How Returning OFWs Can Adjust during the COVID-19 Pandemic

在过去的一年半中，全球Covid-19的大流行兴起的旅行禁令，取消了航班并关闭了世界各地的机场。对于海外菲律宾工人，这意味着要长时间留在国外，并推迟任何返回家园的计划，尤其是在假期。

For the ones abroad, it was disheartening to be apart from their families for whom they were working hard in the first place and to have to endure this separation for even longer than they were prepared for. For their families at home, there could only be a growing anxiety over how vulnerable their loved one could be to the virus and how helpless the family would be if it happened. Worst of all, these families could not be complete to brace through such troubling times together.

在2021年，成千上万的菲律宾人终于能够回家，使他们与家人团聚，但也带来了新的担忧。大多数OFW因在国外失去工作而永久返回，使他们突然回到国内和职业。在全国尚未完全解决的大流行中，OFW必须以某种方式重新融入其祖国的生活。

为了了解如何在菲律宾适应生活，最好先研究OFW返回家园的情况。

The OFW Household

Historically, Filipinos have had a family-oriented culture which lies at the core of the people’s resiliency when facing greater problems. However, this means that anything that obstructs the bond of the family also weakens the strength of Filipinos, and this is why a parent working abroad can lead to many family problems that are unique to an OFW.

在没有一位父母的情况下，对孩子的发展的影响，例如性别差异和情感忽视，对孩子的发展有很多了解，但通常对他们来说，这是他们的存在和他们的提供之间的选择。即使他们也考虑并担心孩子的福利，他们也知道这种牺牲是为家人带来更好生活的唯一途径。

Before anything, affairs of the home should be settled first. It should be good news then that the OFW is finally staying home, but the comfort of the family as a whole may not just happen overnight. To no fault of the OFW, their families may have grown too used to the routines and virtual communications, knowing their loved one mostly through a digital screen. As a result, the children have especially gone through great phases in their lives without the presence of one parent. However, this puts them in a situation where they can become a whole family again.

A great first step would be to join the family for meals as often as possible. Eating together serves as an important moment for bonding in Filipino culture. It allows everyone around the table to share in the joy of a basic human need and to have that experience surrounded by loved ones too. Furthermore, such a simple gathering is perfect for many conversations and opportunities to catch up on each other’s lives. The parent who’s worked abroad can share his or her experiences staying somewhere so different from the Philippines, while the children can open up about school, friends, and even hobbies.

While meals may be the most accessible given the circumstances, there are still some viable options for OFW families to take a change of pace and scenery. Travelling isn’t the only way to get out of the house for a while and relax with the family. For example, eating out at a restaurant (while following sanitary protocols) can be a nice treat for everyone, especially with the chance to try out new food. Should they want more, there are actually a few good options for hotel vacations—sometimes calledstaycations—to relax and enjoy creature comforts with loved ones.

Back to Work, Back Home

鉴于菲律宾的回报是由于失业而导致的，因此下一个问题是寻找新的稳定收入来源来为家庭提供。当父母双方都首先工作时，一些家庭已经对此进行了覆盖，但是在国外工作的父母通常是收到比菲律宾常见的薪水更慷慨的薪水的。在大流行的时候不确定，对于不得不回家失业的OFWS来说，这可能还不够。

在COVID-19的情况下，就业市场增长更快，通常会被证明很难申请工作。对于许多人来说，一个可能的选择是开展业务，这是有意义的，鉴于它是该国最发达的行业。在这种情况下，最困难的步骤是弄清楚从哪里以及如何开始。即使有一个产品的想法，他们也需要首先需要启动资本才能开始任何业务。

目前，目前在这方面协助OFW的政府计划有点慢，但是尽管如此，他们仍有一些方法可以进行。一个体面的开端将是通过海外工人福利管理局的Balik Pilipinas, Balik Kabuhayanprogram, which offers grants of up to PHP 20,000 to OFWs returning to the country and starting their own business. Aside from this, it may be a good idea to enlist in mentorship programs that have industry leaders teaching and guiding potential entrepreneurs on how to plan and to sustain a new business.

Where to Start: the OFW Hotel

To juggle both domestic and professional affairs all at once upon coming home can be incredibly demanding for anyone. Fortunately, there are places and institutions nearby that are made with the OFW in mind. A particularly great option here is definitely theKabayan Hotel for OFWwith options both for them and even for their families. Established in 2002, Kabayan Hotel serves as the best place for all an OFW’s needs immediately upon their return to the country as well as moving forward and back into life in the Philippines.

从一开始，酒店为任何运输需求提供了机场接送和免费班车。他们还为个人OFW或全家人提供可承受的价格的豪华选择。该酒店为Homesick OFW提供了真正的家庭体验，从员工的热情好客到美味，以恰当为主题的Pinoy StarCafé及其标志性的菲律宾菜肴。

除了为客人提供豪华的设施外，Kabayan Hotel甚至拥有OFW中心，并提供各种服务，以迎合各种服务，以将OFW的重新整合到这里，包括解决其就业问题的计划。

如果您是菲律宾人，刚从国外工作回来，请确保查看Kabayan Hotel作为您所有OFW需求的首选。