Overseas Workers have become the forefront of the Filipino community as far as racking in remittances from salaries earned abroad. The salaries that most OFW’s earn are in different currencies like Dollars, Pounds, Dinars and Dirham. While overseas workers do not really get the proper dignity and are looked down by most of their countrymen, it is strange that they are looked up to as so-called “heroes and heroines of the Filipinos" today. The usual destination points of most of these people are China, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Korea and Japan.

Let us face it. Profession is something that contributes to the overall lifestyle and distinguishing factor among people. An overseas worker tag is a more appealing name compared to a household helper, maid or driver. A lot of these people are not as fortunate as most of us, especially the ones who are reading this article. But look where they are now? Isn’t it ironic that the Filipino people rely on them for the improvement of the national economy?

Such is a good point to note that they are people too. People with dreams that they want to fulfill at all costs. Money is evidently the need here. To hell with status and what people would say, it is earning for tomorrow that is important, not basically for them but to the people who are leaning on them for support. While most people would not realize their goals and means, they are really more on survival and comfort, something that all of us want in real life.

But like all things that people would engage in, risks will never be far away. Some have already paid the price and are experiencing how it is to be looked down by society. Some have been killed, brutalized and enslaved as more than pure helpers. It is really a violation of human rights if considered locally and while some have swallowed their pride and dignity, others have given up. For these people who have given up, the worth of being humiliated and maltreated is simply not worth the earnings that they would get.

There are a lot of people who still gear towards going abroad and taking on such occupations no matter the risks and feedback from people who have been there. Unfortunately, money has been the doorbell that rings a tune to their ears. With regards as to how far they can take as far as being lambasted is concerned, will be totally up to them.

The path being followed by Overseas Workers and Domestic Helpers can be attributed to the imbalance and increasing poverty levels that have been worsening by the year in most countries. But for a person to survive in this ever growing world of ours, he or she has to do something about it. Some may not have the liberty of reaching college or finishing high school, but the fact remains that if they are willing and able, they can do something about it. But for some, self-respect and pride may suffer a severe blow. It just depends how hard they are hit and the level of tolerance that they have when they occur.