Parents Working Abroad: an Ethical Analysis

Parents Working Abroad: an Ethical Analysis

* INTRODUCTION

Parents working abroad and children left at home to manage and work through their own growing up dilemmas- this is undoubtedly becoming a common scene at present, as what we can observe in Filipino households. This home set-up which was meant to bring about certain and ensured future for families is the very same set-up that may pose threat to the Philippine society. We were taught when we were younger, of a now cliché quotation that says that the family is the primary component and unit of a society. This simply implies that the family is a very important foundation of our strength as a nation and a breakdown of this component will have a ripple effect on our country.

Why is it a must to understand and dwell on the idea that parents are leaving the country to work abroad? This is because the increase on the number of Filipinos leaving the Philippines in search for jobs abroad is so alarming that it needs careful consideration and immediate action. According to government statistics, Filipinos are moving out of their homeland at a distressing average rate of 2,400 individual each day (Department of Labor and Employment, 2004).

Going back to the scene that was presented, it can be said that parents with the good intention of being able to sustain their family and give their children a good future, upon hesitantly deciding to leave their loved ones behind unconsciously committed the mistake of having the kids handle critical stages and points in their lives alone. But financial support is not the primary support that the children need, what they need primarily is emotional and psychological sustenance because these aspects of their lives are not stable. Yes, they were able to bring pride to the nation in their hard work and service, represent the nation in different working fields and benefit our economy through their remittances but what they are missing out is their duty of supporting their...