College of Mary Immaculate: J. P. Rizal, Pandi, Bulacan

College of Mary Immaculate
J. P. Rizal, Pandi, Bulacan
Title:
Nasaan Ka Noong Kailangan Kita?: A Phenomenological Study about the Struggles of
Students with Overseas Filipino Worker parent
Research Paper Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for
Practical Research 1
Name
Bryan Parambita
Ivan Justine Reyes
Hanna Joie Del Rosario
Ross Jericho Espadilla
Gel Mar Clores Nanual
Strand/section
STEM-11 Fort Santiago

January 2020
J. P. Rizal, Pandi, Bulacan 1
Table of Contents
Page
Chapter I: Problem and its Background
Introduction 3
Statement of the Problem 5
Significance of the study 6
Definition of Terms 6
Scope and Delimitation 7
Chapter II: Review of Related Literature
Quality life of families with OFW 8
Children and Left-behind Parent 9
Children's well-being and development 10
Perception in life of Children of OFWs 11
Chapter III: Methodology
Methods and Techniques 13
Participants of the Study 13
Instruments of the Study 13
Data Gathering Procedure 14
Data Processing and Statistical Treatment 14
Chapter IV: Presentation, Analysis, and Interpretation of Data
Thematic Analysis of the Interview Responses 16
Table 1: formation of self-concept 16
Table 2: perception of self-esteem 18
Table 3: emotional functioning 19
Table 4: mental functioning 21
Table 5: academic performance 22
Table 6: perception of love and support 24
Table 7:coping strategies to struggles 25
Chapter V: Summary of Findings, Conclusions, and
Recommendation
Summary of Findings 26
Problem 1: What are the struggles experienced by the students having an 26
OFW parent?
Problem 2: How do the students with OFW parent cope with the 28
struggles they are experiencing?

Conclusions 29
Recommendations 29
References 31
CHAPTER I
PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Introduction
The primary purpose of parenting is to raise fully functional adults who can
take care of themselves and make a positive contribution to society (Hammond, 2017).
Apparently, Overseas Filipin Worker(OFW) parents may find it difficult to fulfill this
duty with their children away from them. Based from the study conducted by Philippine
Statistics Authority(PSA), the number of OFWs was estimated 900 thousand persons
from 1996, up to 2.3 million 2018. With the data given, the rate of OFWs increased
drastically over the years since the term OFW started on 1990’s, hence the number of
families that are incomplete increased too.
When one of the parents is missing, there are functions that may not be fully
meet by his/her partner alone to their children. Rearrangement of traditional family
gender roles is an issue to the left behind families because the left-behind parent needs to
take a double role as a mother and father to their children, which is difficult.
(Lisbe,2014,p.20). This phenomenon affects children most; each parent presence is
crucial to them for they are in the stage of development and need a balance guidance. The
level of impact depends whether the parent abroad is the mother or father. When the case
is the mother, children tend to have more emotional and psychological dysfunctions
because women’s role have more implications for the family than men(Lisbe,2014,p.24).
Due to the longing of parental role that continuously being unsatisfied, children
may develop weak relationship towards their OFW parent as they grow. Adolescents with
relationship to their parent that aren’t that tact and knew little about them, are the ones
who are numb to their parent’s absence and got used to it(Atenas et al.,2016,p.41). In
particular, as the children become student and ages, they encounter more difficulties on
life and seek guidance to available parent which they are closer. The absence of the OFW
parent on special occasions of the children such as graduation and birthday, may
contribute for children to get used to on their parent’s absence.
Both the OFW parent and the child may attempt to build bond between them
which most likely be difficult and don’t happen. (Atenaas et al.,2016,p.42). Lack of
communication is one of the major reasons for a weak relationship. Moreover, because
the parent can’t track down the growth and development of his/her children, the parent
understanding on his/her children can be a problem.
The researchers of this study aim to know how students grow without their
OFW parent’s presence and the struggles they experience. Researchers believed that the
outcomes of the study will bring awareness on families whose parents are OFW. The
researchers also aim to understand the struggles of children with OFW parent and
recommend effective strategy on how to deal with it. The researchers also believe that
this study can be use as a source of information to fill gaps and blank spot for future
studies.
Statement of the Problem
The researcher has primary objective to know the struggles of students having an
absentee parents as an OFW. At the same level, the researchers come up with the
following specific questions:
Research Questions
1. What are the struggles experienced by the students having an OFW parent in terms of:
1.1 formation of self-concept
1.2 perception of self esteem
1.3 emotional functioning
1.4 mental functioning
1.5 academic performance
1.6 perception of love and support
2. How do the students with OFW parent cope with the struggles they are experiencing?
Significance of the Study
The findings of this study will give provide benefit for the following:
Students. It will benefit them by understanding and having an insight about the
difficulties they can experience with their OFW parents. They can build stronger bond
between their parents and be aware of factors to be more motivated.
Parents. It will give them the knowledge to know what, why and how their children cope
with the hardships of having an OFW parent. In addition, they can reform the type of
parenting they do to their children to make their relationships with them more intact.
Teachers. It will help them to gain information about what struggles can students
experience with their parents working abroad. It will help them to know the difference
among their students who have parents by their side and who have an OFW parent, such
as their behaviour and academic performance. Consequently they can make strategies to
motivate their students more at school.

