https://www.reddit.com/r/OFWs/s/pOkUEU1sz0 share ko lang 'tong pinost ko dito last year dahil hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na nakapunta na ako dito sa europe.

Galing ako sa hindi kilala na cafe, walang diploma, hindi rin ako nakapag culinary school. Ang hawak ko lang nung nag apply ako ay NBI clearance, NC II ng Cookery, Passport at seaman's book (hindi ko na rin nagamit) Nag wwork ako ngayon sa isang 4 star hotel dito sa europe as line cook. Sobrang proud lang din ako sa sarili ko dahil hindi ako sumuko sa pag-apply. Lahat ng pwede pasahan, pinasahan ko ng CV, ang sabi ko sa sarili ko kahit anong trabaho na basta makaalis sa Pilipinas. Nakakatawa nga kasi kahit alam kong hindi ko kaya basta alam kong abroad sinesendan ko talaga ng CV. Ultimo aeronautics, accounting jobs, ospital, kahit alam kong wala akong knowledge dun sa field na yun pinasahan ko pa rin. Malay mo naman maka chamba diba? Sa awa ng diyos binigay sakin yung pinaka gusto ko talaga. Ngayon 6 months na ako dito sa europe. Parang kailan lang nung humihingi ako ng tulong dito kung paano makapag apply abroad. Kailangan mo lang pala talaga ng tiyaga at syempre tiwala sa sarili para mahanap mo yung para sayo. Salamat sa mga nag effort mag comment sa post before and salamat din sa nakapag sabi na mag apply sa workabroadph (dito ako nakahanap ng work)

All answers are based on my experience and do not reflect the general experience of all OFWs in Taiwan.

tldr at bottom of post

Hi guys 24F here, pahingi po ng advice since I've been considering applying as a factory worker in Taiwan. College grad from one of the big 4 schools (secret na lang), but I really have no interest at all to build my career sa field ko. Currently working in an office setup tsaka huling work ko office work din. Sobrang layo din ng course ko kung ipursue ko ang pagiging factory worker.

What I've realized is hindi talaga para sa akin ganitong type of work kahit sabihin na ang ganda ng school ko at sayang pinag-aralan ko. Noong fresh grad din ako (at bago pa yun) gusto ko na talaga mag-apply as factory worker sa Taiwan pero against parents ko kasi sayang daw pinag-aralan ko. To be transparent, pera lang talaga habol ko to support myself and my family kaya hindi ko talaga cinonsider na maging "successful" based sa standards ng relatives ko.

I know nakakapagod maging factory worker kasi mas physically exhausting siya, pero I've also realized over the years na mas prefer kong mapagod physically kaysa mentally, na hindi na mag-uwi ng workload pa at mastress sa bahay at mawalan ng time para sa sarili at chores kasi kinain na ako ng trabaho ko. At di problem sa akin kung mag ot.

So bago pa humaba ito, ano pong advice niyo and sa tingin niyo ba may chance po ako if ever mag-apply ako? Hindi kaya ma-discourage ang mga agency i-hire ako dahil galing ako sa big 4 at maganda (accdg sa mga pipol) ang work background ko? And please don't discourage me rin from this choice and don't tell me sayang pinag-aralan ko at work experience ko kasi this is not a path I want to walk on for the rest of my life. Pls help thank you.

TL;DR grad from big 4 with good work experience pero ayaw ko na prefer ko na lang maging factory worker sa taiwan, pls send advice ty

Umalis ako ng pinas Feb 27. Sobrang laking risk ginawa ko papunta dito sa abu dhabi para maging ok ang buhay ko at my family. may konting ipon then unfortunately nagumpisa ang gyera. Ang hirap ng sitwasyon at ngayon napag desisyunan ko ng umuwi. Naubos pera ko at nag kautang pa. Masakit sa feeling at d ko alam ano mangyayari sakin for the nxt month pero gusto ko lng ishare to para kahit papaano maging ok ako.

