https://doi.org/10.31871/IJNTR.6.10.

13 International Journal of New Technology and Research (IJNTR)

ISSN: 2454-4116, Volume-6, Issue-10, October 2020 Pages 06-17

Behind the Parents Light: A Phenomenology of the

Adjustments of Overseas Filipino Workers Children
Efren L. Burgos MAT, Yasser G. Ulod, James Ryan A. Agtoto, Miles Nicolas A. Corvera,
Daniel John S. Sonza, Chrangel Eve M. Castillo, Frances Erica P. Galvez

 (Ducanes, 2015). According to Philippine Statistics

Abstract— Background: A chronic problem in the Authority, gathered from the 2018 survey on Overseas
Philippines is that many children are growing up without their Filipinos, there are currently a total number of estimated
parents because of lack of regular employment. Working Overseas Filipino Workers at 2.3 million. Overseas
abroad is a necessity and the only option they can take in order
to make their lives better and for their children. It creates an
employment continues to rise, meaning that labor migration
impact in their daily lives which was obtained from different in the Philippines will continually occur in the future.
experiences. Method: This qualitative paper made use of a Remittances are beneficial to support the financial resources
phenomenological research design to understand the lived needed by the families, and it is a question whether
experiences of the participants, specifically Overseas Filipino remittance income can be enough as a compensation for the
Workers’ Children, relative to the central question: “What are families (Yoon, 2014). With so many households in the
the adjustments of Philippine School Doha students who grew
up without their parents?” Data were gathered through a country either having an overseas worker or receiving
twenty-five semi-structured interview; and were analyzed using remittances, migration is likely to have had an impact on
an inductive approach in theme development. Findings: overall household welfare (Ducanes, 2015). Migration often
Findings have shown the difficulty in adjustments and living of strains the parent-child relationship, leaving children with
children in terms of adjustments, coping mechanism, emotional strong feelings of abandonment and resentment which may
effects, and attitude gaps for the past years; which implies the result in problematic behaviors and worse mental health
changes in their development along with their other life
experiences. Conclusion: The implication of parental migration outcomes (Dreby 2010; Silver 2011; as cited by
affects their families left behind. Their relationship can be Mayol-Garcia, 2016).
distressed if the parents do not communicate to their children. The main reason why parents decide to go abroad is
Their relationship with their children can face challenges. It represented by the financial aspect and the desire to make a
leaves the children struggling with coping during the time of better life for their children (Sănduleasa & Matei, 2015; as
parental absence. Recommendation: The researchers
cited by Petrov and Dafinoiu, 2017). Migration is often a
recommend that there must be communication between the
parents and their children left behind to maintain a positive stressful experience for workers, many are willing to accept
relationship. The presence of the parents must be felt by the and deal with the stressors they face in order to pursue
child through communicating with any means despite the financial security and earn a livelihood for themselves and
distance. their family (van der Ham, Ujano-Batangan, Ignacio, and
Wolffers, 2014). Different patterns of attachment and
Index Terms— Working Abroad, Children, Live interactions with parents also reflected children’s perceptions
Experiences, Development, Communication.
of migration and disrupted family relationships. In most cases
the parents were aware of the effects of migration on their
I. INTRODUCTION children, and attempted to closely monitor the emotional and
behavioral well-being of the children, at home or over
Overseas migration of labor has featured prominently in the distance (Zhao, Wang, Zhou, Jiang, and Hesketh, 2018).
Philippines since the 1970s, triggered initially by the oil Parental migration may impact development in early
boom in the Middle East and the demand for construction childhood through the changing environment as well as the
workers, but has since spread to many other countries family dynamics brought about by the parents’ decision to
covering myriad occupations. migrate. When parents are away, the main caretaker—who
With so many households in the country either having an plays a key role in the child’s development process—is no
overseas worker or receiving remittances, migration is likely longer a parent(s). A child’s tie to parents, especially the
to have had an impact on overall household welfare. There mother, may be disrupted due to parental migration. Young
are many questions about whether overseas migration has children in migrant families are likely to experience
been good or bad for the country, or somewhere in between disruption in building attachment with caregivers. Thus,
children of migrant parents are at higher risk of growing up
Efren L. Burgos MAT, Yasser G. Ulod, James Ryan A. Agtoto, Miles with less strong attachment with their primary caregiver, and
Nicolas A. Corvera, Daniel John S. Sonza, Chrangel Eve M. Castillo,
Frances Erica P. Galvez thus lacking the stability necessary for learning and
Philippine School Doha, Doha, Qatar development (Jampakalay, Richter, Tangchonlatip, and
Research Development, Accreditation and Publication Office, PSD, Doha, Nanthamongkolchai, 2018). According to the UNICEF
Qatar
Research Capstone Project, PSD, Doha, Qatar Working Paper, children may be left in the care of someone

6 www.ijntr.org
Behind the Parents Light: A Phenomenology of the Adjustments of Overseas Filipino Workers Children