Definition of Terms
A. Conceptual Definition
The following terminologies of the study are explained based on their lexical and
literature definition.
Student- a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution(Princeton's Wordnet,n.d.)
OFW parent- Filipinos who are employed in foreign countries. They travel abroad to seek
better opportunities to provide for the needs of their families in the Philippines.
(Maculada,n.d.)
Struggles- a long effort to do, achieve, or deal with something that is difficult or that
causes problems(Meriam Webster’s dictionary)
B. Operational Definition
The following variables and terminologies will be used in the study based on the
researcher’s contextualized definition
Student- a person who studies at a formal institution of education.
OFW parent- a Filipino father or mother with child/children, and is working abroad away
from his/her family in the Philippines.
Struggles- an effort done by children facing problems due to having an OFW parent.
Scope and Delimitation

The scope of the study will intend to know of senior high school(SHS) students with
an OFW parent. However, the topic will be delimited as it only intend to know the
struggles they face and their coping mechanisms on behalf of their parent’s absence,
excluding other forms of struggle. On the other hand, the study will involve 10 senior
high students from College of Mary Immaculate. The study will be conducted on the 2nd
semester of the school year 2019-2020.
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Quality life of families with OFW
According to Asis (2013), there is a risk and cost of separation of OFW members
to their families. This has been linked to sow instability, jeopardizing marriages and
parents-children relationship, between OFW families. Subsequently, the protection of
left-behind families was left to be the main responsibility of countries of origin. In order
to compensate for the temporary labor migration of OFWs to their left-behind families,
country of origin had developed programs to help both the migrant and their families.
Asis added that the priority of government actions are the OFWs, and left-behind
families as secondary. In general, the programs created for OFWs are design for
enhancing rights and social protection while programs for left-behind families focus on
them being welfare-oriented and development to some extent.
Apparently, the support for the OFW families provided by the government tackles
only their economical benefits and not their relationship. In the case of their relationship,
families are the one who find ways on maintaining it. Finding ways to support their
family structure and bonding as their usual way of interaction can be a challenge. Family
leisure with relation to the OFW parent is one to be considered to focus on to sustain
family relationship intact.
A study conducted by Agonas, Bade, Cabuling and Mercene(2015) suggests how
left-behind families negotiate their leisure. The findings reveal that negotiation style
depends on the type of leisure, budget allotment, and who or what parties are involved.
Their leisure oftenly set on malls as a way to bond without the presence of their OFW
parent. Although some leisure activities diminished because of the involvement of
complete family, OFW parents return the favor by accommodating their children’s leisure
request. Moreover, families still follow the traditional way of conducting leisure activities
but are now open method of decision making.
Children and Left-behind Parent
One of the struggles that emerged as one of the parents migrate is family
disfunctions. It is up to the remaining members of the family: left-behind parent and
children how to handle the situation. Researcher Ullah(2018) stated on the case of the
wives being left-behind parent, wives gain somehow the decision-making power.
However, disagreements and arguments come as the husbands often deny their decisions.
In addition, gender discrimination contributes for them to have workload as they receive
the entire responsibility of taking care not only their children, but also elderlies and
remained-behind siblings.
On the other hand, Hoang and Yeoh(2011) proposed a case wherein the left-
behind parent is the husband. Study shows that the experience of men taking shifts in
household labor and raising children causes their masculinity and gender identities to be
reworked. The men feel the way of being confronted with the responsibility on taking
care of their children, which is traditionally a woman’s role.
Consequently, parents being struggled impact heavily their children. They are the
ones who struggle and feel confuse the most because of not getting adequate attention
and care. Children who lack attention tend to have lower self-esteem, and feel more
hostile and antisocial(Schwartz,n.d.). Children will bring this feeling as they grow and
develop, if not receive the proper parenting.
Children’s well-being and development
As the children grow without their OFW parent’s presence, they are exposed to
various social issues that affect their well being because of family dysfunctions. The way
