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@al rounse

Well yes and no. Like many western countries state pension contributions, the young are paying for their parents retirement and when their turn comes they will benefit although the demographics are going to put increasing pressure on this compact in years to come.

It's catch 22 for most Filipinos particularly the eldest child who often has to shoulder disproportionate responsibility relative to other siblings in the care of their parents. This is not unique to the Philippines but common amongst other emerging market economies. Its a 'funk' that is difficult to escape from as rather than going into tertiary education which ultimately could break the poverty cycle many progeny never realise their true earning potential. Throw in the unique set of circumstances that the Filipino suffers from and frankly its hard to see a way out in the future. AI is already impacting on their BPO industry which has been a monetary saviour for many Filipino families in the past.

I was in a relationship with a Filipina not long ago where she was the eldest child of three and she was the bread winner. When we first started chatting online she was working long hours in Saudi with no day off. We did meet when her contract finished and we had a wonderful time together, went to Boracay for a few days, spent time in Makati and at her parents house and even spent a few days at a cheap resort in Bulacan with her daughter and parents. I saw how life was for her and eventually she was forced to take another overseas contract.

She spent time in a hospital in Saudi with dehydration and suffered a breakdown and there was no payment for days off work for sickness. I never knew exactly who she was supporting financially and for what but I suspect she was providing money for extended family members also. I suggested that it would be fairer for the burden to be shared between her and her two brothers and she should not have to pay for everything  but she just insisted that it was her responsibility. All I saw one of her brothers doing when I was there at the family home was smoking and drinking but she said he had a family. He had a girlfriend and one baby boy and ever he or his girlfriend could have worked while the other looked after the baby.

I just think that they are so set in their ways and except the responsibility and will not even consider other options like all chipping in to help the parents. I always told her that if she took contracts overseas without sick pay and benefits that she should consider herself as number one since if she was ill and unable to work for a lengthy period of time then she would not be able to send the money home but she insisted on sending the same amount home even if it meant she was short of money herself for food and other basic necessities.  Another problem with the OFW's is the agencies who take a fairly large cut and even sometimes the employee has to stump up the money for flights and other expensenses to get there.

I find it very sad that one Filipina has to sacrifice years of her life to support the family and will probably have to work until she is weak and broken and her own child is old enough to pick up the responsibility of being the bread winner. I think every foreigner needs to know from early in a relationship with an OFW, just how much money she sends home and who she is supporting financially and of course there are always emergencies to be covered.