SUPAG Insights - March 2025

SILENT SACRIFICES: NAVIGATING THE ETHICAL LANDSCAPE OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

MARJORIE A. BUSLIG

ABSTRACT

            This paper explores the silent sacrifices made by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and the profound effects on their families, especially the children left behind. While OFWs are praised for helping their families and the country's economy, the emotional struggles of the children are often overlooked. Using the idea of "sacrifice," this paper shows the two sides of the OFW experience: the parents’ hard work abroad and the children's emotional pain at home. It argues that while migration brings financial help, it can also cause lasting harm to family relationships. Drawing from personal experiences and ministry work, this study calls for a more caring and honest view of overseas work—one that values both economic success and the emotional well being of families. It invites a deeper reflection on the real cost of migration.