Christmas for the OFWs

           In a few days, we will be celebrating Christmas Day.  Here in Manila, the holiday fever is on.  Traffic on the roads is heavier than usual.  Malls are brimming with people.  Reunions and gift giving abound, and there are parties to attend.  Food also seems more abundant, and people more generous than usual.

The experience of Christmas for our countrymen who are abroad is certainly different.  For many of our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), it can be a particularly difficult time.  For many, this holiday season might be the time when they miss the Philippines the most, especially for those who are not with their families.  Our countrymen living in different parts of the world can experience Christmas in a totally different way from how this holiday is celebrated in the Philippines.  There are, of course, many places—even in nearby countries in Southeast Asia—where Christmas is not even a holiday.  That’s not easy to imagine for those of us who have never been overseas, but it is a very real experience for our countrymen who make sacrifices to work and live in these non-Christian countries.

OFWs try the best that they can to come home to visit family over the holidays.  This is a good practice that allows those working overseas to re-connect with family and friends at the time when people usually have reunions and gatherings.

For every OFW who comes home for the Christmas holidays, however, there are hundreds more who do not.  This is vulnerable time for many of our countrymen who remain abroad.  This is the time when they can easily feel lonely and sad.  Here are a few tips that our kababayans can do when they are overseas during the holidays: 

·         Gather friends and celebrate; 

·         Find someone with whom you can share your feelings honestly;

·         Call your loved ones in the Philippines;  

·         Do something you enjoy doing where you are (e.g., engaging in a hobby, going to a nice place; watch an old movie, view photographs of happier times, etc.);

·         Treat yourself to a nice meal;

·         Volunteer to help the less fortunate; and

·         Set goals for the coming year, and compose necessary steps in order to achieve this.  

This list is by no means complete.  I’m sure there are many creative OFWs out there who can very likely add a few more.  Do feel free to leave your ideas in the comment box below, if you have other ideas that you would like to share to others. 

          What is most important to note, particularly in the holiday season, is not to feel so lonely and sad that it disrupts in your daily routines and in accomplishing your day-to-day tasks.  When you or someone you know start to isolate and do not mingle too much with others, and emptiness or sadness creeps in more often, maybe it is time to do something about these feelings.  Of course, reaching out to others and becoming more active will certainly help.  Knowing when to seek professional help is also valuable.