who can dedicate time and attention to child-rearing, without II. METHOD
pressure to provide for the family financially. A
well-equipped guardian may be as capable of caring for a Research Design
child as the migrating parent. Yet parents play an important
role in a child’s life, and communication between parents and This study is qualitative in orientation and categorically, a
their children can lessen the negative psychological impacts phenomenological research design. The main approach of the
experienced by children. They further add that children ―left qualitative research is to understand the events and
behind‖ can achieve healthy psychological development experiences that happens in the real world. Qualitative
when they have continuous contact with their parents and are research is a type of social science research that collects and
supported by in-country guardians and community. Migration works with non-numerical data and that seeks to interpret
brings forth remarkable changes in the family and community meaning from these data that help to understand social life
environment in which children are cared for. Several through the study of targeted populations or places (Ashley
economic, developmental, sociological and psychological Crossman, 2019). It provides a thorough understanding of
theories provide insight into how family separation due to the ways people act and manage their day to day situation in a
parental migration may influence children. Additionally, the particular setting.
absence of parents leads to diminished parental involvement Phenomenological approach is employed in this study as
which may be consequential for the development of left it is designed to understand the adjustments of the
behind children (Xie, 2019). Parental migration shapes participants, regarding their experiences and struggles on
children’s living arrangements, resources and family growing up without their parents due to the migration as
transitions, which in turn influence child behaviors and OFW.
outcomes. Children left behind may be more likely than other
children to experience family transitions with respect to Research Locus and Sample
residence, household composition and socioeconomic status,
which in turn influence child responsibilities, behaviors and
outcomes (Mayol-Garcia, 2016).
Monetary remittances from two migrant parents do not seem
to buffer the negative consequences of family disruption due
to parental migration (Lu, Yeung, Liu, and Treiman, 2019).
The impact of migration is likely the twofold impact of the
positive benefits associated with remittances and the negative
effect of parental absence. Furthermore, whilst remittances
help alleviate financial problems of the household, the
absence of a family member leaves emotional consequences
to the children left (Jamil, 2017).
As these points were taken into account, this paper
argues that children left behind by Overseas Filipino Workers
(OFW) experience struggles in their childhood as their
parents are absent in times of their wellbeing of growing up.
Yet parents play an important role in a child’s life, and Figure 1 Map of Qatar
communication between parents and their children can lessen
This study was conducted at Philippine School Doha (PSD),
the negative psychological impacts experienced by children
the leading learning institution in the State of Qatar.
(UNICEF Working Paper). Correspondingly, this paper
Philippine School Doha was established in October 3, 1992 to
focuses on determining the adjustments of students who grew
serve the educational needs of the children of the Filipino
up without their parents, the factors of how they have dealt
community in the State of Qatar. Its birth
with these experiences during their childhood will bring
was the result of the determination of pioneering members
answers as how those have influenced their behavior and
of the Filipino community in Doha under the auspices of the
actions. Several economic, developmental, sociological and
Philippine Embassy. This was selected considering the
psychological theories provide insight into how family
accessibility of the place to the researchers.
separation due to parental migration may influence children
The chosen participants of this study were students who
(UNICEF Working Paper). The aspect of lebenswelt in this
grew up without their parents due to their migration as OFW.
study interrelates the behavior and wellbeing of the
The selection of six participants was made through
individuals and how they adapted to their conditions around
qualitative purposive sampling strategy (Creswell and Plano,
the period of parental absence at the time of their childhood
2011; Bernard 2002; Patton, 2002 as cited by Vallesteros,
and the factors of how they coped with those experiences in
2019).
the past and how those affected their attitude and perception.
This is characterized by the incorporation of specific criteria
met by the participants at the moment of selection
(Padilla-Diaz, 2015). They were chosen considering their
years of growing up without their parents by their side and
what adjustments and experiences had they gone through.

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ISSN: 2454-4116, Volume-6, Issue-10, October 2020 Pages 06-17

Data Collection and Ethical Consideration

Data needed in this study were gathered through a

semi-structured interview with the help of instruments such
as: the robotfoto and the twenty-five semi-structured
interview guide. The Robotfoto refers to personal data sheets
of the research respondents, which include their vital personal
and professional information (de Guzman & Tan, 2007). It is
vital for the demographic sketch of the participants to identify
their years of separation from parents, and their present
situation as migrant in the State of Qatar. The twenty-five
item semi-structured interview guide was also used in
following up on specific ideas or issues to explore specific
experiences ensuring that the sensitivity of subject being
researched will float in participants’ consciousness (Fossey,
2001 as cited by Garcia & Acosta, 2016). Data gathered were
transcribed verbatim with the help of the recording gadget,
and the participants were assured that their responses will
be treated with utmost confidentiality (Kayed & Hassan,
2013).

Prior to the data collection proper, pilot interview was

enacted. This is an integral aspect and useful in the process of
conducting a phenomenological qualitative research as it
highlights the preparation for the major study (Majid et al.,
2017). Subsequently, the researchers sought approval from
the participants through a written consent.
Figure 3 Simulacrum
Data Analysis Interrelated Factors Dealt from the Absence of OFW
Parents
The researchers have followed an inductive steps in theme
development to analyze the gathered data in this study: (1) the III. FINDINGS
researchers listen and understand to know what the
participant’s opinion or idea about on a certain topic; (2) read This phenomenological study describes the struggles and the
and reread the transcribe data to see the point of the adjustments of students whose parents are OFW, specifically
participant; (3) transforming the participant’s opinion or idea children who are left by their OFW parents in a period of
(Emic) to the language of the researchers (Etic); (4) sorting time, relative to the central question: “What are the
formulated meaning into categories of themes through a adjustments of Philippine School Doha students who grew up
dendogram; (5) creating a simulacrum of the data for the without their parents?” Furthermore, this study focused on
visual representation of the findings; (6) subjecting themes to the specific question: “What are the common struggles of
triangulation and member checking procedure to ensure the Philippine School Doha students who grew up without their
validity and data trustworthiness. parents?” Alongside, parents play a major role in helping
children take career decisions. Parents are the ones that shape
the future of their children and guide them every step of the
way. The children’s fate almost depends in the hands of the
parents. Both the father and the mother play an important role
in the mental, physical, social, financial, and career
development of the children. They help them in every step of
life. In a time of mistakes, they are like a teacher. Children
are train to be ready for the future (Kumar, 2013).

