The Truth of Many OFW Parents: “Nobody Really Wants To Leave”
In a reel, content creator Mama Lulu shares a truth that many OFW parents face when they migrate
Every Filipino wishes to grow up and settle down in their homeland. But sometimes, it’s just not in the cards. When opportunities to better support their families present themselves elsewhere, what kind of OFW parent wouldn’t take it? In a week-old Instagram reel, Mama Lulu (also known as Mama.the.Great) admits candidly why she migrated from the Philippines to the United States.
“No Filipino ever wants to leave the Philippines,” she points out. “I left the Philippines because my husband got sick. I had to be the breadwinner for my five children.”
Her story isn’t as uncommon as many believe
While most Filipinos won’t share the true reason why they’ve left the Philippines, Mama Lulu’s story is quite a common story among other Filipinos. In a survey conducted by the Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), there has been a 45.50% increase in OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers). Most of them find jobs in another land and are rehired, proving that Filipinos are far more capable than many think.
But migrating wasn’t so simple. Mama Lulu had to study again, taking classes to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and a caregiver.
“I’m not saying America is perfect,” she adds. “There are many problems here. You’ve seen it on the news. But, I wouldn’t have gotten the same opportunities that I got here in America as in the Philippines.”
Unfortunately, she’s quite right. In the Philippines, the salary of a nurse, based on postings on Jobstreet and Indeed, ranges from PHP17,000 to PHP30,000. For many young professionals who try to settle down in Metro Manila, PHP30,000 is just enough for rent. However, there was a move in the Senate to upgrade the minimum wage of a nurse to at least PHP36,000.
In the United States, it can vary. However, as of September 2025, Indeed reports the hourly rate of nurses to be $44.04, which at the moment converts to PHP2,515.84 per hour. In a 40-hours, that’s around PHP100,633.3 a week. While the taxes are much higher in the United States, converting it back to Philippine pesos is a big help for their families back home.
“That’s why many Filipinos leave the Philippines. We leave to build our families; not because we don’t leave the Philippines,” she shares. “We love it so much. That’s why we work hard for our families and for our country.”
OFW parents’ stories are not always fairytales
We’ve always seen families somehow make it abroad. But getting there is a journey of sleepless nights; wading through the paperwork and ensuring everyone’s all settled—in a lot of cases, they don’t even get the most ideal situation.
Some OFW parents are forced to leave their kids behind, creating what many countries call transmigrational parenting. Even when the parent isn’t physically present, there’s an effort to be there for their children. Something Mama Lulu does for her grandkids who are still studying in the Philippines.
Mama Lulu shares a truth that’s probably crossed every OFW’s mind. “If only I had the choice, I would want to grow older in the Philippines with my grandkids and my children.”
Her story reminds us that OFW parents may look like they have it good, but we don’t see the struggles. Their journey to provide a better life for their families is one paved with sacrifice, sleepless nights, tears, and battles against the fear of uncertainty.
More about OFWs?
6 Top Countries Families Can Migrate To
Marcelito Pomoy on the OFW’s Sacrifice: “I salute all of you.”
OFW Families: Why They Migrate And What Happens After?
