Modern-day heroes, pawns

When I think about overseas Filipino workers, the mothers among them and the mothers who depend on them come to mind.

Many of them sacrifice precious time away from their families to earn a living abroad. Only a mother knows just how difficult it is to be away from her children.

On the other hand, the mothers who take care of the households here in the country while their husbands work as OFWs abroad are equally heroic. They take care of the children, budget the household expenses, keep everyone safe. In short, they keep the family together.

I think about them now not just because it’s Women’s Month but because unfortunately, OFWs and their remittances are now a hot topic because of the issue surrounding Rody Duterte’s detention at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Unfortunately, they’re caught in this ongoing political dispute just like pawns during the Cold War era.

Dollar remittances sent by our OFWs – touted as the country’s modern-day heroes – symbolize their resilience and sacrifices abroad. There are millions of them.

Based on the 2023 Survey on Overseas Filipinos by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), there were roughly 2.16 million Filipinos working abroad that year.

Their hard work and sacrifices deserve recognition and respect, not exploitation.

But unfortunately, they have become unwitting pawns in this political game.

Obviously, power players with vested interests want to keep this political dispute running, especially with the May 2025 midterm elections just around the corner.

One of the tools in this dispute is the Zero Remittance Week, which started on March 28, Duterte’s birthday, and is expected to last until April 4.

As I said in a previous column, this so-called remittance holiday is just a symbolic disruption that may not really cause that much of an impact on the economy.

It’s not to say though that it won’t matter to vulnerable families.

For them, such a holiday could be challenging, especially given the still-elevated prices of basic goods in the country, the continued increase in gasoline prices and soon, higher LRT fares.

These vulnerable households rely on timely remittances for their basic survival and urgent expenses. Some of them often do not have any other sources of income.

How much do OFWs send to their families?

Data from the PSA shows:

In 2023, total remittances reached P239 billion.

Of the estimated 2.16 million OFWs, 37.3 percent sent cash remittances amounting to P40,000 to less than P100,000 while 30.9 percent remitted at least P100,000. On the other hand, 12.4 percent of OFWs did not provide cash remittances during the period.

The average remittance sent by every OFW from April to September 2023 alone was placed at P123,000, higher than the average remittance sent during the same period in 2022, which was valued at P111,000.

Data also show that 96.6 percent of households receiving remittances prioritize spending on basic necessities, such as food and housing.

Thus, for vulnerable families, disrupting this financial flow could be problematic.

More than our economy, it is these vulnerable families who will feel the pain of the remittance holiday.

But Filipino families must be spared from this dangerous political war. They have become cannon fodder, and it’s sure to affect their livelihood.

Both camps must strive for genuine justice – especially in light of the serious crimes the former president is accused of – through transparent and legal means and not through political theatrics that affect ordinary Filipinos.

Iftar dinner at the UP Executive House

UP president Angelo Jimenez hosted a reception dinner for Ramadan Iftar last Friday for the UP Institute of Islamic Studies and the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy.

Fasting during Ramadan, president Jimenez said in his welcome speech, is not only a means of spiritual and physical discipline but also an expression of unity that strengthens the bonds among individuals, communities and nations.

More importantly, he said, the increasing trend of iftar gatherings not just in the Philippines but abroad reminds us of the urgent mission we all share – “to work together in addressing social inequities, poverty and the lack of access to education and opportunities, particularly for those in marginalized and geographically isolated communities in our country.”

It was a warm and beautiful reception dinner held in solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters.

UP first lady Edlyn Verzola made sure everyone was able to feast on the sumptuous dinner of biryani rice, black soup, beef, Russian salad and fruits.

Breaking bread with everyone present that evening was truly an honor.

It’s also a reminder that the blessed month of Ramadan is as good a time as any to stand in solidarity with the marginalized and the less fortunate.

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Email: eyesgonzales@gmail.com. Follow her on X @eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen on FB.