Figure 3 shows the simulacrum in light bulb shape focused on

four major themes: adjustment, coping mechanism,
emotional effects and attitude gaps. These highlight the live
experiences of children left by OFW parents. Consequently,
for the maximization of labor, development, and profit, the
Philippines continues to simultaneously fashion migrant
workers as temporary, yet heroic and sacrificial (Alipio,

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Behind the Parents Light: A Phenomenology of the Adjustments of Overseas Filipino Workers Children

2019). of children. They have stated below how their parents’

migration emotionally affected them.
Adjustment “The process that has side effects up to this day I still
Children who grew up without their parents occur major carry it with me.” P2
adjustments with themselves. These adjustments made them “I was just a kids when they left me, I was dramatic and
feel uncomfortable, because it is not normal that a child will would always cry because I miss them.” P3
be far away from their parents. However, adjustment is a big “It was passive, I would feel it every night. Every
factor for a child to be able to cope up in the absence of their morning, I would say good morning to them, then every night
parents. As time goes by, they will be able to cope up and when I‟m about to sleep, I‟d cry to them and tell them
adjust themselves to the absence of their parents. However, everything that happened during the day.” P6
even if they managed to adjust that their parents are going to “I didn‟t cope with it but I wish I coped with it.” P6
work abroad there will still be sadness and loneliness that a “One challenge that I encountered was me being
child will experience. spoiled. They had difficulties whenever what I wanted wasn‟t
“At first it is sad because they left then you'd feel that no followed.” P3
one is there who would love you, eventually, you will realize Migration involves challenges for families and children
as time goes on that you will meet people that will stay. It's such as having difficulty in communicating due to the
sad to think that even your family will be like that.” P4 parents’ being busy with work and the child with his/her
As time passes by they would realize why their parents are academics and also due to the time gap of Philippines and
working abroad, and choices to go to other countries than Qatar. They have shared below the challenges they
here in their home country, Philippines. It would lead to a encountered:
new understanding of why their parents choose to work “We communicate with each other every day, but our
abroad. conversations are not that long because the time gap of
“At first, I did not really understand what and why, but Philippines and Qatar is big, plus I‟m busy with school and
as I grew up I realized that their reasons were acceptable but they are busy with work.” P5
also very selfish.” P4 “I communicated with them once or twice a week
“I understood them because at that time I was already 7 because of school and every time I go home during weekdays
or 8 years old. I was matured enough when my mom I‟d fall asleep. I‟d talk to them using yahoo, wechat, and
explained it to me. I understood her but as a kid, it‟s hard for skype.” P6
me to avoid to keep on crying.” P3 Due to them being away from each other it left an
They would realize that they choose to work abroad emotional impact having a varying influence on both
because they want to have a better future, they wanted to have according to the conditions under which migration occurs,
everything that they wanted and gave a prosperous life. The they suffer from the effects of longingness to be with and see
parents thinking, is that they can provide their children with a each other again.
better life if they work abroad because the opportunity in the “We were the first one to reach out to them through a
Philippines is lesser, and more benefits they would receive if video call and we asked them that when are they going back
they work abroad. or when we‟ll be a whole family again even though the
“At first I didn‟t accept it because I was still young. But documents are always rejected, eventually it will be
now that I‟m older, I already know that they‟re doing this for accepted.” P2
us. To give us the best future that we can have and that they “I reached out to them first because I kept asking my
can provide us with things that we want. So that, they can see grandparents if they already arrived in Qatar, then they
that their child is satisfied.” P5 would tell me it would take 6 or 8 hours to get there, I would
“In the beginning, my brother and I said, „Why do they count the time and I would constantly message them if they
have to go overseas just to work and not to work here in the arrived or not, and I wait for their reply.” P6
Philippines?‟ and they responded, „The opportunities there “They approached us first. When I was a child, they still
are better and there's a lot of benefits.‟ That's why they have wanted to give the means of our communication to not cut off
to pursue to work in other countries. Eventually, we our relationship so at least they could express that they still
understand them because it's not only for them but also for cared.” P4
our family. For me, it's for our future.” P2 “I can‟t actually remember, but I know that my parents
However, children adjusted in their academic performance were the ones who initiated. They took the stand to talk to us.
in school without their parents. They were the ones who always check if we were okay.” P5
They used different strategies such as their hobbies, talents,
Coping mechanisms and things that they like to do, to cope up and to fill the gaps
in their heart to make them look happy and to help manage
In the Philippines, like in several other low and painful or difficult emotions due to their parents’ migrating.
middle-income countries in the world, it is usual for parents They stated below how it helps them adjust to sad events to
to leave the country to work abroad in order to improve the help them maintain their emotional well-being.
situation of their children who remain behind. However, “I play so I can distract myself from the sadness.” P3
stressful life events such as the separation from a parent are “I amuse myself by doing physical activities or eating
known to have a severe impact on physical and mental health because those are the things I can do because of my status in

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https://doi.org/10.31871/IJNTR.6.10.13 International Journal of New Technology and Research (IJNTR)
ISSN: 2454-4116, Volume-6, Issue-10, October 2020 Pages 06-17

