I actually stayed with her for years and this is the first time that I went all by
myself here in the Philippines.
3. How long does your mother been there?
More than 15 years, I think.
4. If given a choice, would you let your parent work abroad? Why or why not.
Well, its okay with me. I got used to it since both of us were there.
5. How is your life when she/he was away working abroad?
Still trying to adjust but somehow its okay because this is the first time that I
actually became this free but I sometimes miss the life I had with my mom.
6. How difficult is it?
Lets say its moderately difficult. There are pros and cons but still trying to
adjust to it.
7. What was the most difficult thing you experience or continue to experience?
Having to leave my mom abroad to study here in the Philippines.
8. Did you also notice some negative effects with your siblings?
N/A.
9. In the future, when you have your own family, would you do the same to your children?
Maybe, because probably Ill be working abroad to after I graduate and maybe
after a year bring my family too so that we can be together.
10. What is your message to your parent if he/she is speaking to you right now?
Thanks for letting me grow by myself, thanks for entrusting me with the
independence and freedom. I will not disappoint you mom and that I will use this
as an experience to grow and be a man you wanted me to be. Thank you and Ill
be back soon.
11. What do you really want to tell them?
I love you and always take care. Since Im not there to take care of you mom,
always be safe and call once in a while because I miss you mom. Dont worry; Ill
be okay here but still trying to adjust. Thank you for everything and hope all is
well there. Take care and I love you mom. Godbless!







Maden J. Halili
Roxanne Karen DL. Balbuena
Maverick Clarence Quintano
Raymac Rosales
Neil Gabreil Delos Angeles

BSN RR41

CHURCH AND SACRAMENTS


Parents who work overseas assume that their kids understand fully why they have to leavethat
it is for the childrens good and their future.
Many parents leave when their kids are young. The children do not even know where in the
world their mothers or fathers are.
Migration is actually not new. The late economist John Kenneth Galbraith wrote, Migration is
the oldest action against poverty.
Children of OFWs believe their parents are working abroad to give them better food, better
education and better home. The eldest child then assumes the role of a parent.

In the Filipino culture, the mother is not merely caretaker, but the light of the home or ilaw ng
tahanan. Dr. Lourdes Arellano-Carandangs book, Nawala ang Ilaw ng Tahanan, deals with
the question what happens when light goes out in the family? That refers to the phenomenon of
mothers leaving the home to work abroad.

Currently, there are three to six million children of OFW parents. And still more women are
leaving the country work abroad. Of the two to three thousand workers who leave, seventy
percent are women. Eighty-five percent are from the lower-income bracket and in their early
twenties. The average age of the children left behind is ten years old.
What happens to these children? When mothers leave home, fathers infrequently step in to fulfill
motherly roles. The opposite is the case when the father leaves the home: Mothers will usually
do double time. One mother has said, I learned to fix electric wires and change car tires as much
as I learned how to become more firm towards the children. Studies have shown that male
parent can acquire the nurturing skills and attitudes typical of female parents. Often, fathers will
ask other female relatives to take over the role of mother.

The money earned by the OFW parent allows a number of children to attend private schools,
participate in extracurricular activities, and excel up to a point, usually in the elementary years.
But children of migrant mothers, in general, do not do well. In the long run, they lag behind,
academically. They are reported as being lonely, angry, unloved, unfeeling, afraid, and worried
compared to all groups of children.
OFW children grieve, worry and fantasize about their parents coming home. In time, they
become numb to the absence: they become like orphans. Young children cope by playing, while
older ones strike up friendships and rationalize the departure of their parents. This does not
eradicate the hurt and resentment towards the parents. A survey among the children of OFW
caregivers showed that only 25% could say they enjoyed a good relationship with their parents.
The words of one child capture this precarious situation:I am supposed to love my father
because he works hard for the family. But now I do not feel anything for him.Another child has
said,I have learned to accept that I no longer have parents. Yes, they are there, but they do not
care about me. I feel abandoned by the people I love.

OFW teenagers, particularly females, acquire the inclination to look elsewhere for parental care.
Again, the studies show that more of these teens enter into promiscuous relationships or become
more vulnerable to abusive relationships with older men. They are also prone to crime, drug
dependency, alcoholism, and gender-identity problems. More alarmingly, there are reports of
incest between fathers left behind and the older female children.

