by Marikenya

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child. ~Sophia Loren, Women and Beauty

Unemployment, Poverty, Dreams — these are some of the reasons why Filipinas today are found in the different countries in the world. Bearing with homesickness and hard work, she slave away her nights and day to send remittance to the Philippines.

Fortunately to many Filipinas working overseas, they were employed in professions and jobs they have chosen and liked.Unfortunately to many though, Filipinas had to shift careers and convince selves that they would eventually like their work and it all would be worth it. In the past, depressing statistics showed that many teachers and other professionals migrated to Asian countries to become domestic helpers. Today, the trend is different: women shift careers to become nurses, caregivers, nursing assistants, and medical transcriptionists. Even doctors today shift to nursing because of the high demand for nurses abroad especially in the west.

There were also change of careers to become apple pickers in New Zealand or factory workers in Korea or Japan. Many Filipinas decided to leave behind their bachelor degrees for fifty to eight thousand pesos wages in apple picking or assembling electronics. Just last year, I have two good friends (one was a bank teller and another a physical therapist who have his own pharma business) who migrated to the States to become dishwashers and table wipers in a hotel.

I have high respect for all of these women who sacrificed their comfortable life, education, and career in the Philippines to try their luck abroad and secure the future of their family. Needless to say, their intentions are as noble as their deeds.

Last night, I was asked by my husband: “what would I do now that I have finished my Continuing Professional Education (CPE)?” I said I would review for the board exam in September and then.. I don’t know yet. It was surprising that I am actually confused about my plans.

Last year, I have finally decided to become a college professor. To back this up, I obtained my earning units in education so I can enroll in a master’s degree in education program afterwards.

Now, halfway through my plans, I am having a dilemma. Instead of getting my MA in education, I was thinking of enrolling in a Special Education program. Sped now is the practical option for teachers, it’s the equivalent of nursing for medical professionals. It’s a highly paid profession abroad.

Just like all other mothers and Filipina OFWs, I am torn between choosing what I wanted and would benefit my country and what I should be so I can earn more money (in a shorter period of time) to give my family a better life.

I have always loved the nobility of my job. Yes, I will never be rich nor buy a house in this profession but I loved helping and teaching and inspiring my fellow Filipinos. I have always said “it’s not all about the money.” I still hold it true today but sadly, I’m inclined to shifting my career and try my luck abroad… All because I’m a mother and forever will be a proud Filipina whether I’m here in the Philippines or wherever else in the world.

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Read More Interesting Articles by Marikenya

This entry was posted on Monday, March 10th, 2008 at 2:58 pm and is filed under The Filipina. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.