I’ve been living and working in Dubai for 19 years now.
Like many Filipinos abroad, I didn’t leave the Philippines because I wanted to abandon my country. I left because there were opportunities outside that I just couldn’t find back home. Opportunities that matched my skills and my dreams.
Over the years, I’ve met thousands of fellow Filipinos here—engineers, nurses, doctors, architects, designers like me, flight attendants, chefs, entrepreneurs, teachers, and yes, domestic workers too. All working hard towards building their lives abroad (while supporting some families back home).
But one thing has always bothered me: the way Overseas Filipino Workers are framed and treated by our own government.
The old stigma
For decades, OFWs have been tied to one image: domestic workers.
There’s nothing wrong with that. Nannies, household helpers—many families in the Philippines survive because of their sacrifices. But the problem is when this becomes the only narrative.
The reality today is different. The Filipino diaspora has evolved. Filipinos are working in every kind of professional field abroad.
Being abroad doesn’t make someone “better” or “worse” than someone working in the Philippines. We are all working professionals. There are nannies in the Philippines, and there are nannies abroad. There are engineers in the Philippines, and there are engineers abroad. The difference is geography—not capability.
Yet the stereotype sticks. Sometimes it feels like the system still sees OFWs through a lens that belongs to another era.
The assumption that we “failed” at home
Another stigma is that people leave the Philippines because they couldn’t make it there.
The truth? Often it’s the opposite. Many of us leave because the system at home is limiting. Salaries are low. Career growth is slow. Opportunities are scarce. Connections sometimes matter more than competence.
You can be highly skilled, talented, and hardworking—and still not find a way to make a dent in your field at home. So you leave.
Not because you failed. But because you are capable enough to compete globally.
When respect is missing
You don’t have to go far to see how this plays out. Consulates, for example, are supposed to serve Filipinos abroad. But many OFWs experience confusing instructions and “systems” that change depending on the day.
And then there’s the tone. Staff shouting at us. Professionals being treated lowly.
It’s subtle, but it sends a clear message: you are being treated as less than.
And this isn’t about one or a couple of isolated incidents. It’s a pattern. A reflection of how the system sometimes frames OFWs—as fragile, dependent, or less capable—when in reality, we are simply workers of different nature doing our jobs abroad, just like any Filipino back home.
The strange idea of “special treatment”
OFWs are constantly called “modern-day heroes.” Our remittances are celebrated as a backbone of the economy.
But this creates a weird dynamic. On one hand, we’re supposed to be praised. On the other hand, we’re sometimes treated as a fragile group that needs special management or, worse, patronized.
And then there’s the other side: “You left the Philippines, why do you still want special treatment?”
Well, most OFWs are not asking for anything special. We’re asking for normal treatment. The same respect, fairness, and service that professionals in the Philippines get.
At the end of the day, we are all professionals. Whether you work in Manila or Dubai, whether you are a nanny or an architect, work is work. Respect should be the same everywhere.
The OFW profile has changed
Yes, there are still many workers who sacrifice years away from their families. Their sacrifices are real and deserve respect.
But in many places today, especially Dubai, things are changing. Families are living together. Kids are growing up here. Communities are thriving. Many OFWs are not temporary labor anymore—they are professionals, building careers and lives abroad.
Yet systems back home sometimes still treat us like we’re all fragile, temporary, or dependent. And that’s not who we are anymore.
The contrast abroad
One of the most striking things about living abroad is how differently you’re treated.
In Dubai, respect is based on competence. If you do your job well, people trust you. If you lead well, people follow you. Nationality matters less than professionalism—in my PERSONAL experience.
That’s why it’s frustrating when some systems back home still categorize OFWs as a special “class.”
We are still Filipinos. Still workers. Still contributors. The only difference is geography.
What needs to change
The conversation around OFWs needs to catch up with reality.
We’re a diverse, skilled, and globally competitive workforce. Millions of Filipinos abroad are professionals contributing to industries around the world.
Government systems should start reflecting that. Not through hero speeches, but through respect, fair treatment, and recognition of professionalism.
Disclaimer: This blog is written from my personal experiences and observations as a Filipino working abroad—for 19 years already, that is. I recognize that every OFW has a different journey, and my perspective may not represent the experiences or voices of all Filipinos abroad.
