Outstanding Expat Pinoy Children would rather not be OFWs

Jojo Katigbak would rather his children pursue their respective careers in the Philippines. Katigbak, who has been working as a national warranty manager for Volvo Cars in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the past five years, has four children. One of them is 17-year old Jovito Jose, Tong to those closest to him, who was chosen by the Bank of the Philippine Islands as one of the Outstanding Expat Pinoy Children. The BPI honors these progeny of overseas Filipino workers who excel in both the academic and non-academic fields. Tong, a second year AB Consular and Diplomatic Affairs student, was one of the seven awardees under the Ibang Klaseng Talino category. The other categories were Ibang Klaseng Community Leader, Ibang Klaseng Entrepreneur and Ibang Klaseng Artist/Athlete. Tong echoed his father’s wishes in an interview with GMA News Online. “I would [go abroad] if I’m single. But if I have family here, I would have to stay here kasi it’s very difficult talaga if you have parents working outside the country.”   He said it is difficult to grow up without a father by their side. “Yung gagawa ka ng desisyon na kailangan ng father figure, yung growing up na walang father figure, you have to base on your own standards kung tama ang ginagawa mo o mali,” explained Tong.   The Katigbaks could not deny that having their father work abroad provided them with financial freedom. That is why the children pursued academic excellence in order to show their appreciation for the sacrifices made in their behalf. Tong said his father had wanted to stay in the country. But the opportunities here just would not allow for that. The elder Katigbak earns thrice the salary he used to receive as a service manager in one of the automobile companies in the Philippines. But if all things were equal, Tong would rather not work overseas. “Pag sa akin, stay na lang dito. Dominant yung advantages pag andito kumpara sa malayo.” ‘It always worries me pag umaalis siya’ This is also the thinking of another Outstanding Expat Child awardee, Mark Kevin Nuñez.   “Ako I plan to set up my own business, if this business of mine grows today, I will give it to my parents so they can just stay here in the Philippines and start a new one for my brothers,” Nuñez told GMA News Online. Nunez, recipient of the Ibang Klaseng Entrepreneur award and a 4th year student at the University of Asia and the Pacific, is the owner of MKNunez Enterprises, a corporate giveaways business. He had set up the enterprise in order to save enough for their family so his father won’t need to go to abroad again. “I want to stay here kasi tuwing umuuwi ang Dad ko, twice in a row na yata parang malubha yung health niya. It always worries me pag umaalis siya because hindi mo alam kung anong nangyayari,” he explained.   Furthermore, aside from his family, Nuñez would also want to help other people. “[Through my business] I can help create jobs because our economy now is growing. And maybe we can create jobs here so they can stay here,” he said.   “That’s one of the reasons why I chose my course, entrepreneurial management, because I want to create jobs,” he added.   Nuñez had started an online customized ballers business using his P6,000 savings. After a year, his business earned P120,000 - P20,000 more than his revenue target.   The other awardees of BPI’s Outstanding Expat Pinoy Children were Paul Emerson Almontero of the University of Bohol; Mark Anthony Lacsinto of Far Eastern University-Manila; Ritchelle Lamayo or Saint Louis University-Baguio; Aljon Mayuga of Mapua Institute of  Technology; Gerard Don Padilla of University of the Philippines-Diliman; Mark Collin Solas of John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University;  and Mary Pauline Fornea of UP Mindanao. — DVM, GMA News