In the eyes of this Expat, He's his role model

To the Greatest Expat - Dad

Me and my Dad

When we were little, we always have these role models. People whom we look up to or dream of becoming someone, someday. There are people who look up to artists, national heroes, politicians, teachers, etc. But for me, I look up to him, my Dad.

EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER

Ever since I can remember, my dad has been working outside of the country. Spending most of his life in the Middle East (this is where most Filipinos work especially during the 1990's due to Ex-Pres. Fidel Ramos' foreign policy programs) working hard to provide us with a wonderful life. However, I believe that for most Filipino kids (especially during that time), we don't have an idea of how hard it was to be a Filipino expat, or better known as an Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). I remember that when I was a kid, being an OFW was an awesome thing! You get to ride a plane every month! Or buy a lot of stuff at Duty Free Mall, things like chocolates, toys, shoes and clothes.

My Greatest OFW Role Model - Dad

OFW'S WOES

However, being an OFW myself, I was so wrong. Experiencing life as an Expatriate changed a whole lot of me. I just felt how hard it was to live a life away from your family. No amount of US Dollars can suffice the sadness and isolation that an OFW experience. I could imagine those special celebrations in our lives that my Dad had to skip just to give us a good life.

FYI: ON THE AVERAGE

In Taiwan, an Overseas Filipino Worker earns at around 17,000 NTD (500 USD) a month. He/She then divides it by placing at least 40-60% of their hard earned salary for remittances. Moreover, most of the Filipinos here in Taiwan pays at least 100,000 NTD (3000 USD) in debts due to numerous transactions required for traveling to Taiwan such as Visa fees and Broker's fees.

I think, OFWs are the new heroes of this era in the Philippines. They have sacrificed not only their physical strength but their presence and time with their family. As a Filipino Expat myself, I think that the best way to commemorate their sacrifices is to be able to share this experience to everyone around the world. So if you know an Overseas Filipino Worker, maybe your teacher, caretaker, operator, employee, kindly say THANK YOU! Because they've sacrificed more than you've ever known.

Proud of you DAD!

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.