My father is an OFW. Growing up, I never spend so much time with him because pretty much he's always on board. Growing up, I always wondered why he chose to be away from us when in fact, he can just work here; but now, I have a child on my own. I realized the reason why- he wants us to have a better life. 

Even before COVID-19 arises, we always hear bittersweet stories of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). They work abroad for higher-pay so they can provide better opportunities for their families they left behind in our country. Most often than not, this doesn't guarantee a happy ending, sometimes, they are often sent home with little to no savings. 

"Dahil and pagkakaalala ko ay ang pagiging OFW ang sagot sa lahat ng naging problemang financial namin, at gusto kong maiahon ang making pamilya at mapagtapos ang making anak," said Marites Coronado, a returning OFW. 

However, providing a better life hasn't been simple. 

Alma Palafox, a former OFW recalled her unfortunate events when she decided to be an OFW: "Hindi po ako sini-suwerte sa napupuntahan na bansa. Laging may masamang nangyayari po sa akin. At minsan na rin muntik na akong hindi nakabalik ng Pinas ng buhay. Kaya hindi ko po natatapos kontrata ko."

"Hindi man po ako naging maswete sa ibang bansa, pero nagpapasalamat po ako sa Panginoong Diyos at ako ay nakauwi ng buhay," Gerlie Austria, OFW, shared the same experience. 

Just like Murna Peñosa Corporal, she too decided to go back to her family due to unforeseen circumstances she encountered abroad. 

"Noong nagsabi ako sa amo ko na ibalik na ako sa agency, dinala po nila ako sa Labor. Ang unang pumasok sa isip ko at naiyak ako, 'Paano na ang pamilya ko? Uuwi ako na walang pera at naipon'," Corporal said. 

Coronado, Palafox, Austria, and Corporal are just a few among the OFWs who returned home even if they haven't achieved their goals for themselves and their families. 

The Balikbayanihan Campaign

The Balikbayanihan Campaign is a program supported by the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) that helps OFWs whose dreams were interrupted for various reasons. 

Spearheaded by NEDEA-Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency and Atikha- a non-government organization working with OFWs and their families to maximize the gains of working abroad, Balikbayanihan calls on the spirit of volunteerism of Filipinos to help returning OFWs.

It is a call for partnership by the Overseas Filipino organizations with government agencies, local government units, and the private sector to help OFWs by providing the needed resources such as manpower, funds, or mobilizing their volunteer network to serve as mentors to OFWs. 

Melanie Labera, a returning OFW whose plan to resume her work abroad was put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic, benefited from the program. 

"Nang umuwi ako ng Pilipinas, nagkataon naman na pademic. Gusto ko sana bumalik [abroad], pero di na ko makabalik. Kaya malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa programan ito, pati sa BPI. May konting puhunan naman ako sa aking tindahan, pero konti lang. Kaya nagapasalamatako na nadagdagan dahil sa inyo."

Austria too, also a program beneficiary, said, "Nang makabalik po ako sa Pilipinas, is a po ako sa maswerteng napili ng Atikha na mabigyan ng tulong upang ako'y makapagsimula ulit sa aking buhay. Naging masaya po ako at nagkaroon ng pag-asa sa buhay. Ngayon po ay natupad ang is a kong pangarap na makabili ng makina."

Financial Empowerment

As one of the program supporters, BPI aims to empower repatriated OFWs by helping them manage their finances through learning webinars, and by mobilizing volunteers and sponsors. BPI implements its program through its business units BPI Foundation, BPI-Philam, and Remittance and Fund Transfers. 

"This pandemic has been hard on everyone, but repatriated OFWs and their families have been particularly affected. OFWs have done so much to uplift our entire nation's economy over the decades. It's only right that we stand by them now, and help them get back on their feet and establish a financially secure life for themselves and their families," BPI Head of Corporate Banking Strategy, Products, and Support, Reggie Cariaso said. 

"Napakaganda po ng aking karanasan dahil nagkaroon po ako ng pag-asa sa buhay at talagang ipinangako ko po sa aking sarili na pagbubutihin ko po itong tulong na ibinigay sa akin ng Atikha at BPI Pamana Padala. At ang nagustuhan ko po dito ay ang mga taong kasapi dito na maayos ang pakikitungi at napakamapagkumababa at napakababait upang matulungan kaming lahat," Coronado said. 

BPI Foundation holds mentoring sessions for OFWs with BPI Unibankers as volunteer mentors. For its part, BPI Philam provides free COVID-19 insurance coverage worth P200,000. BPI's Remittance and Fund Transfers offers financial grants and monthly mentoring sessions for chosen OFWs and instills the value of saving using their BPI Pamana Padala account. 

With opportunities such as Balikbayanihan, returning OFWs are more empowered than ever to try their luck in their home country. 

Palafox said, "Dito nalang po ako sa Pinas. Kahit mahirap po basta't sama-sama kami ng mga anak ko. Kaya nagpapasalamat kami sa Balikbayanihan at sa BPI. Ang tanging hinahangag ko po sa aking sarili ay mapaunlad ko ang munting negosyo at magkaroon pa ng maraming kaalaman."

Corporal shared another insight: "Natutunan ko po sa Balikbayanihan na kailangan po tayong magtulungan para makabangon ulit sa hamon ng buhay."