I MISS YOU: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF EXPERIENCE OF THE

TEENAGERS WHOSE PARENTS ARE OVERSEAS FILPINO WORKER

A thesis submitted in
Partial fulfillment of the requirements
In Practical Research I

Submitted to
Mrs. Cristeta Resuta-Tapia
English Department
Trece Martires City

Atienza, Antonio Q.
Campomanes, Camille B.
Fernando, Rosaoro R.
Guimbarda, Lovely D.
Tanay, ReynardDricson

March 2017
 I MISS YOU: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF EXPERIENCE OF THE
TEENAGERS WHOSE PARENTS ARE OVERSEAS FILPINO WORKER

INTRODUCTION
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are Filipinos who are employed in the foreign
countries. They travel abroad to seek better opportunities in order to provide for the
needs of their families in the Philippines. They are also known as Overseas Contract
Workers (OCW), since they work abroad through a contract of several years with their
employer (en.wikipilipinas.org/indexphp/overseasfilipino_workers).
Nowadays, thousands of people in the Philippines seek for a job abroad to work
as seaman, domestic worker, professional and others. The National Statistics Office
(NSO) forecasted that the total number of OFWs came from CALABARZON, Central
Luzon and National Capital Region (NCR) with sixteen point five percent (16.5%),
fourteen point three percent (14.3%) and twelve point five percent (12.5%), respectively,
of the total OFWs. There were more male OFWs fifty two point two percent (52.2%)
than female OFWs forty seven point eight percent (47.8%). The largest numbers of
OFWs were in the age groups 25 to 29 years old twenty three point six (23.6%) and 30
to 34 years old twenty two point six percent (22.6%).
In the situation of OFW parent, the most affected in such dynamic are the children, who
may deal with the absence of one parent or both parent, either positive or negatively
(Rufo, 2008).
According to Williams (2005), family structure, household resources numbers of
siblings, competing for those resources and parents own educational attainment are
often important predictors of children educational out comes. Overseas migration of
parents from the Philippines has resulted in increasing numbers of long term separation
of parents from each other and from their children.
The absence of parents, creates displacement, disruptions and changes in
care-giving arrangement., such effects are more felt when it is mother who works
abroad, as families go through more adjustments, than when it is the father who goes to
abroad (Tobin, 2008). Generally, children have a different level of acceptance in a
situation where a parent works abroad. Young children view migration as a form of
abandonment, while for adolescents, the acceptance could either be receptive or
resentful.
However, their study is all about the impact of the OFW parent to the educational
outcome of the children. A number of studies have found that Filipino children who are
left behind experience psychological and emotional stress (Cruz, 1987; Parrenas, 2001;
NIRP, 2001). Their study is just all about the impact and the experiences on
psychological and emotional stress on the children but there is no study of experiences
of teenagers having an OFW parent. Therefore this study explains the experiences of
the teenagers whose parents are OFWs.
 Thus, this study is conducted. This intends to discover and find out the
experiences of OFWs teenager children. And also seeks to find out what do teenager
feel while their parents works abroad; how do they handle themselves; and in what
situation does they handle themselves while their parents are away from them. The
study is all about the experiences of teenager having an OFW parent. An in-depth
interview will be conducted as a part of the data gathering. The researchers choose this
kind of interview because the perspective of the respondent is needed for the study.
Judgmental sampling will be used as a part of choosing the participants who can have
knowledge and experience having an OFW parent. This study hopes to show the
experiences of teenagers having an OFW parent has an impact in their daily lives. The
results of this study will help the teenager who experience of longing from their OFW
parent to cope up with their experiences.
In this paper, after the introduction, the researcher discussed the theoretical
framework of the study, explains the methodology, and present and discuss the result of
the study. The last part of the paper gives the result and conclusion of the study.

Methods

The current study had seven participants who were 13-19 years old, and were
from Junior to Senior high school students. Three were junior students and two were
senior. The study is a qualitative research because this is used to gain an
understanding of underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations (Wyse, 2011). For the
data gathering, judgmental sampling was used to gather more information about the
study. The researchers choose who were qualified as participant. Then asked for the
willingness of the participants to participate in the study and an in-depth interview were
employed. In-depth interviewing is a qualitative research technique that involves
conducting intensive individual interviews with a small number of respondents to explore
their perspectives on a particular idea, program, or situation (Boyce C. et al , 2006). This
kind of interview is needed to by researchers because they need participants who have
experience on having an OFW parent, to know their perspective. The interview guide
was developed by the researchers by first bracketing their knowledge about the
phenomenon, to ensure no bias.
The group coded the information and utilized Braun, et al.s (2006) thematic
analysis. In this case, the concepts that have been chosen are the experiences of
teenagers having an OFW parent. Its analysis then requires identifying and naming
themes according to the responses of the participants. After the guide was presented to
the researchers' teacher for approval. Upon reviewing the interview, revisions were
made, and a final guide was accomplished. The transcriptions of interviews were sent
back to participants for accuracy, which were then sent back to the researchers for
revisions and suggestions.
Result and Discussion
These are the common feelings of teenagers while their parents are away from them.

