The History of Filipino Migrant Workers

No country sends more workers abroad than the Philippines—more than 2 million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), most of them women. They leave their families behind to earn money under often brutal conditions, hoping to secure a better future for their children. But behind the remittances are stories of abuse, exploitation, and even death. Filipino migrant workers have existed as far back as the early 20th century, when they were shipped to the US as laborers. But it was not until decades later, under President Ferdinand Marcos, that labor migration was officially promoted on a large scale. The topic also preoccupies many writers in the Philippines. Arts Unveiled presents three of them: Jet Tagasa, Kristian Sendon Cordero, and José Dalisay. They have each dealt with the fate of OFWs in very different ways in their books. 🔍 Discover how art becomes a voice for the voiceless. #dwculture Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:40 Whoever leaves is a hero 1:36 A Story That Never Ends 3:42 The Big Filipino Story? 6:24 Stories of Hope & Horror 9:03 Listen to These Stories Report: Sabine Kieselbach Camera: Alfredo Dela Cruz Jr., Sabine Kieselbach Edit: Philippe Gnannt, Susanne Ocklitz Producer: Oliver Glasenapp Executive Producer: Matthias Frickel The trip to the Philippines was supported by the Philippine´s National Book Development Board (NBDB) For more visit: https://www.dw.com/en/culture/s-1441 Please follow DW's netiquette: https://p.dw.com/p/MF1G