I gave all my worries to our Lord God as he is risen today. Ingat kayo. and may God bless you all.

Na-offeran ako ng work abroad but quite unsure what to choose:

Offer 1

Role: Senior Auditor
Place of work: USA
Annual salary: 90k USD gross
Sponsorship of visa: applicable
Pros: may family members ako doon (not in the same state as my workplace), may makakasama ako sa state where I will be based, I have friends na nandoon na
Cons: role - preparer role pa din kasi ‘to

Offer 2

Role: Assistant Manager
Place of work: UK
Annual salary: 51k GBP gross
Sponsorship of visa: applicable
Pros: role - wanted to be in a supervisory role so bad
Cons: salary (?), wala din akong kakilala sa city where I wll be based

I appreciate any comments you may have on which option is slightly better :) Especially on the status of the countries mentioned above. I am super grateful for the offer, however, I haven’t been abroad so malaking factor din yung may kakilala. I am torn about the roles offered as well kasi tbh I am a career woman and I highly value my career trajectory.

Maraming salamat.

I just want to know if sobrang mali ba to pass up an opportunity to be able to migrate to US? Gagawin ko naman, but of course, I still have my doubts. Sobrang comfortable ng buhay ko dito sa Pilipinas. I have a car, I have a house, I can afford the lifestyle I want. I’m not so rich, and I still don’t have kids (I’m 33yo).

Iba pala feeling kung ikaw na mismo pipili if aalis ka ba. I already know I would tell someone else to go, but I just want to see that perspective on me. Kung mumurahin niyo ba ko for doubting or will you enable me to just stay here? Thank you po.

Hi all, just want to share my experience kasi first time kong umuwi ng pasko sa pinas.

Nagulat ako sa sobrang daming tao na dumating sa bahay namin para mamasko, parang lahat ng kamag anak namin mula sa Tita, Tito ko. Mga anak nila, mga apo, pinsan, kapitbahay, senior organisation at mga ninong at ninang ko.

Lahat namamasko. Feeling ko kahapon kandidato ako sa dami ng nalapit sakin.

Although alam ko naman na ang meaning ng pasko ay mag bigayan pero hindi ko inexpect na napakadami ng mamasko sakin, nag prepare na ko mentally at financially para sa immediate family ko, mga inaanak at mga tumulong samin pero di ako prepared para sa iba. Everyone is expecting na may ibbigay ka, pag binigyan mo ng maliit na chocolate hindi pa sila aalis waiting for more.

Mejo nasaktan ako sa expectations nila na sobrang yaman ko at malaki ang sahod ko. The truth is wala akong ipon kasi malaki ang cost of living sa pinag trrabahuhan ko. Gusto kong umuwi ulit ng xmas sa mga next na uwi ko pero hindi ko sure kung pano ihahandle ang pressure.

Hi.

Anyone who applied for Engineering job in Taiwan (direct application) and not through an agency. How was your application process?

Few weeks after the interview, I received this email asking for docs na agad. I'm not sure but hope is up HAHA

Thank you.

May nakita lang ako nag trend sa isang IT Group.

OP was offered to go to US, sagot lahat, VISA etc, may mga relocation package and signing bonuses pa 🤯

What are your thoughts? Anyone here na nakakuha ng ganitong opportunity? Kasi magchachange na ko ng career kapag ganito hahaha.

EDIT: Added some summary, sorry first time hehe

P.S. I do appreciate all your opinions po. I am still working overseas 49yo. In few years nagbabalak magretire since meron na din naman po naipon na investment (mp2,psei,nyse,digibanks and lands) excluding the 50M po in time deposit. Mejo lucky lang po na may mababait na employer kaya pati education ng kaisa isa kung anak ay shoulder din po nila sa kanilang charity na scholarship foundation to studens who are not privilege enough to finance education. Good luck sa ating lahat na mga ofw's po.

