Infidelity cited as greatest challenge among OFWs

I was surprised to meet after 18 years, the president of the school choir where I was a member 18 years back. Fr. Jurey James Dela Cerna belongs to the congregation of the Missionaries of Our Lady of Africa (MOLA). Yes, he is already a priest!

So, we got to exchange our thoughts on matters like his period of fine-tunings and his adventures in a country very different from his own—Africa. I was told that aside from the language, food, and culture, one would surely adjust on relationships; that circumcision which signals approval for marriage is done to females as young as 12 years old and not with males; that love in action is more sought rather than words; and that there are no barbershops around.

While many remain to be faithful to their partners in the Philippines, “Infidelity is today’s greatest challenge among our overseas contract workers. Pagdating sa airport, double pa sila, then they bid goodbye, and then the other goes home to his/her family. It saddens me.”

Infidelity, also referred to as cheating, adultery, or having an affair is the subjective feeling that one’s partner has violated a set of rules or relationship norms and this violation results in feelings of sexual jealousy and rivalry. “It is the feeling of loneliness that makes one tempted to be unfaithful,” says Fr. Dela Cerna. “So, you girls should be careful in entering a relationship there. You can check the embassy on his civil status. ‘Yung ibang pamilya nagtataka bakit ‘di na nagpapadala ng pera. Kawawa ang mga bata.”

According to the Philippine Statistical Authority, more females go abroad than males. The survey revealed that in Davao region, bracket 25-29 years old achieved the number of highest OFW count.

In a separate interview with Davaoeña who stays in Middle East since 2013, Ms. Idah Adam confirms this observation. Having broke up with her boyfriend, there are a lot of those “who pretend to be single, yet they are married in the Philippines.”

This is one among the many challenges our OFWs are facing today. This can happen to anybody. Understanding and commitment to marriage is very important for couples to remember. Marriage is not about convenience. Marriage isn’t something you do because you love someone. Marriage is something to which people are called. God calls people to marriage in order to help the spouses help each other get to heaven through each other. Marriage is a particular vocation, a state of life, to which God calls people.