they live and how they are expose to the new world influences the way they behave and
adapt from it. With this, they can go the wrong way and struggle on finding the
appropriate to do if they had not guided properly.
There are different cases and possibilities of how children will react and cope
with the struggles they experience. It depends on the factors their life goes which can be
positive or negative. OFW children in particular, can develop wrong sense of self-concept
as they don’t get enough attention and the right type of parenting they should have.
Children benefit from parental migration of their OFW parent through financial
status stability. However, OFW families might give more appreciation and importance to
this economic benefits to fulfill the price of separation, which might lead to materialism
among children left-behind. This will into poor well-being and gratitude of children due
to the state of being difficult to be grateful on their situation(Bernardo, Tan-mansukhani
and Daganzo, 2018)
On contrary to the assertion that single parenting increases negative psychosocial
outcomes in childhood of their children, when the case is having the mother as a left-
behind parent, the mother’s maternal process able to control their children’s hostility.
Even though they may experience initial painful emotions, it may not stay on them to
have serious outcomes immediately(Babasa,2014).
Atienza, Kapunan, Noe and Panlilio(2013) stated that the children starts to
understand things and mature as they accept their family set-up. Their study also reveal
the coping processes of OFW children: one is to build resilience and appear not to be
affected, and the other one is to find a solution despite their situations. In time, children’s
experience and level of maturity will affect their future lives families.
Perception in life of Children of OFWs
There are many factors and reasons that shape each of our dreams sang goals.
Considering the children of OFWs, their experience of having an OFW parent may be
related to the path they want to take on their lives. In the study presented by Kasilag
(2015), he collected data from a sample of 109 college students in an attempt to see the
relationship of parent’s overseas work to the perceive quality life of their children. Result
tell that contrary to many assumptions, parent’s work abroad is not associated with plans
and quality life their children want. In fact collage course/degrees where children are
enrolled, and social acceptance aspect, shows a connection with their career choice which
is in domestic employment.
Similarly about the career decisions of OFW children, another study conducted by
Espero(n.d.) suggests that career decisions on OFW children mostly exhibited
independence. He added that factors such as migration plans, socio-economic status,
parental attachment and parental expectation might have accounted more for choosing
their career path. Based form the studies presented, children tend to choose their career
path with lower intention of going abroad despite the economical benefits they will have.
The experience they felt having an OFW parent might contribute on them no to do the
same if possible. Another is that their perceive life is the opposite of the life they had,
which is to have domestic job with their family and friends. They may be trying to be a
better parent for their future family. However level of maturity still affects their decisions
making, hence their decisions can change overtime as they age.

CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY
Method and Techniques
Researchers will utilize qualitative study particularly phenomenological research
design to be exact. Purpose of phenomenological research is used to describe people's
experiences( Meyer, 2001). Hence, the researchers believe that it is suitable to be use in
this study since researchers aim to find and understand struggles experience by students
with OFW parent.
`Population and Sample of the Study
The study will involve 10 senior high students with OFW parents. The
participants will be selected through purposive sampling. Choosing the participants will
be based from the following criteria: a.) senior high students with OFW parent working
abroad for not less than 3 years. b.) senior high students aged 15 to 18 years old.
Instrument of the Study
The researchers will design a semi-structured interview questionnaire with an
objective to determine the experience of students who have OFW parent. The interview
questionnaire consists of the following domains:
1.) Struggles experience by the students
2.) Coping processes do by the students
Data Gathering Procedure
The researchers will initially seek a permission letter from the management of
College of Mary Immaculate regarding the objective of the study and its inclusive
activities. The researchers will first design structured interview questionnaire. After that,
the researchers will be selecting students through purposive sampling. The students will
be given an informed consent that they have to sign.
The letter conveys the following information:
1.) Scope of the study
2.) Issue with the confidentiality and
3.) Rights to refuse from the study

