Filipino workers struggle amid economic downturn - 10 Oct 08

In the Philippines, many families survive on money sent back by relatives with jobs abroad.

Known as OFW's or overseas Filipino workers, potentially millions of them face losing their jobs, thanks to the global downturn.

Marga Ortigas reports form Manila.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• AlJazeera
• Al
• Jazeera
• Philippines
• Workers
• Financial
• Crisis
• Money
• Remittances

[makezmuzic]

What an amazing woman her Sister is. Working all those years to support her family. THAT is dedication to ones family. While we here in the US we buy our selves $1500 purses & alligator boots and put our Elders in nursing homes.

[leonarddeleon1us]

everyONE in the local or national government is stealing. and the lawmakers are stupid or "bobo"

[gmoney415]

Well if you're implying that the U.S. will go into a Depression economically in the near future....Then I think it will be complete chaos (rioting, stealing, violence). Of course American's have a sense of entitlement and wouldn't handle that situation well over night.

I think American's are generally good people, I just think they would help each other if they were used to being poor. But if they went poor over night, then that's a different story. It will be guns an ammo mentality in US!

[motonegros]

Well, I guess we'll soon see if thats true.

[gmoney415]

I'm an American also (Filipino by race).....I don't think it is necessarily that American's don't care about their own. I mean in America everyone has lots of opportunities in life to make it on their own and don't really need to rely on other people to survive.

The Phil. on the other hand, people struggle to survive and they need the help. That's why they send money back to relatives. I think American's would do the same if they were in the same position.

[princeprincess2005]

Aroyo has plans to prevent economic hardship during the worldwide downturn?What are the plans?Will she steal less from the public coffers?

[sicnarfoyamat1977]

gago ka

[jabdelbaky]

I think past administrations and citizens alike relied on these overseas workers so much that they didn't somehow see the urgency and motivation to develop the economy without the help of these OFW's. Now that things are getting bleak and many of these workers are forced to come home because of lay-offs, the present government, which hasn't done something really tangible for the people anyway, faces a dilemma. Sad.

[jabdelbaky]

Thanks for your comment! Amen!

[4dpipol]

when I visited the Pinoy islands, I could not believe the general acceptance of millions of Pinoys working and living abroad at the expense of families being apart. Ads in local papers promoting cheap phone call family package for calling abroad, especially the US where thousands of Filipno nurses work just struck me as cynical. And the government calls them "heros".

[khairol5276]

it is the same everywhere... leaders livin in excess while the people struggles... god blesss the lives of the people on this vid