These unfortunate scenarios are heartbreaking and should serve to drive home the desperate state
of Filipino families in which either or both parents go abroad to work.

















Name: A.M.
Age: 20
Course: BS N
Contact No. : 09073171393

Questions and Answers:

1. How many Siblings do you have?
1
2. Why is your parent working aboard?
To be able to give a better life for the family
3. How long does your parent been there?
Im not sure but I think it has been more than 10 years but goes back once in a
while.
4. If given a choice, would you let your parent work abroad? Why or why not.
Its okay. Ive been accustomed to it already and I understand why my parent is
working out of the country.
5. How is your life when she/he was away working abroad?
I would be a hypocrite if I say that its okay with me to see my parent working out
of the country. Honestly, its hard for us but we learned to adjust and just accept
and understand the situation.
6. How difficult is it?
If I were to measure it out of 10, I think it would be a 6.
7. What was the most difficult thing you experience or continue to experience?
Seeing my dad leave every time after a vacation here in the Philippines.
8. Did you also notice some negative effects with your siblings?
Not really because we support each other and tell our sentiments about it and we
are able to just hold on to each other.
9. In the future, when you have your own family, would you do the same to your children?
I think so because part of my plan for my future is to work abroad but I think its
better if I can bring my family with me.
10. What is your message to your parent if he/she is speaking to you right now?
Thank you and always take care. Be strong and youre family is always here
dad
11. What do you really want to tell them?
Thank you for being a great dad and unconditional provider. We will always
love you and be great children to you. Stay strong and youre family is always
behind you.










Name: TBN
Age: 21
Course: BS N
Contact No. : 09389598023

Questions and Answers:

1. How many Siblings do you have?
None
2. Why is your parent working aboard?
Hes actually from that place and he really works there.
3. How long does your parent been there?
For as long as I remember, more than 20 years.
4. If given a choice, would you let your parent work abroad? Why or why not.
No, but since thats where he live and I really cant do much about it. I just
learned to accept it and understand.
5. How is your life when she/he was away working abroad?
Of course its hard because sometimes we really dont talk to each other because
its hard to communicate and have time but I learned to just be okay about it.
6. How difficult is it?
Really hard.
7. What was the most difficult thing you experience or continue to experience?
Everyday its difficult for me especially on occasions that need my parents with
me.
8. Did you also notice some negative effects with your siblings?
N/A
9. In the future, when you have your own family, would you do the same to your children?
No, because I know how it feels and I dont want my children to feel the same
thing.
10. What is your message to your parent if he/she is speaking to you right now?
I know youre working there very hard and I thank you for always being there
for us and still having time to communicate with us. Thank you for supporting us
always though youre far away. We love you dad and I really hope to see you
soon.
11. What do you really want to tell them?
I hope you will be able to be here on my graduation and see me receive my
award. All my hardwork is for you dad and I hope to see you very soon. I love
you and always take care



Name: N.P.
Age: 20
Course: BS N
Contact No. : N/A

Questions and Answers:

1. How many Siblings do you have?
1
2. Why is your parent working aboard?
To support the family financially.
3. How long does your parent been there?
20 years to be exact.
4. If given a choice, would you let your parent work abroad? Why or why not.
No, because its better if hes here and be able to attend special occasions because
the family is not complete when hes not here.
5. How is your life when she/he was away working abroad?
Its hard because when I need my dad especially when I have problems, its not
that easy to share it with anyone else and that makes me miss him more.
6. How difficult is it?
Its okay because Im already used to it.
7. What was the most difficult thing you experience or continue to experience?
Nothing. Cant really think of what was the most difficult experience.
8. Did you also notice some negative effects with your siblings?
None so far
9. In the future, when you have your own family, would you do the same to your children?
It depends on the situation, especially when the situation demands for me to work
outside of the country.
10. What is your message to your parent if he/she is speaking to you right now?
I know its hard for you to work there and sometimes what I do and achieve in
school is not that worth it to repay your hard work. But sometimes I find ways to
make-up for my shortcomings.
11. What do you really want to tell them?
Im very thankful because you do not pressure me in studies and thank you for
supporting me in whatever I do.