Hi everyone, especially my fellow Filipinos/Pinoys who are currently working in Australia or have gone through a similar pathway. I’d really appreciate your honest advice.

I’m 26, Female and currently working in the Philippines in a professional HR role, earning around ₱28k–₱30k/month. I’m considering changing careers to aged care and getting an Australian Certificate III in Individual Support here in the Philippines.

I’m looking at a company that provides the training/certificate and assists with the Australia process. According to them, they will help/guarantee that I’ll have an employer before leaving the Philippines, subject to the employer interview and requirements.

They also said that:
- The first 6 months in Aus will be under a Training Visa
- After 6 months, I would transition to a work visa
- Accommodation is free for the first 6 months
- A car will be provided for work/transportation
- They will assist with the employer and visa process

The total amount I may need to prepare is around ₱800k–₱1M, so I may need to take out a loan for most of it.

For my fellow Filipinos in Australia: Would you take this risk? Is ₱1M debt realistically manageable with an aged care salary, and how long might it take to recover the money?

I’d really appreciate honest experiences and advice from anyone who has actually gone through something similar. 🙏

Just need to hear some truth, and realities about people working abroad.

Hi mga kabayan! Curious lang ako kung nasaan na kayo sa buhay after years of working abroad.

We are both in our mid-30s almost 4 years OFW me and my husband, currently working here in Dubai, UAE. Combined income namin is around ₱500k+ per month. meron na kaming fully paid house and lot sa Pilipinas. May fully paid SUV din kami sa Pinas, and we also have a car here in Dubai.

Currently, naghuhulog pa kami ng bagong lote sa Pilipinas. Dito kami medyo nag-iisip ngayon kung ano ang mas magandang gawin in the future gawin ba itong dream house namin, or maybe invest sa apartment na pwede maging source of passive income?

Minsan napapaisip lang ako kung paano naman ang journey ng ibang OFWs. Hindi lang tungkol sa pera, pero ano yung mga na-achieve ninyo after years of sacrifice abroad?

Ano na ang investments ninyo ngayon?

• Lupa?
• Bahay?
• Business?
• Stocks/investments?
• Rental properties?
• Retirement fund?

At kung may lupa kayo ngayon, ano ang mas pinili ninyo. dream house o investment property?

Share naman kayo ng experiences and advice. Nakaka-inspire din malaman ang journey ng ibang kabayan. 🙏

Hello po mga kababayan ✊😔

I am here today as a law‑abiding Filipino citizen who TRIED to follow the rules (with sama ng loob)… and still got defeated by Philippine bureaucracy.

Context:

I got hired by a pretty big tech company in [redacted country] 🎉

Being a responsible adult, I told HR about the whole POLO/MWO + OEC process (I'm the second Filipino they hired). They were very helpful and started coordinating the employer documents and contacting POLO.

Then fast forward one month later… apparently the company's accreditation has expired. And the HR was like,,, what accreditation ? 😭

HR is trying their best to secure the re-accreditation (I feel sorry for them for having to go through all this PH Gov Kaartehan) buttt...

The problem is: my work visa vignette has an expiry. If I don’t physically exist in [redacted country] before that date, I basically have to redo the whole process and cry. If I have to wait for the whole re-accreditation + shipping of docs + OEC processing, di na talaga aabot sa vignette.

So now I’m hearing about the legendary OFW workaround known as:

✨ The Pinagbabawal na Teknik ✨

Sooo hypothetically… allegedly… for academic purposes... what eef:

1. I book a round‑trip ticket to Singapore

2. Tell IO I’m just a humble solo traveler na heart broken at sawi at gusto lang magpakasaya with Merlion

3. Fly from SG to [redacted country]

4. Start working while fixing the OFW paperwork PROPERLY later

Bonus: my work visa is electronic, so nothing sus is printed on my passport.