life but sometimes I manage to pull through in such living their life with their parents and to suddenly see them
situations.” P2 leave and them not being by their side. These resulted from
“Instead of feeling down all the time, I played games the time of their absence, as the relationship of the child to
and my guitar.” P3 their parents. Presenting the lived experiences of the
“I think what would be its effect in my future and I focus respondents who have similar experiences.
to improve myself.” P4 “At first I wasn‟t able to accept that my parents weren‟t
Even though their parents migrated, they still have beside me, because they are one of the factors that should be
someone by their side to stand as their parents like their aunt, by my side growing up. They‟re the ones who will teach us
uncle, grandparents, and friends to support, take care, and what‟s right and wrong.” P5
make them feel the love and feel that they are not alone. “When they were about to go to the airport, I kept on crying
“Yes, they comfort me by making me feel that they‟re by whilst they said that they were going to leave. It was sad to
my side.” P1 think that they would go.” P3
“Yes, they comforted us because they are with us when At first, there was a period of adjustment to get used to.
we don‟t have our parents with us, my uncle and aunt stood Around transitioning to living their lives without their parents
as our guardians. They comforted us through cooking our for the time being, they expressed:
favorite dish and telling stories which eventually lead to “Before we felt being down, it felt sad but my brother and I
opening up to each other towards our feelings and through are the only ones helping out each other to fill our empty gap
physical activities that we do.” P2 and space in our hearts.” P2
“I have my aunt, there are many factors as to why I “I actually cried for a month or more because I can‟t really
didn‟t feel homesick because they were there for me. We accept it and I thought that they don‟t love us anymore. But
always play games and sports.” P3 it‟s fine now.” P5
“My relatives comfort me whilst my parents weren‟t by “I do remember crying every time I would go on a call with
my side, they showed the love that I didn‟t experience. My them and every night I'd stay up just so that I could talk to
cousins and aunts cheered me up to make me forget or set them because my grandparents would let me sleep very early
aside the pain I felt when they left.” P4 and I would not have the chance to talk to them.” P6
“Yes they comforted me. I do remember this time where “During the first week, I didn't feel anything. I felt that they
I kept crying every time I go on a call with them and how they went to go somewhere but as months and years pass, I missed
comfort me is by bringing me to places like SM and buying me them and the feeling of homesickness.” P3
toys. The best comfort for me is keeping me on call with my Around the period of the parents’ absence, it left an
parents while they‟re on work.” P6 emotional impact. It was dealt in a way with the experiences
“In my situation, I don‟t open up to my relatives because of feeling loneliness and how a child’s experience differs
I‟m not an open person towards my family. I mostly open only with others who had their parents around. They have shared
to my mom or to my friends.” P5 the challenges encountered:
They easily cope up with different type of events or times “When the teachers needed to call my parents but no one was
such as activities in school because they have their other able to attend. And maybe when I call my parents, all we do is
relatives to support them and stand as if they are their real only talk about money and things that I need.” P1
parents, but even though they have someone by their side they “In my studies, I had no moral support. For example, you
still tend to seek their parents presence and love. walk up to the stage or during competitions, your opponents
“My uncles and aunties were always there to support are there with their parents who are cheering for them and
me, so I didn‟t felt the absence of my parent‟s because of when it comes to me, only my relatives are there to support
them.” P1 me but I am not underestimating them, it is different when you
“I coped up with the presence of my aunt. She was have your parents with you.” P4
always there for me, for example, meetings and council. They “For example, if I need school supplies, it is difficult for me
are the ones who represent my parents whenever the school because I don‟t have my dad to take me to the store and I
needed them.” P2 don‟t have access to malls that easily. I don‟t have modes of
“I cope pretty well. If I‟m in school I don‟t think much transportation and for the food. I still long for the food that
about my parents. Since there is a lot of stuff to think about in my mom used to prepare for me.” P5
school. But for example, family day and you‟ll see other “The first challenge is trying to talk to them since different
children having their parents around and you having no time zones and every time I would go back from school it‟s
parents. I‟m not saying that I‟m not thankful for my late. The other one is academics, they‟re not there to
grandparents but it‟s different when it‟s your parents that are reprimand you if you‟re not studying. One of the challenges I
with you during those times, you‟ll start to feel like, „Why do faced mostly is hygiene, because my grandparents didn‟t
they have their parents and I don‟t?‟” P6 monitor anything. They let me be myself and do what I want.
Whilst my parents, they care about hygiene a lot and when I
Emotional Effects arrived there that‟s the only time I focused on it.” P6
Accordingly, despite the difficulties of growing up without
Based from the experiences of children who had their parents their parents by their side, there is a part of gratefulness for
work overseas for a period of time, they suffer from the the sacrifices they have done to support their families, the
effects of loneliness and longingness. It took a big turn from respondents have affirmed this with sharing their own

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Behind the Parents Light: A Phenomenology of the Adjustments of Overseas Filipino Workers Children

thoughts about their situation. “I felt I bit envious because you see them complete and
“It wasn't easy to grow up without the presence of your happy. At the same time, I‟m thankful and happy even if we
parents and just do your best and they're the reason why aren‟t complete, I still find a way to be happy.” P4
you're on your place right now. Though your efforts are there “Before, I was so jealous when every time there is an
and we should always thank them and do our part in life to activity in school, I can see their parents waiting outside
prevent problems and to make things fine and make the family watching them and I‟ll be thinking, „Where is my dad?, Why
close.” P2 is he not here?‟ But now that I‟ve grown up, I already
“I want to let people know that having to grow up without understand why.” P5
your parents is very difficult and they should be very thankful “I feel a little envious towards them because they get to
for their parents.” P4 spend most of their childhood with their parents whilst I
“Appreciate your parents and their presence. Because there spend it with my grandparents. I'm thankful that I spend it
is a saying that „Your parents will not stay with you forever.‟ with my grandparents but it's still different when you
You need to cherish every moment that you are together. experience those childhoods with your parents.” P6
Because in my situation, I grew up without my parents beside
me. And for me, that was a big gap that was missing. But now
that we‟re together, it‟s all okay.” P5 IV. DISCUSSION