Data Processing and Statistical treatment
The researchers will use thematic analysis to analyze and interpret transcribed data
collected from the interview.
CHAPTER IV
Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of Data
The results based on the research questions are presented below. Specifically, this
chapter discusses the thematic analysis of data obtained from the responses of the
participants during interview.
Profile of the Participants
Participant Age Sex Parent Frequency of
Working parents
Abroad returning
home
P1 17 Female Father Once a year
P2 17 Male Mother Not yet still
P3 16 Female Mother Once every 2

years
P4 17 Male Mother Once every 2
years
P5 17 Female Mother Not yet since
11 years
P6 17 Female Mother Once a year
P7 17 Female Both Once a year
P8 17 Female Both Once a
year(mother
only)
P9 17 Male Father Once a year
P10 16 Female Mother Once every 2
years
Thematic analysis of the interview responses
Table 1.
Formation of Self-concept
THEME SUBTHEME RESPONSE

1. Lack of guidance “walang dumidisiplina sa ‘kin
kapag may nagagawang
mali.”
“walang gumagabay sa akin.”
“sa tuwing may problema
walang karamay.”
“nahihirapan kasi kailangan
sila para paghubugin ang
sarili.”
“nakakaapekto kasi sa bawat
problemang kinahaharap ko
araw-araw wala yung
magulang para gumabay sa
akin.”
“kapag wala yung parents
wala kong masyadong guide
so mahihirapan kang mag-
decide at di mo alam kung
tama yung ginagawa mo.”
2. Understanding the “hindi naman makakaapekto
parent’s situation kasi noong una alam na
Poor Parental Role naming para samin yon.”
Satisfaction “hindi makakaapekto dahil
may lola naman ako at papa.”
3. Lessens dependency to “mas nagiging independent.”
parents
4. Lack of intimacy “hindi kami masyadong close
ng papa ko tapos parang hindi
ko alam paano iadjust sarili ko
pag nandiiyan siya.”
Poor Parental role satisfaction
Children with OFW parents in senior high school and heading towards their career
path, need guidance the most. As a parent, OFWs should make their children be prepared
mentally and physically. Part of the guidance a parent should do is providing discipline. It
is important as it makes the child be more aware whether they are already doing
something wrong. However, OFW parents cannot meet this as they are busy working and
they cannot monitor their children’s action.
“walang gumagabay sa akin”
“walang dumidisiplina sa akin kapag may nagagawang mali”
“nahihirapan kasi kailangan sila para paghubugin sarili natin”

Because OFW parent-children communication is limited, OFW parents don’t
know the full situation and what changes take place while they are away. This prevent
their relationship from being intact, making them develop unfamiliarity to each other.
“hindi kami masyadong close ng papa ko tapos parang hindi ko alam paano iaadjust
sarili ko pagnandiyan siya”
Table 2.
Perception of self-esteem
1. Motivation from parents “nandyan si tatay, lola,tito at

