My Understanding of Why Do Overseas Failipino Workers Remain Poor

This slogan says it all to what most OFWs are... while there are a few good ones who are OFWs with a plan!

I'm getting sick and tired of Failipinos bragging that Pinoys are taking over the world with the OFW phenomenon. Before anything, do they know what W in OFW really means? It means these Pinoys who work abroad are UNDER the authority of their foreign masters. It's an absurd idea to think even for a second that "galing ng Pinoy" or "the Pinoy is great" because of OFWs. Sad to say but some OFWs aren't even worth applauding like Jonathan Aquino or the late Flor Contemplacion. Now let's tackle on the topic, "Why do overseas Failipino workers remain poor?" Just a note, Failipino refers to any bad countryman of the Philippines.

Paul Farol of Get Real Philippines had shared his own views. Now let me share mine. I would like to share it based on my friend who is a seaman and my driving instructor. I had an exchange of conversation with him for the past months before he left to become a seaman. I would also share based on knowledge offered by some decent Pinoys. Now let's take a look at the world of Overseas Failipino Workers who are Okay Fine Whatever/Whenever/Wherever. One may also want to consider that the OFW phenomenon is a result of economic protectionism, a lack of jobs and please, no more of that "Filipinos are taking over the world nonsense!"

Failipino culture is the typical Pinoy culture, to what Pinoys are stereotyped which contrasts them from the enlightened Pinoy. Unlike enlightened Pinoys who change for the better, these guys are multiple disasters. They can be characterized by the habits of tardiness, laziness, overspending and euphoria to name a few. The Failipino does not really value or prioritize work or money. This is very much different from the enlightened Pinoy who is on time, diligent, saves money and rejects euphoria. Fortunately some Pinoys are opposing Failipino culture for a better Philippines.

The first keyword is "overspending". 

Remember, it's all about overspending. Typical Pinoy budgeting habits are very poor. Remember money abroad is much bigger than the Philippines even for menial jobs like welding, bricklaying and babysitting. It's no doubt some Failipinos in spite of their "no to foreign investments" protests, end up working abroad because of a lack of jobs. Did they even think that a lack of foreign investments creates a lack of jobs? They go abroad, thinking that the world must bend to their culture of impunity. They are stupid not because of a lack of intelligence but stupid by choice. Now what's with overspending?

I remembered a conversation I had that showed how overseas Failipinos are with their spending. While decent Pinoy workers abroad usually save the money so they don't have to go abroad anymore, they feel new to their money. It's just like a person who's just struck gold. As a person, I would admit I had bad spending habits but not being given more money than usual taught me to save. The problem here is that, they think that because of the huge amount of money they get... they can freely overspend it all they want.

The second keyword is "work ethics". 

There are decent Pinoy workers who gain the praise of foreign masters. I admire Pinoys who aren't typical but enlightened. Some Pinoy workers abroad bend to their masters, they work properly and they know that their bosses control them. The problem with a lot of Pinoys who are Failipinos is this... bad work ethics. There's the habit of being always late, the victim card mentality to escape accountability, disrespect of authority and being proud of the habit of upholding Little Miss Late.

Now it's a real problem really with Pinoy workers who have their bad work ethics. For example, I remembered how some of them stay in the same position for 20 years because of that. Some companies may not be quick to lay off but they can be quickly laid off. Why do Failipino workers stay in the same position? Unlike enlightened Pinoys, these guys as said have their bad work ethics. They are always late a choose not to improve. Some of them even get fired because they refuse to respect authority.

The third and final keyword is "leeches" in the form of relaTHIEVES and "friends". 

Based on observation, relathieves and friends can be the worst form of leeches. It's an observation I have made with how one overseas Filipino worker can end up being leeched by friends and relathieves. He or she does all the work while taking care of a lazy spouse who does nothing at all then it can extend to siblings, in-laws, nephews, nieces, etc. who DO NOTHING AT ALL. It is an ongoing trend to work while the rest are leeches.

After returning from abroad, there is the balikbayan box. Balikbayan refers to anybody who has returned to their home country after leaving for some time. While nothing is wrong with a balikbayan box because you might be buying stuff you can't buy in the Philippines but the problem is to where it's going. Some of them bring more than one box because the first box goes to the direct family then there's nephews,nieces, in-laws, siblings, etc. and my friends. Then if that's not enough, the feast kicks in. Instead of them spending money for the "hero", the "hero" gives a huge party which again, in a month or two, they remain poor. The cycle is obvious... rinse and repeat. No wonder overseas Failipinos remain poor.