Parenting from a Distance: How an OFW Family Keeps Things Together In Spite Being Apart

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOZ3_iRB6xs/?taken-by=joeydragonlady&hl=en

Hello Sweeties!

It is no secret that my husband Rory is an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW). He has been for the for the past 13 years.  He only gets to spend time with my children Raffy who was 4 at the time he left and Jarod 2 years old, 1 month each year since he left.

Parenting is a challenge event when both parents at home; Making our situation more daunting.

My eldest Raffy, was a relatively quiet child, always with her nose in a book, She is shy around people, I was worried because she was not sociable that she would not have any friends once she starts school. Jarod, my youngest was diagnosed with PDD-NOS Pervasive Developmental Disorders at the age of 3, a year after my husband left to work abroad.

We didn’t plan on being separated so early in our marriage,  We were both working but when my husband found himself unemployed for an entire year and with no suitable prospects in sight at least here in Manila. In the end, we agreed that this is a temporary and a hurdle we have to get through.

Continue reading

Biogenic Bang-Bayan: Bring a piece of Home to our OFWs Love Ones

Biogesic 2

Hello Sweeties!

As a part of an OFW Family, my husband being one. I know the reality of what all OFW families go through.  There is a misconception that OFWs have it made. They have ideal and easy lives.  Well, they don’t.

Some people equate them with the pasalubongs and a good life. They don’t really understand the loneliness they feel being alone in a foreign country away from their families and love ones.

Being part of an OFW Family means sacrifice not only for the person leaving but also for those they would be leaving behind.  They expect themselves to be the strong-willed ones because they have to in order to provide their family the best life. Their hopes and dreams are for those they left behind.

They are, in fact, the prime epitome of a caregiver.

But even carers need caring. And honestly, they are the ones who need it most.

I am thankful that because of the technological advancement we get to speak face to face with my husband everyday via FaceTime, Facebook Messenger I know of  others who use Skype (It would have been nice if the internet service is better and more consistent). And because of the technological advancement OFWs their families get the temporary feel that they never left home.

Still these are not enough, especially now during this Holiday season.

Biogesic thought, if Home would make their Holiday and yet they could not come home for it. It would be great to send home to them.  In the spirit of giving,  Biogenic wanted to move families to care for their ultimate providers, the givers of care who are thousands of miles away.  They are doing this via the first ever Biogesic Banig-bayan Program.

Want to know more about this program? Read on!

Continue reading