tita namin na nagbibigay
advice.”
“nagtatanong parin ako sa
Drive and kanila.”
Determination 2. Returning the favor “nag-aaral ng mabuti.”
through studying “iniisip ko na ginagawa nila
yung pag-aabroad para
makapag-aral kami.”
“base dun sa aral na sinasabi
niya tsaka nag dedecide.”
3. Believing on self-instinct “sigurado naman sa pag
dedecide.”
“sinasabi ko lang sa sarili ko
na kaya ko.”
Drive and Determination
Due to the job of OFW parents, their communication with their children was
limited. Although OFW parents can still have communication with their children through
electronic devices, they cannot always monitor and provide support for what their
children are doing. According to McCue(2019) involvement of parents to their children’s
education help them perform better academically and adapt more comfortably to the
social dynamics of school. With the dissatisfied attention experienced by the children,
their self esteem was affected because of feelings of being safe, loved, and accepted are
not enough.
As children ages, they tend to understand more the situation and be relieved with
the surroundings and support they get. One of the factors is motivation from loved ones
such as left-behind parent, siblings, relatives, or friends.
“nandiyan si tatay, lola, tito at tita naming na nagbibigay advice”
As they find acceptance, their self-esteem grow because they knew that the reason
why their parents go abroad is for the sake of their family and future.
“iniisip ko na ginagawa nila yung pag-aabroad para makapag-aral kami”
With this, children learn to build confidence on their own worth and abilities on
dealing on dealing problems. This helps their self-management to improved with an idea
of returning the favor.
Table 3.
Emotional Functioning
1. Sadness “Sobrang lungkot kasi

magbibirthday ako nung
umalis sya”
“Masakit kasi mawawala na
siya sa feeling mo”
“Malungkot kasi nakasanayan
Longing for Parental na sa tabi ko
Affection 2. Disappointment and envy “noong una malungkot tapos
tumagal na nasanay na rin
ako”
“malungkot dahil wala na ang
aking magulang”
“nanghihinayang kasi para sa
akin importante yun”

“nalulungkot pero may dahilan
eh
“nakakaramdam nang inggit sa
iba”
“mabigat para sa akin”
3. Personal entertainment “sumasaya ako sa bagay na
paraan ko like ML o youtube”
4. Family and friends “mga kaibigan at family ko”
support
Seeking support 5. Conversation with loved “kinakausap ko pa rin sila,
ones hindi hadlang yung pagiging
malayo nila”
“dinadaan nalang naming sa
pag-uusap at doon kami
nagtatawanan”
Longing for parental affection
Having OFW parents leave their children at a young age affects their children’s
behavior. Apparently not all children understand enough why their parents leave at that
time, making them desire their parents’ affection and parental role. Some of our
respondents shared the same feeling:
“ako nagulat ako kasi pag-uwi ko wala na ang nanay ko. Syempre nalungkot ako”
As time passes by, children accept and get used to with their parents away. On
the other hand, they still want their parents to come home even on special days. As
children compare and even feel envy to other children with their their parents, they
develop a feeling called “pagtatampo” (Atenas et. al, 2016).
“nanghihinayang kasi para sa akin importante yun”
“nakakaramdam nang inggit sa iba”
In addition to children’s development and awareness to the situation, they get
numb to their parents’ absence, and weakens closeness to their OFW parents.
“noong una malungkot tapos tumagal nasanay din ako”

Seeking supports
OFW parents and children’s relationship are most likely not intact. Because of
their distance towards each other, parents cannot always hear the problems of their
children as they are busy. Children tend to hide it from their OFW parents to prevent
them form worrying and nbeing bothered from work (Atenas et. al, 2016).
Table 4.
Mental functioning
1. Financial awareness “para rin naman sa ‘ming maagkakapatid

yon”
“kasi single parent ang mama ko kaya
sinong magattaguyod”
“dahil sa financial problem”
“para matustusan din ako ng papa ko kasi
nag-aaral”
“para may pantustos sa panggastos sa
amin”
“dahil sa hirap ng buhay kailangang kumita
ng pera”
“para sa pangangailangan sa paaralan at
panggastos sa araw-araw”
2. Appreciation of parent’s suffering “inisip ko nalang na nasa tabi ko sila para
gabayan ako”
“yung ginagawa nila naiintindihan ko kasi
para rin naman sa amin ng kapatid ko”
“para sa akin at pamilya naming kasi kung
hindi niya gagawin iyon, baka wala rin
kaming makain”
“siya naghihirap doon kaya kailangan ko
ring maghirap para parehas umahon sa
buhay”
Financial Awareness
As an adolescence, children of OFW parents have been committed to
responsibilities while their parents are away such as allowances for a month, and directly
receiving of remittances. With the economic benefits their parents give to them, they are
aware of the things they are experiencing which they cannot afford from their past lives
before their parents went abroad.
“para matustusan din ako ng papa ko kasi nag-aaral ako”
“dahil sa hirap ng buhay kailangang kumita nang pera tsaka pamahal din nang
pamahal billihin ditto”
“para makaahon sa hirap”
Appreciation of parent’s suffering
In addition, their appreciation of their parent’s suffering also contributed for
them to value money. They are concern about the sufferings their parents do for them.
“siya pinakalife ko, siyang naghihirap doon kaya kailangan ko ring maghirap para
parehas umahon sa buhay”
Table 5.
Academic Performance
1. Absence of parents to special events “sa pagkuha ng card ko walang umaattend