Attitude Gaps The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is
a human rights treaty which sets out the civil, political,
Children who were separated from their parents tend to economic, social, health and cultural rights of children. As
experience a gap within their relationship. These experiences indicated in the United Nations Convention, the ―family
would often cause them to look for someone to depend on or environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and
make them feel envious. Children would ordinarily understanding‖ is paramount for the ―full and harmonious
experience certain problems but doesn’t know who to rely on. development‖ of a child’s personality. Every parent knows
The findings of this study revealed that the factual this and dreams of co-habiting in such a situation.
experiences of the OFW children regarding relationship gaps. A normal family unit is made up of a father and a mother and
They expressed: their children. However, life throws many curve balls and
“I ask advices from my friends, uncles, aunties, and my parents are often forced to re-invent the conception of a
grandparents.” P1 normal family so as to ensure or, at the very least, hope for the
“I often ask for advice from my aunt. Since they are our ―full and harmonious development‖ of their children. A
neighbor, when she's not busy we knock on their doorstep and classic illustration of the above occurs when one or both
spend the day there.“ P2 parents are employed overseas. In a country where
“Other than my aunts and uncles, I ask advice from my unemployment is a colossal and ongoing fact-of-life, working
brother.” P3 in a foreign country and the resulting remittances, offers a
“I usually go to my aunt, grandmother, cousin, brother, way out of omnipresent poverty. Overseas work helps in
and friends.” P4 decreasing Philippine unemployment as well as feeding,
“I'm not the type of person who opens up problems. I'm sheltering and clothing entire households. In short, because of
a type of person who keeps problems until eventually, I an entrenched poverty, Filipinos view overseas work as the
resolved the problem. But if you'll ask me to whom I'm only alternative to escape from debt and hopelessness.
opening up, that would be my aunt because every time OFW’s will travel to foreign nations, legal or not, to escape
something is odd to me she knew that I‟m having problems.” the dark cloud of poverty and they often do without
P2 considering the possibility of suffering inhumane abuse from
“Not really. Because I have my friends with me and I foreign nationals or worse, jail. (OFWs and the Children Left
always ask them first before my parents.” P1 Behind; PhilippineOne, 2017)
Positioning a child in a state of being left by their parents
cause them a feeling of jealousy towards their peers specially Adjustments
when growing up. Children that were left by OFW parents
witness their classmates growing with the intimacy of a The primary purpose of this study was to know the
family that results them to be envious of parents. adjustments of the OFW children who grew up without their
“We felt jealous because it's still different growing up parents. Acceptance is one of the coping mechanisms that the
with a parent. I grew up without the care of my parents. I'd children went through. It is emotionally and physically
rather choose to be poor or lack of financial as long as we're challenging for the children to accept that their family setup is
together, instead of in our situation right now, we're together not the same with other families. But, as the child matures, he
but got separated. We have money but we're not together.” begins to understand why the parent has to work abroad and
P2 can get back on track and take on the responsibility of
“When I was a child, I felt jealous. To be honest, seeing managing their household and family life on their own. In the
my classmates with their parents. Especially when we go to discussion paper of Botezat et. al, (2014), they stated that the
field trips, they have chaperones but for me, I didn't have.” positive impact of parental migration on the academic
P3 achievement of children left at home might be astonishing. In

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the Philippines, it is emotionally and physically trying for the arrangements of their parents and establish and express their
children to admit that their family set-up is not the same with agencies through indicators of agreement, resistance and
some families. denial that may affect the decisions of their parents on
OFW parents usually compensate for their physical migration. Within their families, they learn to navigate their
presence with the sort of material things that they provide for way into becoming social actors, whether in care arrangement
their left-behind children, resulting in their kids cultivating a decisions or their own education. Located in a position
consumerist mentality (Uniceforg, 2017). Such children are relative to other people of varying ages and power, children
usually the kind of left-behind people who kind of tend to are constantly independently experimenting, adjusting,
mostly be one-day millionaires, definitely spend too much, resisting and reworking plans. In addition, adults may also
luxuriously fulfilling their wishes, which is quite significant. change their plans to fulfill the needs of their children or
Parents do their very best always just to provide their children reach an agreement with them (Collins and Tymko, 2015).
the things they wanted to have.
Lee (2011) in Lu et al, (2015) found that left-behind Coping Mechanism
children in rural China were shown to put greater emphasis
on social recognition than their peers did and were more Childhood and adolescence are important life stages that
likely to care for school grades and demand the attention of involve great changes for the individual. The social and
their parents than the children who lived with their parents. cultural environments along with family circumstances are
Lu et al (2015) found that the more children receive care or some of the factors that influence children’s development.
guidance from their family, the more they become worried Furthermore, migration is also an important factor that affects
about the behavior of their parents towards them. It illustrates children and families. Migration is a worldwide phenomenon
the significance of the left-behind children's well-being of that has always been part of human history. Moving to a new
parenting style and communication between parent and child. country may impact children and adolescents in a variety of
In the study of Kim (2016), the greater your general trust ways, including their family relationships, and their social
is the better your mental health would be. General trust can be and educational performance (Watters, 2008; SuárezOrozco
attained by a group of neighbors, close relatives, and friends & Suárez-Orozco, 2001) as cited by Gomez (2015).
that the left-behind children consider as sources of support in Botezat (2018) claims that most would agree that
times of need. It is really needed to have such group of friends ―home‖ is where our families are. But for many children
or relatives especially if your parents are far away from you, it whose parents are working abroad, ―home‖ means the
would be a big help for you especially if you need someone to absence of parents, emotional and psychological distress, and
be with when you are in your saddest moments. often physical and mental health problems. These children
Multiple attachments are likely to develop left-behind usually stay behind in the care of close relatives:
children; for example, relationship forms the children left grandparents, older siblings, uncles and aunts. The
behind and extended family members including family and phenomenon of children left behind, which is having a
friends. These left-behind children's caregivers play a role in profound effect on societies in Eastern Europe, Asia and
sustaining family unity and in alleviating the emotional South America, is causing serious concern in the affected
burden of displacement (Yanovich, 2015). The relationships communities. Indeed, in some places it has been called a
formed with these people by the left-behind child are both a national tragedy.
reaction and an adjustment to the absence of migrant parents According to Navarez & Diaz, (2017) regarding
(Owusu, 2015). acceptance as a coping mechanism, the students are used to
Despite the emergence of social media use, Racidon and the idea that their situation happened and that they learn to
colleagues (2015) reported that the old forms of live with it. This result is supported by Carver et al. 1989
communication – SMS, snail mail and voice calls – are not cited in Aldebot & Weisman de Mamani (2009) as cited by
completely replaced by social media. However, a study on Navarez & Diaz (2017) when they argued that acceptance as a
migrant women reported that having a mobile phone in their coping mechanism is found to be more beneficial than others
home country was critical in maintaining contact and for children may learn to accept reality for the meantime
friendship with their family and friend (Platt, et al., 2014). By while their parents are away. It is also the most effective
using mobile phones, migrant parents can now call whoever coping mechanisms in dealing with disappointments and
they want to meet, unlike using landline telephones, where hindrances for this can help people to keep up their spirits and
they can only speak to anyone at home. Nevertheless, the feel satisfied because it has a positive effect (Stoeber &
frequency and quality of communication between the migrant Janssen, 2011 as cited by Navarez & Diaz, 2017).
parents and the left-behind children varies due to When it comes to planning as a coping mechanism, it
circumstances that are not controlled by both left-behind means that students try to come up with a strategy about what
children and migrant parents (Racidon, et al., 2015). to do. They also think how problems can be best handled as
Nevertheless, Javanese and Filipino children, apparently well as think deeply about what steps to take when difficult
passive in the presence of adults, are aware of their situation times are present. In fact, Parrenas (2000) as cited by
and reflect it. Even if they show a 'decreased type of agency' Navarez, J. & Diaz, K.R. (2017) said that there is a need for
by having little power over the decision-making processes of OFW children to prepare and arrange on what to do with the
their parents' migration, children from both countries form current condition for them to be more productive.
their own independent views on the absence and care According to Navarez & Diaz, (2017), the use of

