A controversial thread currently creating commotion in the PMT Forum asks: Are Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and immigrants stupid and failures?
On one side, a poster argues:
Why do filipinos want to migrate to other countries when in fact they can do well in their profession and can retire comfortably also in the Philippines? Only stupid people who aren’t succesful in life find ways and excuses to migrate in another country. They keep on blaming the government, the country, when in fact they are the ones who are a failure.
Also:
Instead of putting up a business and becoming independent in the Philippines, [OFWs] would much rather work for somebody else. Think about just plain stupidity. Look at other nationalities, they are very entrepreneurship [sic]. Most of them started a business at a very young age. OFWs and immigrants are stupid because all they do is give disgrace and dishonor to the Filipinos, the Philippines, and the Philippine Government.
Several members (OFWs and non-OFWs alike) have posted opposing responses.
What’s your take on the issue?
Join the discussion here:
OFWs and immigrants are stupid and failures?
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,,if they are stupid…
,,then stupid are the people who make our economy to become stable…
,,without those people who work hard to earn foreign money for their family. because
job here in our country is not a career, unless you are from a filthy rich family.
In Philippines there are only two kind of people: the lord, and the servant!
Two reasons why they are leaving:
1. They can not find opportunities here.
2. They don’t want to live a poor life.
I guess the thing that making our economy stable is second only to their need to feed their stomache. Of course, no one will go abroad to make our economy better. That’s the stupidity.
i think stupid and failures are just too strong words. unenlightened would be most appropriate. but let’s leave it that way. when people leave, then it means that many opportunities remain untapped and are ours (those who remain) for the taking!
.-= ice_hot´s latest blog ..Discover Canon EOS 500D Contest =-.
its because of the teetering economy in our country and corrupt governments…
it’s unfair to single out OFWs. they’re OFWs because they’re not capable of starting businesses. they either do not have capital, the network to get funding or the skills needed to pitch a business/prepare a business plan. we should be more concerned with the existing entrepreneurs. the problem with filipino entrepreneurs is that they think of ways to earn money locally and not internationally or despite having internationally viable businesses, have no plans of scaling up to at least the regional level. why blame just the OFWs, aren’t parents, schools, the government all part of the problem?
Filipino OFWs are not stupid and failures. They are only deprived of opportunities to work, be educated and likewise learn and be trained to gain more experience and hone skills. Yes, there are agencies that are tasked to provide livelihood programs, technical/vocational trainings, and work opportunities to Filipino people, but they are unable to tap the majority of the population.
Particularly those belonging to the marginal sectors of the society; therefore, these people otherwise look for opportunities abroad to substantiate the needs of their families. Another reason why OFWs should not be blamed for their decision to go abroad is that a number of Filipinos do also try their luck here in our very own country, be it through business or career-wise. Yet, what do they get? They’re still stuck in the same situation, as if no improvement at all. With the rising prices of commodities and other basic needs such as education, housing (rentals), etc., Filipinos are therefore inclined to seek better work opportunities in foreign lands even if it is against their will.
Now, as this continue to happen in the country, perception of many Filipinos about deriving luck or opportunities to have better lives here also wanes in the long run. SO what could be the solution? Ask the government, the leaders of the state, community agencies, religious and education sectors? Maybe if everyone will try their very best to solve the unending issues on corruption, discrimination, crab-mentality, and others…maybe there is a solution.
“…about just plain stupidity. Look at other nationalities, they are very entrepreneurship”
LOL. GRAMMAR FAIL. HAHAHA.
Your honor, I rest my case.
Hahahaha. ROFLMAO Hahahahahaha
Takot kasi silang magtayo ng sarili nilang negosyo.
I strongly oppose this James! OFWs are not stupid! It’s the lack of opportunity that makes them want to migrate and work in other countries! But they should not either blame the government or anyone. They should work and strive hard. They have to find ways. We are creating our own destiny. I myself want to migrate to either Europe or US given the chance. And if I have extra cash by that time, I plan to put up a business here to help unemployed Filipinos.