sa akin”
“sa tuwing kuhanan ng card walang
kukuha, tsaka pag may okasyon sa school”
“sa hindi pagdalo ng papa ko sa
graduation”
“noong moving up, nasabi ni mama na
siya ang aattend tapos inasahan ko talaga
yun pero si papa dumating”
“okasyon o event na mahalaga wala ang
aking magulang”
“family day, family picture, at kapag
kailangan ng pirma ng parent”
“noong grade 10 ako lang pumunta sa

moving up, kaya nanghiram nalang ako
magulang”
2. Thinking capacity “sa paggawa ng mga projects at
assignment”
“kapag project na kailangan tulong ng
magulang, wala ang aking magulang”
“noong unang sem bagsak,pero ngayong
second sem bumabawi”
“pasado naman ang grade ko”
“mga line of 9 grade ko”
Absence of parents to special events
Children might learned to accept and live without their OFW paretns mostly on
their school life, but they still want their parents be involve on special events especially
those whose parents are both away. According to Garcia and Thornton(2014), family
engagement improves behavior and academic achievements. Having no assurance wheter
there will be children’s representative on school events is a common problem.
“sa pagkuha ng card ko walang kumuha ng card ko”
“noong moving up, nasabi ni mama na siya aattend dun tapos inasahan ko talaga
yun pero si papa dumating”
“family day, family picture at kapag kailangan ng pirma ng parent, kailangan ko
pang magpasa nang affidavit”
For children, it is a way and chance for them to show they have already
accomplished and be acknowledged. It is one of the factors needed for children to be
motivated.
Thinking Capacity
Not everyone are born equipped with the level of thinking a certain aspect
requires. In some people they find it difficult, causing them to seek for help. Some
respondents revealed that there are instances when they need motivation and guidance
from their parents to overcome these struggles and continue facing problems on schools.
Table 6.
Perception of love and support
1. Basic needs satisfaction “pinansyal”

“natutugunan ang pangangailangan namin
tsaka naibibigay ang gusto”
“nasusuportahan sa pagtratrabaho sa ibang
bansa”
“sapat na yung binibigay niyang pinansiyal
sa araw-araw”
“naibibigay niya yung material things”
“binibigay ang gusto”
2. Unsatisfied emotional needs “hindi po natutugunan problema sa
emosyon”
“nasusuportahan lang ako ng magulang ko
dahil sa chat o videocall”
OFW parents travel abroad to provide basic needs of their children. To
compensate for the loss time to bond as a family, OFW parents emphasize on providing
the material needs of their children. This leaves children emotionally deprives and might
give more appreciation and contentment, to the benefits the receive.
“natutugunan ying pangangailangan naming tsaka naibibigay po yung gusto”
On the other hand, children describe other families to show happiness as having
right parenting and balanced guidance.
“mas lamang yung suporta kasi nakikita nila”
“yung magulang ko kasi wala sa tabi ko eh”
Table 7.
Coping strategies struggles

