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Top 5 regrets of OFWs in their 40s

Many Filipinos leave their current jobs in the Philippines in the hopes of pursuing their dreams abroad.

While this journey may sound exciting, it also has its ups and downs. In the midst of loneliness abroad and hardships at work, you will surely find yourself regretting leaving the Philippines at some point.

Aside from occasional regrets about setting off on your overseas journey alone, here are other ‘regrettable’ things you could relate to:

1. “Mag-*insert course here* ka na lang, anak”

In Asia, it’s common for parents to direct their children’s career path in college. Many Filipinos in their midlife (between age 40 to 65) wish they should have taken a different career path from where they are now.

According to a report by the Independent, overly-controlling parents can cause their children lifelong psychological damage. The research states that children whose parents meddled with their decision-making abilities, like the course to take in college, were likely to be less happy even in their 30s, 40s, or 60s.

2. “Sana mas nakapag-travel ako”

Often due to work restraints, many Filipinos regret not travelling more often. OFWs, though while they are abroad, don’t really get the chance to travel for leisure.

Here’s a good new though: Expats in the UAE, including the OFWs, have greater chances to explore the world. Your chance to have your visas approved to travel around the world are higher due to your UAE residence visa, so seize the opportunity and travel more while you can.

3. “Sana nag-business na lang ako”

After having established a stable career or enough savings, all individuals aspire to start their own businesses. OFWs and most Filipinos don’t want to stay as an employee for the rest of their lives. However, only few OFWs are actually willing to take risks and venture into starting their own businesses in the Philippines.

Most OFWs, when asked why they choose to go abroad, would say “para maka-ipon.” However, at some point, OFWs will have to retire and go back home to the Philippines. With only enough savings to sustain the OFW for a few months and without a fallback career in the country, all these money and savings will eventually run out.

4. “Sana naalagaan ko sarili ko”

OFWs are some of the most selfless people in the world. With the hardships and sacrifices they make abroad, they often forget to allocate time for themselves and their health. Many OFWs tend to prioritize their work abroad first, and this sometimes lead to accumulated stress that also cause health problems.

In fact, an alarming number of Filipinas in the UAE are being diagnosed with breast cancer at an annual rate. Most of these women are diagnosed in the late stages due mainly to lack of awareness. Get yourself checked annually, even if you’re busy with work. Remember that health, above all, must come first.

5. “Sana ‘di ko iniwan ang pamilya ko”

Most OFWs, more often than not, were forced to leave the Philippines primarily to appease their financial conditions in the country. Many Filipinos regret leaving their families—most especially their children—behind. They might be unhappy in their jobs abroad, but it’s a decision they have to stick to in order to provide for their loved ones.

However, this has a graver social cost. Rhodora Abano, advocacy officer of the Center for Migrant Advocacy explained “that an undetermined number of families are breaking up due to spouses taking on another partner while the husband or wife is away.”

In a report by the UCG, most children of OFWs tend to become materialistic to compensate for the absence of the OFW parent. Worst, some children of OFWs, because of lack of parental guidance fall into drug addiction, gambling, and other vices.

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