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OFW Blues

On Christmas day 2006 the headlines read, "Filipina raped by 17 Kuwaitis". Nothing could be more grim. This woman was trying to escape her employer when she encountered these men who took her to a desert camp where she was raped. Then they transferred her to another camp where she was again molested. (Talk about jumping from the frying pan into the fire!) According to the newspaper report, there has been 19 cases of rape against Filipinas in the Gulf Emirates.

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) have been called the new heroes of the Philippines. I understand there are 8 million OFWs around the world.
Many of these workers are university graduates who seek employment in foreign shores where they can get better pay. All for the sake of supporting their families in the Philippines.

They leave with noble intentions and work hard. They suffer the pain of separation from loved ones, privations and discrimination. All for love of family.

Not everyone is so lucky to come home unscathed. Some return with nightmares that will last a lifetime. A few return in caskets. Others find a broken family when they eventually come home for good.

What happened to "Joy to the world"?

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