Stories by OFWs for OFWs

MANILA, Philippines - Crisanta Sampang thought she finally hit it big when she finally fulfilled her wish to be a filmmaker after working as domestic helper in Canada. But she was wrong. Dead wrong. 

The single mother’s children in the Philippines were grappling with growing up problems. Some married early. Others resented their mother for what they thought was her decision to abandon them when they needed her most.

“Is it worth it — the sacrifices, the money, the high she gets after coming up with a film of my own?” she asked herself between tears.

The face of a suffering mother torn between providing for her family and taking care of her children’s emotional needs is heart-wrenching.

No wonder multi-awarded TV journalist and TOYM awardee Kara David, host of GMA 7’s OFW Diaries (which premieres tonight after Saksi) couldn’t help but feel like weeping along with Crisanta.

“I can relate to her,” admits Kara. “Like Crisanta, I’m a single mom (to an eight-year-old girl), and a working one at that. So I’m always away from home.”

Kara again felt a lump in her throat when an OFW called her daughter in the Philippines to ask what kind of Barbie she wants as gift. The daughter replied, “I don’t want any. I just want you to go home.”

What about the story of Mildred Salbatierra, whose OFW sister Beth died mysteriously in Kuwait? Or Bea Bailan, a GRO who applied as a domestic helper in Saudi Arabia to save enough money to recover her child whom she put up for adoption?

These and other stories abound in OFW Diaries, a reality type of show dedicated to who else — overseas Filipino workers.

You hear less of Kara and more of the OFWs. They send in their own videos and tell their own stories as only they know how: With pathos. 

After all, who knows the pain of missing a child’s birthday party more than an OFW does? Whose aching body lies on a lonely bed night after night at night other than that of an OFW? And finally, who cries more on a wintry Christmas eve than an OFW?

Kara sighs, “How I wish the Philippines can provide more jobs so parents don’t have to work overseas for their children.”

Wishful thinking this. That’s why OFW Diaries also devotes a public service segment for those seeking overseas jobs.

“Some aspiring OFWs just get a tip or two from neighbors, thinking that they, too, can get that job abroad just because the guy next door did,” observes Kara.

Thus, they are prey to all sorts of illegal recruiters who exploit their ignorance. They do not know, for instance, that spotting an illegal recruiter is one click of a mouse away.  Just check out the list of accredited companies at the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) website.

This, OFW Diaries will reveal in its public service segment.

Not all is darkness and gloom, though. The program will also show the silver lining behind the clouds in its Success Story segment.

OFW Diaries may not be a sentimental soap or a weepy teleserye. But it sure has all the elements of a touching story: human drama, family love, tragedy, even. Most of all, it’s anchored on the here and now, on a truth you can’t deny.

Don’t be surprised if you get a big jolt as you see images of raw emotion that come unbidden, uncontrolled, right before your very eyes.