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Miles Apart

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Thirdy Alterado
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33 views

Miles Apart

Uploaded by

Thirdy Alterado
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Miles Apart, Hearts Aligned

Growing up as a child of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) is like living with an invisible thread of love and
longing. My parents have spent most of their adult lives in a country far from home, working tirelessly to give me
a future with more choices and possibilities. This journey, one of separation and resilience, has shaped not only
my family but also the way I view the world, my relationships, and even myself.

As I learn the experiences of different children with OFW parents I learned that we were not so different, we
have little to no family time leading us to isolation and when that happens, the children who were separated
from their parents tend to experience a gap within their relationship. These experiences would often cause them
to look for someone to depend on or make them feel envious (Burgos E. et al, 2020). All I feel is sympathy for
these less fortunate children not being able to interact nor have family bonding is really a sad fate for them.

But as the experience of growing up with OFW parents may be sorrowful it taught me resilience, not only in
enduring the separation but in understanding the strength of family. My parents’ sacrifices gave me a deep
appreciation for the power of love, which endures despite distance and time. I learned to cherish relationships
and value the people in my life, never taking them for granted.

Today, as I reflect on those years, I realize that my journey is a shared story. Many children of OFWs face similar
challenges and emotions. We are united by our experiences and by the silent strength of parents who work hard.
Our families may be apart, but our hearts are aligned, connected by an unbreakable bond built on love, sacrifice,
and dreams for a better future.

Reference:

Efren L. Burgos MAT, Yasser G. Ulod, James Ryan A. Agtoto, Miles Nicolas A. Corvera, Daniel John S. Sonza,
Chrangel Eve M. Castillo, Frances Erica P. Galvez. Behind the Parents Light: A Phenomenology of the Adjustments
of Overseas Filipino Workers Children, 2024.
https://www.academia.edu/download/105133148/IJNTR06100013.pdf
Magkalayo man, May pag-ibig

Ang paglaki bilang anak ng mga Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) ay parang buhay na may di-nakikitang sinulid
ng pagmamahal at pananabik. Ginugol ng aking mga magulang ang halos buong buhay nila sa isang bansang
malayo sa tahanan, masigasig na nagtatrabaho upang mabigyan ako ng kinabukasan na may mas maraming
pagpipilian at oportunidad. Ang paglalakbay na ito, na puno ng paghihiwalay at tibay ng loob, ay hindi lamang
humubog sa aming pamilya kundi pati na rin sa aking pananaw sa mundo, sa aking mga relasyon, at maging sa
aking sarili.

Sa pag-unawa ko sa mga karanasan ng ibang mga anak ng OFW, napagtanto kong hindi kami gaanong nagkakaiba.
Karamihan sa amin ay halos walang oras para sa pamilya, na nagdudulot ng pagkakahiwalay. Kapag ito’y
nangyayari, ang mga anak na malayo sa kanilang mga magulang ay kadalasang nakararanas ng puwang sa
kanilang relasyon. Ang mga karanasang ito ay madalas na nagiging dahilan upang sila’y humanap ng taong
maaasahan o makaramdam ng inggit (Burgos E. et al., 2020). Lubos kong kinahihabagan ang mga mas kapus-
palad na bata na hindi nakakaranas ng interaksyon o bonding sa kanilang pamilya ay isang kalunos-lunos na
kapalaran para sa kanila.

Ngunit kahit na ang karanasang paglaki kasama ang OFW na magulang ay maaaring malungkot, itinuro nito sa
akin ang tibay ng loob, hindi lamang sa pagtiis ng pagkakahiwalay kundi pati na rin sa pag-unawa sa lakas ng
pamilya. Ang mga sakripisyo ng aking mga magulang ay nagbigay sa akin ng malalim na pagpapahalaga sa
kapangyarihan ng pagmamahal, na nananatili sa kabila ng layo at oras. Natutunan kong pahalagahan ang mga
relasyon at bigyang-halaga ang mga tao sa aking buhay, hindi kailanman minamaliit ang kanilang presensya.

Reference:

Efren L. Burgos MAT, Yasser G. Ulod, James Ryan A. Agtoto, Miles Nicolas A. Corvera, Daniel John S. Sonza,
Chrangel Eve M. Castillo, Frances Erica P. Galvez. Behind the Parents Light: A Phenomenology of the Adjustments
of Overseas Filipino Workers Children, 2024.
https://www.academia.edu/download/105133148/IJNTR06100013.pdf

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