Journal 8: Why OFWs Can’t Stop Comparing the Philippines to Other Countries

When you’ve been an #OFW for a long time, you kind of stop being a normal tourist. You can’t just simply enjoy the views… without even trying, you suddenly find yourself comparing it to the #Philippines.

My wife and I took a short vacation break in Taiwan from Singapore. But after being an OFW for over 15 years, it’s hard to just switch off. You start noticing how badly the #Philippines is lagging behind and you see what “normal living” was supposed to look like. It hurts because we know we deserve better than what we’ve learned to just tolerate.

In this cinematic journal entry, I explore the psychological weight of traveling as an #OverseasFilipinoWorker (OFW). I want to talk about why comparing functioning societies to the Philippines is actually an act of grief, rather than arrogance. It’s about the harsh reality of stepping back into the same broken systems and red tape back home, despite being called “modern-day heroes.”

If you carry this comparison with you too, you’re not the only one. When was the last time you felt like “time stood still” in the Philippines while you were exhausting yourself outside the country? Share your thoughts in the comments. We’ll just sit with it.