.-= Tyrone | Millionaire Acts´s latest blog ..Reader Emails on Stocks and Personal Finance =-.
They are not stupid. For me OFW are heroes, because their leaving the country to work in other country just to give money to their families.
I think we should not make harsh statements for the basic truth is, we are not living under those OFW’s subjective experiences. We are all different. If they are not of the mold of mental framework as ours, then we should not push the issue of making them believe that we are right and they wrong…in this case, we are falling to the trap of being judgmental and upright… then we are all making ourselves the ones totally stupid.
.-= elmot´s latest blog ..Winning Against Blogging’s “Dark Side”; Morsels of Wisdom From the Jedi Bloggers =-.
it should be entrepreneurial, not entrepreneurship . . . stupid. hehe but you have a point.
It’s unfair to call Filipinos “stupid” just because they’re abroad. Most OFWs work for their families in RP so why call them stupid? They are committing to one thing: survivability. A selfish, irresponsible person is stupid, otherwise we’d all be stupid if we were all like that.
Also, I don’t think stating your personal monetary worth is something to brag about. I’m a reporter in the Philippines and I’ve spoken to many successful Filipinos, both from here and abroad. None of them say how much they’re worth. What’s consistent about them is that they all say is how do you see yourself in the long-term? These successful Filipinos do not try to be successful people. What they do is to become significant not just for themselves but for their community.
Anyway, good luck to ekimonk. No one should be made for your opinions but I pity that you don’t see yourself in the same situation as other hardworking Filipinos only trying to survive.
In my humble opinion, it would have been better if one really seeked to understand the plight of OFW’s first before coming out with such an irresponsible and derogatory remark, to say the least. There are millions of OFW’s out there and each have their own unique stories and circumstances. I too have been an OFW myself at certain points of my IT my career as I was stationed in Moscow for about 2 months and I also often have to go to Singapore. During those relatively short assignments overseas, I have learned a lot from the stories fellow Filipinos abroad shared with me. Even here in the Philippines, one just has to open their eyes and ears and listen to understand OFW’s. Maybe if the source of this controversy just did this and really tried to understand OFW’s, he would not have made those remarks in the first place. Just my two cents.
.-= Jay Castillo´s latest blog ..Unionbank foreclosed properties for sale on their 141st Special Public Auction on August 15, 2009 =-.
i am on ofw working as a caregiver.im so sorry if we bring disgrace to our country because of our menial job.but i must say that after having been working here for quite some time,i have learned to appreciate all the hardworking filipinos all over the world who chose to do hardwork for their family than to steal aother people’s money like those heartless n greedy politicians in our govt.i am more thank honored to be identified with them than with those thieves in our society.it is so sad that we are so proud of things that we should be ashamed of and so ashamed of things that we should be proud of like those honest hardworking filipinos around the world.
Apparently,
Failure=$16 Billion dollars in remittances (2008) which is actually greater than foreign direct investment
Failure=Preventing the wholesale collapse of the Philippine Economy
Failure=Succeeding where there is no incompetent and corrupt government
Failure=providing for their families while investing in their children’s future, funding human capital development in the country while at the same time fueling growing consumption, the only thing actually driving a significant portion of economic growth given anemic investment figures…
The one who made the comment is either a superior SOB or just really out of touch with reality.
Nice comment mikhael! Direct to the point!
.-= Tyrone | Millionaire Acts´s latest blog ..Ragnarok Success Story =-.
Nice Comment……..
it is super rude to say that OFWs are failures and stupid. i agree with mikhael. if not for the remittances of OFWs, the Philippines economy would have drowned in debt by now.
others are stupid co’z they leave their families but if you stay in the phil. all the politicians in phil are thieves the business in phil is not that fine the government ask so many taxes and the brownout is very rampant plus the exturtion of other group and politicians the climate in some part of the island are so rude you can experience a typhoon in the middle of summer land slide, volcano eruption, flood and etc. but you have a point my mother is also an OFW and she not sending any thing for her familyshe worked for about 25 years in abroad but not helping her family back in the phil. and that is the stupid OFW right!!!