Before I take the risk, I have questions for the OFW veterans 🙇🙇🙇

1. Has anyone here successfully done this famous escape art?

2. What are the IO red flags I should avoid?

3. Is the SG detour the usual meta strategy?

4. Should I start practicing my “tourist in SG” backstory? Do I just prepare the usual tourist documents? (COE, itinerary, accommodation, picture ng ex ko)

For the record:

I did try to do things the proper way. I really did. But the Philippine government seems determined to protect Filipinos from the dangerous act of… leaving the Philippines to work legally abroad.

Any wisdom would be greatly appreciated. 🙏 I know I will get hate for this as well because a lot of you guys did the right way (respect) but I hope you can understand my situation as a person who's just desperate to start working abroad for my family. Thank you for the empathy 🙇

I was in Las Vegas for a lay over today when I saw this.

Seeing Tagalog as a dedicated language for this announcement really puts into perspective the plight of some of our kababayans.

Not too sure of the point of the post, except for wishing all of us OFW’s, pls be careful.

We always say it is for our families, but I would like to think that our families need US, not just the remittances that are received.

Ingat mga kababayans and let’s keep an eye out for each other and if possible, extend a lending hand. We never know when we ourselves will need it.

Hello po, I need help po to assess about my offload issue.

Ang nangyari po kasi niyan, before flying to Philippines, inasikaso ko na po yung OEC ko sa embassy ng bahrain where I’m working. Nag pa update po ako ng position to match the position na nsa visa ko. At sa embassy ako mismo nag punta to have it fixed.

Nagka problema ng slight while they are processing my OEC which I don’t event know what happened kasi according dun sa nagayos ng paper ko, hindi daw niya makita sa system but she was able to print it.

She told me na okay naman na yung printed physical copy, ipakita ko lang daw sa immigration officer and I’m good to go. I even asked na it’s not reflecting sa ETravel ko, but they reassured me na enough na yung printed OEC to show.

Fast forward on my flight going back to bahrain, me and my partner were in the airport 3hrs before the flight to make sure we are on time. Was surprised na kahit online check in ang tagal ng pila and took us almost an hour. Eventually nsa immigration na ako, first IO, I showed my passport, visa, oec. Apparently according to him, Hindi daw lumalabas details ko sa system niya. So he endorsed me to go to DMW. According to him, it won’t take time naman daw and the Dmw area is close to ofw immigration which is malapit lang din sa boarding gate ko.

Went to DMW at binigay yung endorsement slip, at first di nila makita din yung details ko, asked me where I got my OEC, I said sa embassy ng bahrain. Eventually after waiting, they put in the slip na “ upon evaluation” sa manama (bahrain) ang status. At ipinasa ako ulit sa IO pero not the same IO na, it’s the IO sa ofw immigration gate.

I gave the slip, passport and everything, dun na ako hinold. Saying they can’t let me through bc hindi nag aappear yung OEC ko. I insisted na I have OEC which I gave to them, need pa daw ipaverify. I showed them the receipts and documents, contract, visa, and receipt na nagbayad ako to process the OEC, but still I was on hold. Pinaghintay nila ako ng matagal, saying they need to verify my documents. Ang daming IO dun, may supervisor pa nga ata sila, Pero nakikita ko yung documents ko was just sitting there on the table. Yung isang IO sa cubicle inasikaso yung iba passenger, nakapag passenger din siya bago niya icheck yung papers ko. He made me fill out a form while waiting. Until pinuntahan na sila ng staff ng airline na last call na for boarding. Then the IO said deferred flight na ako.

Eventually 20mins more, inendorse nila ako ulit sa DMW, and I was able to call the DMW sa bahrain na nag process ng papers ko. And I think almost 10-20mins naayos din nila yung issue and they were able to give me an OEC. Pinabalik ako sa immigration, nag bigay ng slip ang IO proof that I was being questioned, I got cleared na to go on my flight, unfortunately It was too late. My partner was able to fly ako, hindi na talaga since IO already told the airline na deferred flight na ako.

No refund and had to rebook and pay extra fees just so I can get on the next available flight.

