Friday, December 6, 2013

OFWs: A Little Appreciation, Please?!


I am one of the millions who is sending remittance back home. When the Philippine economy crashes, remittances from OFWs keeps the economy afloat. According to World Bank Center, remittances from 10.5 million OFWs all over the world are equivalent to about 10 percent of  the gross domestics product. OFWs are called heroes, so they say.

Heroes? How can we be heroes, even our immediate family, who is directly receiving remittance, don't call us that?! Instead of saying "Salamat" (thank you), all they say is "Kagamay" ( this is too little). Really? Ouch! I mean, really?!

How many times I've been accused of being stingy towards my family. It does hurt that me supporting them financially is not being appreciated. They don't know that my expenses is not even 5 percent of what I have been sending to them despite high cost of living here. I am scrimping like crazy and all I hear is "this is too little". Really?!

I demand a thank you. I would "jokingly" ask for a "thank you" and I know I deserved a "thank you".

Maybe I gave them too little,maybe not. Maybe I am really a stingy, selfish b*t*h, but being selfish and not giving them "all" my money and all they want is a way of telling them that they should take responsibility. They should know how to learn to stand on their own feet. I don't want to steal their hunger to be successful. 

Selfishness is neither good or bad- it depends on the way we are selfish as to whether it nourishes or injures.
- Jean Chatzky ( Money Rules: The Simple Path to Lifelong Security)

I am giving them a tough love.



8 comments:

  1. I hear that from my friends as well. Another thing that I hate is being thought at as an infinite piggy bank. I mean, I'm thankful that you've raised me but I don't have endless money to support you when you should have saved money for it from the first place.

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    1. I know! This poverty mindset gotta stop! We can't treat out children a retirement fund. We can't treat our ofw relative as the savior. Crazy!

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  2. Replies
    1. Awwww! Love your baby, Ate Jill and don't treat him as your future retirement fund. Hehe.

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  3. Same here.. have grown up with hand outs from family so I am now expected to give back.. after 6 years of giving back, I am just tired of it. So many waiting hands, one empty pocket. After 6 years, I have no savings, no investment, no retirement fund. 2014 is a time to change this.
    I'm happy that you realize this at a young age. Don't let them guilt you to giving. Let them stand on their own. At the end of the day, that is the best help you can give!

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    1. Tough love, indeed! I'm glad you also realized that enough is enough. Poverty mindset ends with us. I am helping my two nieces and brother to school but I don't tell them to "give back" for when I am old or to "give back" by sending their other cousins to school for when they have jobs. That's the cycle of poverty and it should stop.

      Thanks for dropping by!

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  4. OMG talaga. Akala nila kc na jumejebs ng pera mga tao abroad. HELLO!

    Minsan I just wish this vicious cycle would stop. Kudos to you for standing your ground.

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    1. Yah, the poverty mindset in our family should stop in my generation. I am teaching them how to stand on their on feet. It's hard and most of time, ako pa ang masama.

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