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Behind the Parents Light: A Phenomenology of the Adjustments of Overseas Filipino Workers Children

instrumental support also helps the students with OFW profile, that is, the most common pattern of response to
parents cope with challenges in life. They do it by trying to stressful academic circumstances, also exerts an influence on
get advice from someone about what to do, learn more about a student’s level of engagement. Coping refers to the thoughts
the situation, and ask people who have had similar and behaviors that a person uses to manage the internal and
experiences with them. Many experts claim that social external demands of stressful situations Folkman and
support can assist a person cope with the demands of stress Moskowitz (2004). It involves the conscious efforts placed on
(Schwarzer & Leppin, 1989, 1991; Veiel & Baumann, 1992) adjusting emotion, cognition, behavior and physiology in
as well as concentrate on deriving meaning from the stressful response to stress (Compas et al., 2001 as cited by
experience (Brannon & Feist, 2009). The use of instrumental Muthukrishnan & Xiani, 2019).
support is available to anybody through linkages and social Fredrickson and Branigan (2005) as cited by Gan
ties to other individuals, organizations, groups, and the and Hall (2019) have observed that those with positive
community as a whole (Ozbay et al., 2007 as cited by Navarez emotions about life (i.e., life satisfaction) broaden their scope
& Diaz, 2017). of attention and thought–action repertoire, which helps them
When active coping is being used, students with OFW cope with stress and adversity. Similarly, adolescents who are
parents try to concentrate their efforts on doing something reported to be happy and satisfied with their lives tend to
about their situation and to take direct action to get around the possess creative and flexible thinking (Fredrickson, 2004;
problem. It is also avenue for these students to function well Rowe, Hirsh, & Anderson, 2007; Stiglbauer, Gnambs,
and move forward (Navarez & Diaz 2017). Carver, Scheier, Gamsjäger, & Batinic, 2013), better adaptive psychosocial
and Weintraub (1989) as cited by Navarez, J. & Diaz, functioning (Suldo & Huebner, 2004, 2006), and more
K.R.(2017) explained that students left behind need to take effective coping mechanisms (Park, 2004; Proctor et al.,
active steps to remove or avoid the pain or to enhance its 2009, 2010). Thus, when LBC (Left behind children) have
effects which include initiating direct action, increasing one’s built emotional resources due to the sufficiency of family
efforts, and trying to execute a coping attempt in a stepwise resources that they receive, it is likely that they will be able to
fashion (Navarez & Diaz, 2017). deal effectively with difficulties and eventually decrease their
When students use emotional support as a coping risk of having mental health problems.
mechanism, they get emotional support from friends or Emotional Effects
relatives to talk to someone about how he or she feels, and Ducanes (2015) finds overseas migration to be an
discuss his or her feelings with someone. Burleson (2003) important driving factor for household social mobility in the
pointed out that when feeling hurt, disappointed, or upset, Philippines. Moving them up the income ladder, supports
virtually everyone would like to receive sensitive support their increased consumption - including spending for
from caring others. Goldsmith (2011) added that emotional education, medical care, real property and equipment, food,
support is helping to lift someone to higher ground so an clothing and recreation - reduces their poverty.
individual can see their way through the difficulty. Having The absence of parents affects children's psychology,
someone to rely on is one of the best parts of being in a behavior, lifestyle etc. This even changes the decision making
relationship. In the final analysis, it can be said that all of the process among the left behind families. Absence of
above cited seven subscales or coping mechanisms were authoritative figure from home leads to possible
being exhibited, applied and were seen as clearly evident, consequences of division (Kaur, 2016). According to
though in varying degrees, in the day to day lives of students Navarez and Diaz (2017), the increasing number of students
with OFW parents as measures to overcome challenges in life that are experiencing school life without the presence of their
(Navarez & Diaz, 2017). parents is now a global phenomenon. It is always said that
As was found in studies by Hogan (2002), children of migration is the solution to the rising financial instability of
separated parents have found formal services very helpful in the families but the persistent concerns are on the issues on
their recovery. The detachment from general peers has students being left behind by such migration that have
emerged because of fear that they might be treated differently. attracted growing attention and grow into a global concern.
Subsequently, talking about parental separation is considered Additionally, the need for caregivers to look into the
a private issue preferring group of people they believed can general satisfaction of children under their care can make
understand their situation and for them not to stand out them feel better and make life manageable even in their
different (Sarmiento, 2015). current situations and conditions.
According to Muthukrishnan & Xiani (2019), coping As stated by Démurger (2015), the effect of a family
strategies in the academic domain is referred as resilience, member’s migration on those who stay behind can be
everyday resilience, or academic buoyancy, and is either positive or negative, depending on individual
characterized as a set of resources a student can access to help circumstances. In particular, the physical absence of the
them to be resilient after a setback or failure and to take part migrant may have multiple adverse effects on family
in the academic work. Taken together in its different forms, members’ education, health, labor supply response. Albeit the
coping repertoire of behaviors can be adaptive, allowing for advantages and benefits experienced while their parents were
effective management of stressors and continued engagement working abroad, also often felt sad, isolated, and abandoned
with challenging situations, or maladaptive, leading to a state after one or both parents migrated. Material benefits could no
of helplessness and disaffection from academic challenges. longer be a substitute for their parents' presence when they
Earlier findings confirmed that the nature of a child’s coping needed them physically, longing for the presence to be taken