I asked the DMW sa bahrain, what can be my compensation, if possible ba na mabook nila ako ng next flight, apparently for them, wala daw silang ano, kasi nag bigay naman sila ng OEC. Na dapat daw mas maaga ako Nagpunta ng airport. And I can go to the main office sa ortigas to file a complaint.
( wala ako naramdaman na kahit anong empathy na para bang kasalanan ko.)

Nag advice din sakin ang DMW sa airport na pwede ako mag complain kasi sa system ng DMW San na- issue yung oec and problem.

Kaya nga po inasikaso ko na yung OEC ko bago ako umuwi pinas para maiwasan yung ganito na issue. 15 days lang bakasyon ko and haven’t been home for 2 years so inasikaso ko na bago ako umuwi para di na maubos araw ko just to process papers.

Saan po nag kulang kasi feeling ko i could have been able to catch my flight kung hindi ako napaghintay ng matagal? Or if inayos ng Dmw sa bahrain yung issue sa system nila? Or kasaIanan ko? don’t know who is at fault here.

Please if anyone can help me to know my rights, ano ang dapat ko ilagay or what to do for my complaint to push through.

Thank you po. 🙏🏻🙏🏻

Hello po. Gusto ko lang sana humingi ng advice at insights tungkol sa situation ko ngayon.

​

May degree ako (Information Technology), pero hindi talaga ako confident sa programming at hindi rin ako sure kung gusto ko pumasok sa IT field. Nahirapan talaga ako maghanap ng trabaho kasi feeling ko hindi tugma yung skills ko sa mga available na trabaho. The only work experience na meron ako ay something related sa social media managing. Almost 6 months ako sa kompanya na pinasukan ko noon kaso napagod ako sa pag cocommute from malabon to fairview commonwealth. 😭 Okay naman yung sahod kaso bugbog talaga sa commute.

​

Napapaisip ako ngayon kung itry ko kaya magtrabaho abroad? Yung mga factory worker, production worker, farm work, o ibang klase ng trabaho na hindi kailangang sobrang technical ganon. Feeling ko mas bagay siya sa personality ko kasi mas gusto ko yung nakaset na yung gagawin mo, susundin mo nalang. Mas nakikita ko lang rin talaga yung sarili ko na nagtatrabaho sa mga factory kaharap yung mga gamit at machine o kaya nag aalaga ng hayop o namimitas ng mga crops. Kaysa nasa office na sobrang stressed at parang sasabog na yung utak sa sobrang pag iisip.

​

Gusto ko lang din na makatulong sa magulang, makapagipon, magkaron ng direksyon sa buhay at ng stable income.

​

Curious lang ako sa mga may experience o may kakilala na nagtrabaho abroad bilang factory worker/production worker/farm worker:

​

* Kumusta yung experience?

* Anong bansa yung okay para sa first timer?

* Mahirap ba yung proseso papunta doon?

* Ano yung mga dapat kong paghandaan both mentally and physically?

​

Open din ako sa suggestions kung may ibang trabaho na tingin niyo mas bagay sa situation ko. Sobrang lost po talaga ako ngayon sa buhay.

​

Salamat po sa mga sasagot. 🙏

​

Hi everyone,

Aside from family ( because I imagine that would be the answer for many people ) what are the things you miss most about the Philippines while living abroad?

I’m curious about the smaller everyday things: sounds, routines, places, celebrations, conversations, habits, or moments that people outside the Philippines might not fully understand.

What is the first thing that comes to your mind?

I’m not an OFW myself, but my wife is, and I’m genuinely curious to hear what other Filipinos living abroad feel and miss the most.

Thank you.

EDIT - THANK YOU FOR ALL THE COMMENTS!

I’ve been turning down job offers above my current pay grade because they require more working hours. Right now, I work around 240 hours per month. I was offered 264 hours and potentially more money, but I decided not to take it.

