Priceless OFW stories

THE Film "Caregiver," starring Sharon Cuneta, which is still showing in local movie houses, is but one story about the overseas Filipino workers (OFW). There are as many stories as there are OFWs -- ranging from the unusual situations, overcoming challenges and obstacles, momentous ones such as starting one's own company after a fruitful stint abroad to the simple ones as a happy reunion after a long separation. With a well-written storyline, many of these OFWs stories can be made into compelling movies. Since the beginning of time, stories have always been the glue connecting people with their culture, from one generation to the other. For better or for worse, the continuing saga of the overseas workers will be part and parcel of our nation's history. In a recent development, stories are now being used as a powerful tool in managing companies. Evelyn Clark, a contributor of Reader's Digest (September 2007 issue) wrote about the power of storytelling at the workplace. Her study showed how top corporations use stories to get messages across the employees and even to the clients. These are her findings: Stories preserve history and nurture the culture; stories celebrate heroes; stories increase sales; and stories convey values and mission. One way or the other, all the above purposes can be achieved by the life-stories of the overseas workers. Unfortunately, there are many sad stories that can really make one shocked and angry. The horror stories start here in our shores with the illegal recruiters. Many applicants have lost their hard-earned savings to this scum of the earth. In one instance, an applicant threatened to strip himself naked inside the office of the fake agency if his placement money was not returned. He got his money back. But a big number were not as lucky. The fly-by-night recruiters simply closed shop or disappeared into thin air. There was a proposal to form a "death squad" and salvage all these heartless illegal recruiters. It's just too bad that this is also illegal. There is a doubly tragic story that can sum up all the physical and sexual abuses suffered by domestic helpers especially in Arab countries. In a nutshell, this is what happened. A determined young housewife got a job as house help against the wishes of the husband and in-laws. While working abroad, she was beaten and raped. Somehow she managed to escape and came home empty-handed and very traumatized. Instead of sympathizing, her husband and his relatives kept blaming her for what happened. One night, when her husband tried to make love with her, she just blacked out and killed him. She was committed to the mental hospital. Today, she is out but still picking up the broken pieces of her life. A truly heart-rending story. Many of the sad stories actually happened here at home. While the OFWs' toil hard and long abroad and sent their money home, the spouses and/or relatives spent the money left and right, in drinking and gambling and other lavish spending. When the OFWs come home, there is not much left. Sometimes, there is a bitter-sweet flavor to the episodes of working abroad. One day, a cultural dancer came home from Japan with a little boy in tow. Immediately, he father asked: "Who is that boy?" She calmly answered: "Tatay, this is the boy who built our new house, who provided capital for our sari-sari store and the passenger jeepney, and sent my brothers and sisters to college. Don't worry his father is coming to marry me." The "unusual situations" are horrible stories. They are the stuff that makes sensational movie stories. But there are thousands of successful and wonderful OFW stories. They do not make the headlines but they are great stories just the same. We will not go into details but suffice it to say that there are so many evidences of the so-called "Katas ng Saudi." Beautiful new houses built in rural areas; properties, even beachfronts, acquired; new small and medium enterprises established, siblings finishing college courses; the lucky ones able to bring their families to London, Canada, and the USA among other places; and countless many other good news. Filipino workers abroad are generally well-loved and greatly appreciated by their employers for their skills, industriousness, pleasant personalities, perseverance and discipline. No need to mention the oft-repeated substantial contribution to the Philippines economy. Randy David, a newspaper columnist, mentioned the new Filipino family phenomenon, which he termed "Love in migration". Long-distance parenting is a success in many OFW families-thanks to the wonders of the cell phone and the e-mail. It is painful on the part of the absentee but working parents and very challenging to the children left behind. But many families have survived and are doing very well. All the untold stories by the unsung OFW heroes are living testimonials that really speak of the wonderful contribution of the overseas workers to the culture and history of this country. A picture may paint a thousand words but the wonderful OFW stories are priceless. - Sun Star