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Are you an OFW? Or are you a family of an OFW? This story is for you.
Let me tell you a story about a man who struggled so hard to give his family a better future.
Year 1989 a father of four (4) decided to apply for a tourist visa abroad with the intention of staying there for long to work for his family. He was one of the Filipinos who were tagged as TNT or Tago Ng Tago. People usually laugh at this label but for this OFW and his family there is nothing funny about
this. He spent years of working as a construction worker and at the same time hiding from the government. He risked his life just to earn more money to support his children’s education. He is sacrificing a lot.
This man after 9 yrs went back home. It was a very very joyful event for the family. After 9 yrs of missing their father, finally they can now have a complete family picture. Finally, they can now dine together, laugh together and celebrate together. As for his youngest child, finally for the first time, she can now see her father face to face and hug him. But the joy of that event slowly fades away. The reality that the father who was the bread winner no longer have a job is now sinking in. They realized they doesn’t have any savings or any fall back plan. The question of where will they get the money to buy for food, clothing and stuffs is now lingering on the parents mind as well as on the children’s. They had a significant downgrade in their lifestyle. The kids had to transfer from their school. And a time came when they had to rely on the support of their titos and titas and lolo and lolas. It was a tough time.
So after almost 5 years, the father decided to leave again. He went to the same country. But this time, he was not as lucky as he was before. He was caught by the government and was imprisoned for more than 3 months. Then, he was deported back to Philippines. And the family went back to the tough time again.
This was a true story. It was our story.
One thing I realized from what had happened to us is that if during the time my father was earning well we knew the value of financial planning and apply it, then we will not experience the kind of hardships that we had. If only we knew what it is to save and invest, then we can be more prepared as to what can happen. But, we can no longer change what had happen in the past. It was a lesson that changed our mindset. We hope it can also change yours.
Im not sharing this to gain sympathy from you because we still had a bright future. All of us graduated from college and some already had a master’s degree thru the help of our family, friends and schools who gave us scholarships. Im sharing this because I don’t want one more family to go through the same trouble we had.
If you are an OFW or a family of an OFW, begin planning your finances today. The future is very uncertain.
If you don’t plan the soonest you might end up experiencing what we had experienced.
If you love yourself and your family start planning now.
If you don’t want this to happen to you and your family, do something! Act now! FinancePH advisors will be here to assist you. I will be here to assist you. Start planning and preparing. You can never go wrong for planning ahead.
Author: Mica Austria Fernandez
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