Happiness and OFWs

SPY BITS

Happiness and OFWs

By Babe Romualdez

MANILA, Philippines - Three days after Coke uploaded its “OFW Project” commercial on YouTube, the video has gone viral, generating more than 688,000 views (and counting), eliciting numerous emotional comments and responses from Filipinos. While the commercial itself is straightforward enough – featuring three overseas Filipino workers who have been away for so long – those who have watched the video admit being touched by the simple message: that the best gift this Christmas is to be home with family.

There are more than 11 million Filipinos working abroad, and majority of them go through a lot of sacrifices and endure so many things just so they could give their families back home a better life. But more than long working hours, cold winters and other harsh weather conditions and at times being treated like second class citizens in host countries, the most difficult thing that OFWs have to go through is the pain of separation from their families – some of whom they have not seen for over 10 years – because they need to send every single dollar they could and thus are loathe to spend money for a trip back home.

Other than touching the heartstrings, what also makes the video compelling is the fact that it puts into perspective the situation that a lot of overseas workers face. For instance, the irony of leaving behind your own one-year-old boy to work as a baby sitter taking care of other people’s children, or forcing yourself to go to work despite feeling bone tired because you are a single mom (as many assume the woman in the commercial to be since there is no shot of a husband) paying for a house and putting four or five kids to school.

You have to hand it to the creative team that conceptualized the “Where Will Happiness Strike Next?” theme that actually began with specially fitted “Happiness Trucks” going around the streets. These trucks would stop at busy places and wait for curious onlookers to push a conspicuous-looking button at the back of the truck, which then dispenses stuffed toys, flowers and other surprising items that bring smiles and laughter to the people.

While there’s no mistaking the happiness of the three OFWs and their families who could finally spend Christmas together after so many years, one couldn’t help but think about the loved ones of the unidentified Filipino male who is set for execution this Thursday. Despite the efforts of the DFA and vice president Jejomar Binay, the Chinese have remained adamant in carrying out the death sentence for the Pinoy who was found guilty of drug trafficking. It can be recalled that three other Filipinos were executed in China early this year for being drug mules. A lot of Filipinos commiserate withthe family of the convicted OFW and are hoping the sentence would be lowered to life imprisonment, but there are many who understand the hard-line stance of the Chinese when it comes to trafficking, especially since the man admitted that he knew all along that he was carrying drugs.

Workers go through many difficulties and face so many dangers just so they could send precious dollars which have, admittedly, have been a lot of help in propping up our economy. It’s understandable therefore when some migrant workers’ groups feel unhappy at policies deemed to be “anti worker.” For instance, the proposal by the Bureau of Internal Revenue to impose taxes on voluntary SSS contributions and the Pag-IBIG Fund that are over the limit set by law.

According to the BIR, the said contributions are classified as “investments” and therefore need to be taxed – something that the workers’ group dispute since the amount that can be accumulated from the contributions will not reach millions but just enough to secure their needs when they retire and perhaps help them build modest houses. The ceiling for Pag-IBIG contributions is P100 a month – and even if you continuously contribute for 50 years, the amount will not be enough for a house, which is why some increase their voluntary contributions to P500 a month or more. Government should not treat OFWs as milking cows, the group said, stressing that the imposition of taxes would defeat the true purpose of the said programs which is to provide social security and housing loans to workers. Definitely, this is one BIR policy that will not bring happiness to OFWs and even local workers.