1. Reaching for a helping hand “nasosolusyunan dahil sa mga kaibigan”

“kasama kong humaharap sa problema una
si God, second mga kamag-anak, at third
mga kaibigan kong nandiyan para sa akin”
“sa pamamagitan ni God, lola ko, parents
ko, at mga kaibigan ko”
2. Thinking positively “positive thingking lang na dapat may
ginagawa siya roon, may ginagawa rin ako
rito”
“kailangan kong maging positibo sa buhay,
kahit gaano kalaking problema ang
kinakaharap”
“yung mga problema na iyon, iniisip ko
nalang na lagi silang nasa tabi ko para
gabayan ako”
“think positive lang kasi alam ko namang
ginagawa nila ang lahat ng iyon para sa
amin”
“think positive lang kasi may dahilan lahat”
Reaching for a helping hand
In order to reduce the weight of the problem an individual experiencing, he/she
may release this through calling for a nearby help. Individuals tell their problems to
someone they trust and rely on to seek advice and past the problems. In accordance with
our study, participants stated that they reach for a helping hand they can access in which
their OFW parents cannot provide. This makes them overcome challenges in replacement
to their OFW parents’ role.
Thinking positively
With the struggles life constantly throw on people, one can view this differently
or make a way on building their mindset. Participants from the study said that they
always think positive to fight their struggles having an OFW parent. They view
challenges as a way of improving and developing themselves, and that they are not the
only one who experience problems but also other which may even be bigger.
Chapter 5
Summary of Findings, Conclusions and Recommendations
This chapter presents the summary of findings, conclusions, and
recommendations relating to the investigation of the struggles of students with OFW
parent.
Summary of Findings
Problem 1. What are the struggles experienced by the students having an
OFW parent in terms of:
1.1 formation of self-concept
As senior high students are at the stage of teenage, they are considered to be in
an emotional years. From the presented data, children with OFW parents primarily
struggles on poor parental role satisfaction. Most participants stated lack of guidance, as
their parents’ role cannot be fully meet, affects their formation of self-concept.
Respondents also said that they understand enough about their situation which
lessens their dependency to their parents. In fact, a respondent said that his parent’s
absence doesn’t affect him at all.
1.2 perception of self-esteem
From the results of the study, children are currently not experiencing struggles
on their perception of self-esteem. In fact, they are determinate on continuing their lives
through the presence of their loved ones such as family and friends. Consequently
children trust and believe themselves. As they found acceptance from their OFW parents
absence, they developed a sense of gratitude towards their parents’ suffering to return the
favor.
1.3 emotional functioning
Based from the results of the study, respondents still longing for their parent’s
affection. From the time when their parents first went abroad, children felt sadness as
they are not used to on their parents’ absence. Respondents also shared that they didn’t
even fully understand their parents’ departure leaving them to be disappointed and
sometimes feel envy towards other families with complete parents.
As time passes by, children get used to and become numb to their parents’
absence. Whenever there are problems, they seek support and handle their emotions from
family and friends support, and with the help of their personal entertainment such as
hobbies.
1.4 mental functioning
From having an experience with financial problem, and being part of
budgeting, researchers identified the respondents showing practical attitude towards

money. With an insight of how hard to earn money, respondents understand enough why
their parents had to go abroad.
1.5 academic performance
Respondents answers mostly suggest that the main disadvantage in their
academic performance is having no assurance if their OFW parents will come. Children
tend to feel less motivated as they want their OFW parents’ presence even just fo special
events for them to be acknowledged.
In relation with their thinking capacity, most respondents have an average
grade and that some still have a difficulty on doing school activities.
1.6 perception of love and support
Growing up without the presence of their OFW parents, children know their
difference from other families. Children felt the love that their OFW parents give as they
are aware of sacrifice OFWs experience in order to provide and support them with their
material needs.
As teenagers, they knew what do their parents lack. Although they are still able
to communicate with each other, children are left emotionally deprived as they don’t get
enough attention. For them it has a big difference communicating with their parents’
presence compared on having a communication with them at a limited time.
Problem 2. How do the students with OFW parent cope with the struggles
they are experiencing?
Through the help of others, children are able to overcome their struggles and
challenges. With people they trust and at their side, their needs are met in replacement to
their OFW parents’ role. They also become positive towards life with a mindset that they
can solve it through having faith and guidance from God, and that all of it happens for a
reason.
Conclusions
In the lights of the findings of the study, the following conclusions were drawn:
1. Senior high students with OFW parents at Pandi, Bulacan already found acceptance
and are able to understand their parents being an OFW. As they are exposed to the
environment and with the level of their maturity, they can understand how hard life is
contributing for them to be motivated through succeeding their career path like having
a positive thinking. They also have a good self-esteem through the support given by
their family and friends, and their faith with God. They still want to be acknowledged
from their parents making them develop sense of gratitude.
2. Due to the long span of time their OFW parents are not with them, children shared they
lack closeness to their parent and get numb to their absence. Consequently, they mostly
consult their problems with their friends. For them, they are not fully satisfied as they
cannot fully grasp the love their OFW parents bring which is economical benefits.
However, some still manage to be guided by their OFW parents through video chat.
Recommendations
Based on the findings and conclusion of the study, the following
recommendations are hereby offered:
1. In exchange of their parents’ absence, children mostly seek support from their
friends. Hence, monitoring of the type of friends they join by their guardians and
the teachers should help. Parents’/Guardians’ coordination with the teachers
might help since they are the one who spends more time with students, and is
believed as the second parents of them. This will prevent children not to loose
their way and be motivated facing struggles as they are heading to college.
In addition, OFW parents should have a video chat with their family for better
feeling of presence, opening and discussing their struggles together.
2. This study is being limited as it only engaged 10 participants for the study.
Therefore, their responses could not be generalized to all children with OFW
parents. Researchers recommend to have a larger number of participants in order
to determine a wider set of perceptions and struggles. To validate this study,
researchers also recommend to conduct another study similar with this after some
time to see what changes takes place.