13 www.ijntr.org
https://doi.org/10.31871/IJNTR.6.10.13 International Journal of New Technology and Research (IJNTR)
ISSN: 2454-4116, Volume-6, Issue-10, October 2020 Pages 06-17

care of by them (Machica, Jr. & Montallana, 2018). The phenomenon of children left behind, which is having a
Though the intention of parents working abroad is good, profound effect on societies in Eastern Europe, Asia and
providing for the material needs of their children is not South America, is causing serious concern in the affected
enough, especially those with very young and adolescent communities. Social scientists are showing increasing
children who need the most guidance from their parents. interest in understanding the consequences for children’s
Academically, the left-behind adolescents may do good, development of living in transnational families. In terms of
but emotionally, the loneliness and longing for the financial and material resources, the children left behind may
physical presence of their parents will always be there no be better off. Yet being deprived of their primary caregivers
matter how the children would convince themselves that can have a very harmful effect on children’s overall
their parents are working abroad for them to have a better life well-being. Children who remain behind when their parents
(Rendeza, 2017). Children may feel uncertain of their parents' leave their countries of origin are more likely to experience
love for them whilst they are abroad, of course they still love depression, anxiety, and other emotional and mental health
and care for their children. Simple letters or messages can problems (Botezat and Pfeiffer, 2014).
alleviate the uneasiness of their children and as well as help The left-behind children’s experiences can be conceptualized
them cope with the situation, to be able to be connected with as ―ambivalence‖ in that they incorporate simultaneous
their parents (Castro, 2015). existence of opposing emotions towards their parents’
Loneliness has negative effects towards mental health and migration. Such experiences are grounded in the structural
everyone is vulnerable to it (Hawkins-Elder, Milfont, and cultural contexts associated with migration on the one
Hammond, Siibley, 2017). It often has severe consequences hand, and on the other, provide the driving impetus for
for individuals and society, often stemming in social relations children to reproduce and/or transform their structural and
one desires (Bouwman, Aartsen, Tilburg, & Stevens, 2016). cultural contexts by adopting agentic strategies either more
The experience of loneliness is prevalent and detrimental. engaged with the present or more directed towards the future
Personality may influence individual perceptions of (Xiao, 2015).
loneliness and it poses a major risk to the health and A sense of being alone, with no advocate, no support and with
well-being (Lyyra, Välimaa, & Tynjälä, 2018 ; Wang & no one looking out for them, someone to whom they felt
Dong, 2018). Notable across the lifespan, it may have emotionally connected to, were ideas that were very striking
particularly deleterious effects in childhood and adolescence, because of the number of young people who expressed them.
leading to increased risk of emotional impairment Ideas that expressed an absence of ―nurturing‖ and ―care‖
(Ritchwood, Ebesutani, Chin, & Young, 2016). were mentioned many of the young people who were keen to
Calantas & Lobaton (2018), stated that as immigration leave school and seek independence. For those young people
progressively increases, so does the number of children left who wanted to continue on it to further and higher education,
behind. OFW parents leave their children behind under the status was also important but, arguably more the status
care of their grandparents, relatives or with their aunts and associated with securing non-manual work. For these
uncles for a substantial amount of time. Moreover, children students, freedom was also key but ―freedom‖ from their
may suffer stress, or emotional distress manifested as anger, current environments and experiences (Fuller, 2018). The
guilt, loneliness, sadness, and fear. It is noteworthy that being parents of these young people were very keen that their
aware of their situation, they try to do something about their children should experience a different kind of life to theirs
plight. Calantas and Lobaton (2018) further added that they and education was seen as a key route to securing a better
know that they have a future and envision it to be bright for future. Whilst they lacked the skills to support their ambitions
them. Additionally, they are usually left to be taken care of by and plans that they were supportive was significant (Hong
their relatives, but they cannot provide the same love, and Fuller, 2019).
affection, and support of the parents. This may cause the Parental migration resulted in challenges in child
children to feel sad and neglected. psychosocial well-being, due to the emotional impacts from
Effects suffered can lead to uneasiness leading to negative prolonged parent-child separation. Parental absence also led
effects such as feeling loneliness and longingness, leaving to inadequate care and support for left-behind children. The
them vulnerable to those kinds of emotions. They long for negative effects of parental migration may be exacerbated by
being connected with their parents abroad, they are left with other vulnerabilities such as parents’ divorce, poverty, and
their relatives but they cannot provide the same love as how grandparent caregivers’ frailty. Concerns about child
parents would love their children. Parents would send well-being made some migrants decide to return home
remittances or material goods but that cannot compensate for permanently, because of the altered trade-offs of migration
their absence for a certain period of their child’s life abroad. (Zhao et al., 2018).
Attitude Gaps
Teenagers have the tendency to be rebellious and envious to
others. They tend to be alone, sad, and feeling neglected. V. CONCLUSION
However, these teenagers have developed acceptance and Migration of parents abroad for working purposes may be an
understanding to their life situation. They wanted to have a important way of generating income and reducing
better future not just for themselves but also for their future unemployment in sending countries. Migration may have also
family to be stable and to avoid separation (Calantas and positive and/or negative consequences for children left at
Lobaton, 2018). home. On one hand, parents often get better paid jobs abroad,

14 www.ijntr.org
Behind the Parents Light: A Phenomenology of the Adjustments of Overseas Filipino Workers Children

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ISSN: 2454-4116, Volume-6, Issue-10, October 2020 Pages 06-17