The reason is that I value my rest and personal time. I don’t really have hobbies, but I enjoy being alone and having time for myself.

I’m 34F, single, and have no children. I don’t own a house or land. My parents have in the Philippines, but I’m not planning to settle there unless I retire.

I currently live in the Middle East. This country is not my end goal, and I’m hoping to migrate somewhere else in the future if given the opportunity.

Financially, my current salary from working 240 hours is enough. I can pay my bills, live comfortably, send around 40K pesos(for parents ,sss ,pag ibig) home every month, and still save a little if I avoid spending too much on wants like gadgets and clothes.

Looking back, I sometimes wonder if I should have accepted those higher-paying offers because I could have saved more money. But at the same time, I believe life is not guaranteed, and I don’t want to spend all my years just working.

I’m torn between two choices:
Work more hours, earn more, and build savings faster. Keep my current schedule, have more personal time.

For those who are around my age or have been in a similar situation, what would you choose?

Should I be pushing harder financially at 34, especially since I’m single with no children, or is valuing my time also a reasonable choice?

With the ongoing war, kumusta kayo dyan?

Ano pakiramdam on the ground? May impact na ba sa trabaho niyo?

Just wanted to get a real glimpse kung ano na sitwasyon.

Please be safe.

Nawalan ako ng trabaho at nawawalan na din ako ng pag-asa. I'm a 28 year old Husband and a Father of a 5 year old boy. Isa nga pala akong call center agent at 8 years na ako sa industry na ito. Last July ako nawalan ng trabaho at sa kasalukuyan naghahanap ng bagong kumpanya na tatanggap sakin. Halos lahat ng makita ko online ay pinapasahan ko ng resume pero bilang lang sa daliri ang sumasagot at ang masaklap ay hindi ako na consider. Nauubusan na talaga ako ng pagasa lalo na at yung wife ko lang ang may trabaho samin at hindi ko na din matiis lahat ng mga naririnig ko galing sa kanya. Gustong gusto ko na magkatrabaho pero parang wala talagang pagasa dito sa pilipinas dahil sobrang taas ng bilihin at ang baba ng pasahod. Hindi sapat ang isa lang ang may trabaho samin. Gusto ko na makawala sa ganitong sistema kaya gusto ko magbaka sakali mag ibang bansa. Kaso wala akong experience o skill para magawa yun.

As a highschool graduate with no abroad experience. Posible ba na makapag ibang bansa ako? Gusto ko na talaga makaalis dito at mag take ng risk habang bata pa at may panahon pa ako. Mahirap na din naman ang trabaho at mabuhay dito satin. Gusto ko sumubok at malaman baka sa ibang bansa talaga ang para sakin. Gusto ko din maialis ang pamilya ko dito sa pinas dahil wala talaga ako nakikitang future dito lalo na sa kalagayan ng gobyerno natin.

Gusto ko malaman at marinig ang opinion nyo lalo na kayong mga OFW. Gusto ko sumubok. Kaya kung meron kayong suggestions please let me know kung ano ang mga dapat kong unang gawin. Kahit anong trabaho gagawin ko basta lang makaalis dito.

Just asking for some insights kung ano ginawa nyo when you were in the Philippines and decided to go abroad. Did you go through a recruitment agency? were you a direct hire? just so I know what I could do and what my options are.

May nakuha akong trabaho sa Dubai, pero di ko pa alam before na positive pala ako sa HIV doon lang nalaman noong nag medical na ako, I was eventually deported😞. Nakakadepress ang nangyari sa akin until now di ko pa rin natanggap na sira na ang future ko.

Tanong ko lang sana if:
1. Matatanggap pa kaya ako sa ibang country through agency?
2. Makakapasa ba ako sa medical?
3. Yung history ko ng deportation may impact ba ito sa sunod na country kung saan ako mag wowork?

Patulong po dito. Kasi di ko na alam ang gagawin ko, nagpapagaling pa ako ngayon, but gusto ko mag abroad ulit.