Written by: John Larry F. Ramos
Pubmat by: Aubrey Rodriguez
Abraham Maslow believes that the hierarchy of needs drives the motivation of people. It consists of 5 stages: the physiological needs, safety and security, love and belongingness, self-esteem, and self-actualization. However, one shall fulfill the preceding before being able to step onto another floor. In correlation with the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), they tend to find better opportunities in foreign countries to supply the needs of their family, secure the future of their children, and may be for a clear viewpoint of what is really happening beyond the eagerness to survive.
People have a “fight or flight” response to an immediate threat from the environment. In a long-term context, inadequate opportunity from the country can lead to poverty, nutrient deficiency— or worse, famine that undermines survival. Considering a large discrepancy of compensation and cost of living, high competition in employment, and peer pressure from the environment, Filipinos have no choice but to seek other opportunities from foreign countries, to satisfy their physiological needs— and shortly, security and safety.
Attaining another ascending step in the hierarchy of needs is exhaustive. For that reason, securing the physiological needs would not be enough to achieve one's full potential. This notion pertains to OFW experiencing loneliness, grief, sadness, fear, and even a feeling of emptiness. Because working abroad manifests various implications such as eagerness to have a physical interaction or even just a presence of loved ones. Correspondingly, their children were continuously longing for parental love and care, due to separation (Lobos et al., 2019); and these absences can only be fulfilled when the family stays together.
The essence of having physical interaction is to satisfy love and belongingness, and the feeling of safety and security. Some say "home is a person"; indicating that people can find safety and security through the arms of their loved ones. However, the survival of our physical body is the top priority, that is why sacrifices in starting a venture into an unfamiliar society shall be made. In fact, the top challenge for an OFW is homesickness (Bautista, 2020) proving that work and life balance plays a huge part in the willingness of the workers.
Financial stability is never enough in a long-term process or to stay in a certain situation; specifically in work. However, being an OFW has various pros and cons, far-away from growing children builds relationship gaps (Bautista, 2020). It might affect both parties in the long term process. A person has holistic aspects, consequently, their fulfillment shall be holistic too. According to The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) lack of opportunity in the Philippines compared to foreign countries is the main reason why OFW chose to work abroad. Therefore, if the country is fairly competitive, the imprisonment from the first step of hierarchy of needs will be destroyed.
In conclusion, there is a significant relationship between the state’s compensation and benefits to the workers' willingness to stay, however, that will not be enough. As a short-term solution, consistent communication between the OFWs and their Families will help to develop a good relationship, and it bridges the gap of their dilemma in the meantime. Fake consciousness of hope and satisfaction will never be enough, the government shall play its role in giving opportunity for the Filipinos. Because, in this conglomerate country, all must function to full capability to produce a better future for the next generation.
Reference:
https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=103483
https://owwamember.com/why-filipinos-work-abroad/