[18] Oh, Y. A. (2014). Life Satisfaction of the Families of Migrants in the BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Philippines. Asian and Pacific Migration Journal, 23(3), 249-271. James Ryan A. Agtoto is currently in senior high
doi:10.1177/011719681402300301 school as an ABM student at Philippine School
[19] Petrov, I., & Dafinoiu, I. (2017). Attachment and parenting in Doha. In just a few months he will be finishing his
incomplete families. Psihologia Sociala, (39), 31-41. Retrieved from high school and attending college at the College
https://search-proquest-com.eres.qnl.qa/docview/1980713779?account of the North Atlantic-Qatar in the course of
id=49936 Human Resources. He has participated in many
[20] Sarmiento, M. (2015). Psychological strengths and emotional activities such as Volleyball Varsity, Intramurals
difficulties of students with separated parents: A basis for and others at the Philippine School Doha. He has
counseling intervention program. Journal of Agricultural attended various seminars on Research, Financial
Technology , 11(2), 485-499. Retrieved from Literacy, and Stress Management that helped him
http://www.ijat-aatsea.com take college courses as well as the universities of
the Philippines who visited his school to announce
[21] Suárez-Orozco, M., & Suárez-Orozco, C. (2015). Children of their school content
immigration. Phi Delta Kappan, 97(4), 8-14.
doi:10.1177/0031721715619911
Chrangel Eve M. Castillo was born on August 18,
[22] Total Number of OFWs Estimated at 2.3 Million (Results from the 2001. She is currently a Grade 12 student under
2018 Survey on Overseas Filipinos). (n.d.). Retrieved from the strand of Accountancy, Business, and
https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/survey/labor-and-employment/survey-over Management (ABM) at Philippine School Doha.
seas-filipinos She also participated in different seminars
regarding research over the past years in Senior
[23] Uniceforg.(2017).Uniceforg.Retrived12November,2017, from High. She may not be a laureola awardee, but she
[24] https:/www.unicef.org/Philippines/Synthesis_StudyJuly12008.pdfUnis makes sure that she maintains high grades.
aacza.(2017). Recently, she is the top 14 in her class with an
[25] UNICEF WORKING PAPER Children "Left Behind". (n.d.). average of 92 in the final term of the first
Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/media/61041/file semester. She has already experienced to work as
[26] Van der Ham, A. J., Ujano-Batangan, M. T., Ignacio, R., & an assistant teacher in K-2 and a Register Clerk in
Wolffers, I. (2014). Toward healthy migration: An exploratory study the Registrar’s Office of Philippine School Doha.
on the resilience of migrant domestic workers from the Philippines. After she graduates in Senior high school on April 2020, she plans to
Transcultural Psychiatry, 51(4), 545-568. continue her studies and pursue Interior Design in De La Salle College of
doi:10.1177/1363461514539028 Saint Benilde.
[27] Xiao, L. (2015). The Experiences Of Left-Behind Children In Rural
China: A Qualitative
[28] Study.
[29] Xie, W. (2019). Left-behind villages, left behind children: Migration
and child health and development in rural china. (Order No. 13420478, MilesNicolas A. Corvera was born on October
The George Washington University). ProQuest Dissertations and 30, 2001. He is currently in Senior High School as
Theses, , 157. Retrieved from an ABM student in Philippine School Doha. He
https://search-proquest-com.eres.qnl.qa/docview/2167942913?account studied in Philippine International School Qatar
id=49936 during his 6th grade until grade 10 and received a
[30] Zhao, C., Wang, F., Zhou, X., Jiang, M., & Hesketh, T. (2018). Impact lot of academic awards. He also participated in
of parental migration on psychosocial well-being of children left different seminars regarding research, which will
behind: A qualitative study in rural china. International Journal for help boost his research knowledge. He may not be
Equity in a laureola awardee, but he always maintains high
Health, 17 doi:http://dx.doi.org.eres.qnl.qa/10.1186/s12939-018-0795 grades and included in the top students in the
-z7 class. Apart from his academics, he is also active
in non-academic activities such as the basketball
varsity which he is consistently part of. He has already experienced to work
in the Supplies and Inventory Department and being an assistant teacher in
the Primary Department of Philippine School Doha. After he graduates in
senior high school in April 2020, he plans to continue his studies in the
Philippines and pursue Accountancy in Ateneo De Davao
University.

Frances Erica P. Galvez is currently a

Grade 12 student in Philippine School Doha
under the Accountancy and Business
Management (ABM) strand. She previously
studied in Gloria Marizz Academy of Bulacan
and she moved to Qatar in the year of 2011.
During her Junior High School life, she
participated in several poster making contests
as art is her major interest. She continued to
participate in other events such as the
Intramurals. She has won the scrabble
competition, placing as the First Runner-up in
Grade 11. She was a Bronze Laureola Awardee in the previous school year.
As of this school year, she was a Bronze Laureola Awardee in the First
Semester. After she graduates high school on April 2020, she plans to pursue
studying in Bulacan State University majoring in the field of Architecture.

16 www.ijntr.org
Behind the Parents Light: A Phenomenology of the Adjustments of Overseas Filipino Workers Children

Daniel John S. Sonza is currently a Grade

12 ABM student in Philippine School Doha. He
received a bronze medal as a Laureola Awardee
in the second semester of his 11th Grade.
Additionally, He is the current Captain Ball of
the Senior Volleyball Varsity. He finished his
Junior High School with full confidence and
proud in Philippine International School-Qatar.
In his last year in Philippine International
School of Qatar, he also became the Captain
Ball of the Junior Volleyball Varsity.

Yasser G. Ulod is currently in Senior high

school as ABM student in Philippine School
Doha. He has been a top student in his class and
still pushes further. He studied in Philippine
International School Qatar and transferred to
Philippine School Doha during his 2nd grade. He
had received several awards throughout his
academic years. He also participated in the
Research Congress during his 10th grade in the
year 2018. Apart from his academics, he also
participated in different competitions such as
winning the title ―Ginoong Agham‖ in his 11th
grade. After he graduates in high school on April 2020, he plans to continue
his studies in the Philippines and pursue Aeronautics in the Southern City
Colleges.

17 www.ijntr.org