References
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https://pro.psychcentral.com/exhausted-woman/2016/08/the-primary-purpose-of-
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(SOF). Retrieves from https://psa.gov.ph/content/psa-approves-conduct-2019-survey-
overseas-fiilipinos-sof-0
(1997.Oct.29). Press Release on the 1996 Overseas Filipino Workers. Retrieve from
https://psa.gov.ph/content/press-release-1996-overseas-filipino-workers
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K.Y.M.(2016).Consequences of having an OFW parent among adolescents.
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College of Mary Immaculate

J. P. Rizal, Pandi, Bulacan

Nasaan Ka Noong Kailangan Kita?: A Phenomenological Study about the Struggles of

Students with Overseas Filipino Worker parent

Research Paper Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for

Ivan Justine Reyes

Hanna Joie Del Rosario

Ross Jericho Espadilla

Gel Mar Clores Nanual

STEM-11 Fort Santiago

College of Mary Immaculate

struggles they are experiencing?

PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

families that are incomplete increased too.

meet by his/her partner alone to their children. Rearrangement of traditional family

(Lisbe,2014,p.20). This phenomenon affects children most; each parent presence is

contribute for children to get used to on their parent’s absence.

understanding on his/her children can be a problem.

Statement of the Problem

following specific questions:

1.1 formation of self-concept

1.2 perception of self esteem

1.3 emotional functioning

1.4 mental functioning

1.5 academic performance

1.6 perception of love and support

Significance of the Study

between their parents and be aware of factors to be more motivated.

motivate their students more at school.

Student- a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution(Princeton's Wordnet,n.d.)

causes problems(Meriam Webster’s dictionary)

researcher’s contextualized definition

Student- a person who studies at a formal institution of education.

from his/her family in the Philippines.

Scope and Delimitation

semester of the school year 2019-2020.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Quality life of families with OFW

parents-children relationship, between OFW families. Subsequently, the protection of

them being welfare-oriented and development to some extent.

family relationship intact.

A study conducted by Agonas, Bade, Cabuling and Mercene(2015) suggests how

parent. Although some leisure activities diminished because of the involvement of

but are now open method of decision making.

Children and Left-behind Parent

disfunctions. It is up to the remaining members of the family: left-behind parent and

care of their children, which is traditionally a woman’s role.

develop, if not receive the proper parenting.

Children’s well-being and development

appropriate to do if they had not guided properly.

to the state of being difficult to be grateful on their situation(Bernardo, Tan-mansukhani

and Daganzo, 2018)

On contrary to the assertion that single parenting increases negative psychosocial

have serious outcomes immediately(Babasa,2014).

Perception in life of Children of OFWs

Espero(n.d.) suggests that career decisions on OFW children mostly exhibited

independence. He added that factors such as migration plans, socio-economic status,

making, hence their decisions can change overtime as they age.

METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY