Overseas Filipino Workers

Migrant workers mean Filipinos who temporarily immigrate to other nations to work. Seafarers are Filipinos working on the ships owned by other nations that travel worldwide. Ships traveling only inside Philippine waters are called Inter Island vessels and their crew are not technically called seafarers because they can go home anytime without customs/immigration hassles.

The International Labor Organization and United Nations records show that since the 1980’s in Asia the Philippines has been number one in sending skilled and unskilled workers all over the world. Our OFWs, as they are affectionately called can be found along churches on Sundays in most nations. Many countries consider Sunday as a day of worship and rest. The OFWs bond together because they have no one to turn to abroad except their Kababayans.

They best way to meet Kababayans is by going to Mass on Sunday. The bonding continues after Mass. Catholic upbringing is the key to the Sunday get together. Religiosity is carried by the OFWS abroad because it is part of their family life, part of parochial and GKK life and part of school life.

CBCP knows the problem of the OFWS. It is doing everything to reduce the pains of loneliness especially of the families who are left behind. The Church gives great importance to this matter by declaring the third Sunday of September as Migrants Sunday and as National Seafarers day. Let us include in our prayers the OFWs and their families.