Oftentimes, Overseas Filipino Workers are seen as people growing trees of money whilst picking from it. However, has it ever crossed our minds how much they’re suffering every day? How every breath, sweat, blood, and tear shed and have dropped from their bodies is equivalent to a leaf from THAT tree?
Growing up not having my father with us 24/7 (He went to Dubai by the year 2006 to work for a construction agency), I could say how hard it was for him and us. A lot of times as a child, I would be crying whenever we talk online, hoping he would come home any minute to wipe my tears. I questioned how come he hasn’t come home yet? Why can’t he just work here in the Philippines? I was so jealous of my friends because their fathers work here in the country and have the chance to go home every day or even twice a week, but then as a child, I didn’t know much about how the world worked so my father had to explain our situation again and again. I was missing him but he was missing us more, and I failed to see that. Then when I began to wake my eyes about the real world, I realized that it isn’t easy here in the Philippines. Due to lack of employment, and salaries are far more times less than foreign salaries that it won’t be enough to raise a family to breathe lightly.
Upon seeing the documentary, the prick of a thorn in my heart became wider for OFWs, especially for my father. I’ve realized how much I’ve been insensitive toward how my father feels. We tend to ask much from them like a new pair of shoes, branded clothes, and gadgets as if they’re millionaires that we forget about their struggles like sleepless nights, missing the essence of home, craving for the warm hug of their family, and as seen from the movie – mistreatment of their employers (except for those who got lucky).
It was also depressing to see that these “Sunday Beauty Queens” are our modern “Cinderellas” because they are slaves most of the day and only get to enjoy, be themselves, and feel beautiful for a couple of hours, and when the clock strikes 12, they go home to their respective places and be maids again. Why is our government doing so little in helping our OFWs when in fact they contribute most to our economic stance?
As seen from the movie, one domestic helper missed her son’s graduation march because she can’t go home to attend such memorable event, and I felt so much sympathy for her because like my father, he too was not able to witness me march, go to the stage and pin my medals to me (Elementary to Senior High School). My father missed tons of important life events – birthdays (even my debut), graduations, also funerals of his loved ones and friends, all due to work. When will the day come wherein parents don’t miss any single event with their families? Because we know as ancient as it is “Time is Gold”, therefore must not be wasted. Therefore, when? When will this precious time be spent with their families than with co-workers? When will our 24/7 face-to-face interaction happen than mere video calls?
Sunday Beauty Queen called out many important points and it showed a lot about our reality and theirs(Domestic Helpers). We have always thought that the bravest profession is being in the military, but never did it cross our minds the courage our OFWs (more importantly our Domestic Helpers) hold. Though no profession should be above and below others, I still hold my opinion that the bravest warriors are those who wear the armor of courage, the shield of love, and the sword of persistence – the OFWs.
Rachell Anne T. Capaning 