Table 1. Common feelings of teenager while their parents are away from them.
Themes Definition/description Sample Quote
Feeling of sadness While their parents are Masakit! Tsaka
away, the feeling of nakakalungkot, kasi po
sadness was there. nakakamiss, ahhh..kasi po
Sadness was felt because yung nanay ko po kasi best
she/ he missed her/ his friend ko. Hindi po kame
parent. close ng tatay ko kaya pag
nag-aaway po kame ng

Feeling of longing Longing was felt when
he/she misses her parent
Insecurity Feeling of not being
confident about theirselves
or his/her ability to do
things well. Insecure when
they saw someone with
complete family
Being emotional Crying because he/she
cannot control his/her
emotions when they saw
their parent leave.
Themes Definition/description
As shown in table 1, as the teenager left behind by their parents to work abroad
they felt sadness, longing, insecurity and even being emotional.
Research Question 1. What are the experiences of teenagers having an OFW parent?
tatay ko wala na pong taga-
tanggol saakin.
Super! Namimiss ko sya
super! Parang sabi ko sa
isip ko maikli lang Ang 4
years na to!
Syempre nakaka insecure!
Kasi pag napunta kame sa
bahay nila Tammy, mama
nya sobrang maalaga kay
Tamara. Lagi siyang
binibilinan, Tamara...
ganyan-ganyan yung mga
damit mo ayusin mo...
laging bang may bilin tapoa
paalala! Nakakainggit lang
kasi dati ganun din nanay
ko sakin na...Pinapagalitan
ko pa pag Lagi nya akong
ginaganun...ngayon
namimiss kona, kasi
ngayon ko lang binavalue
mga anu ginagawa saakin.
Yung time na yun talaga
kasi sobrang iyakin ako
hindi ko kayang itagi yung
emosyon ko. Nung gabing
iyon sobrang umiyak ako,
then nung morning umiiyak
pa rin ako tapos sobrang
namamaga yung mata ko.
Sample Quote
Then nung araw na yun
umiiyak pa rin ako,sobrang
nakakalungkot kasi everthing
kasama talaga namin si
Papa.
 These are the experiences of teenagers having an OFW parent.

Table 2. Experience of teenagers having an OFW parent

Themes Definition/description
Adjustment done on the On the first ay that his/her
first day when their parent left, the things that
parents leave to work he/she realize
abroad
Adjustment done by the When his/her parent left,
teenagers at home he/she have to do their
household chores
The closeness between When his/her parent left,
the OFW parent and there is a change between
their children changed. the closeness of parent
and child.
Themes Definition/description
Sample Quote
Hmmm...nakakapanibago po,
kasi pagkasiging namin yung
pagkain....nakahandana na po
lahat Prepared na, nang umalis
po sya nung first day nya
sobrang
nakakapanibago...Nakakamiss,
wala na yung taga luto namen
Actually, hindi rin ako
marunong sa gawaing bahay
eh!! Kasi ngayon sa lola ko ako
kaya hindi run ako nag lilinis so
parang lumaki ako ng ganun
kaya hangang ngaon hindi
parin ako masyadong
marunong sa gawaing bahay.
Mahirap pero nakakaya naman
Oo, hindi na kami tulad ng dati
na close na may close kasi
tapos pag umuwi sila halos
isang buwan lang o minsan
wala pang isang buwan
syempre yung taon na wala
siya sa tabi ko di naman
matutumbasan ng isang buwan
Sample Quote
yun yung memories nun so
parang nagbago parang
lumayo yung loob ko pati yung
kapatid ko lumayo din. Kung
dati open ako sa nangyayare.
Halimbawa may bagsak akong
grade nasasabe ko sa kanila
ngayun hindi na.

The result in table 2 shows the experiences of teenagers having an OFW parent.
On the first day their parents left to work abroad, they have to adjust because no one
will company or help them. As they do their household chores, they experience having
hard time because some of them do not know how to do household chores. There was
also a change between the closeness of the parent and their children. They felt
awkward when they talk to their parent and they cannot express their feelings because
they are afraid to talk to them.

Research Question 2: In what occasion or situation, the teenagers need their parent?
These are the occasion that the teenagers need the presence of their parent.

Table 3. Events or occasion the teenagers needs the presence of their parents
Themes Definition/description Sample Quote
Celebrating Christmas and Every year he/she Sa Christmas yun kase nga
Birthday celebrate his/her birthday dapat may kakasama kami
and Christmas without the pero dahil nga OFW nga
presence of their parent. ayun hindi sama sama,
hindi rin sama sama sa
birthday ko, minsan okey
lang kasi sanayan na lang
din naman eh halos ilang
taon din namang wala sila.
Need to attend Parents Every grading period the Nung PTA po! Sobrang
and Teachers Association parents are called to get the nakakapabibago, kasi dati
(PTA) grades of their children but yung nanay ko unang-
their parents are not unang dumarating, unang-
around. unang pumipirma...tapos
ngayon wala na lola ko na

Themes Definition/description Sample Quote

tumitingin! Siguro
nakakapanibago kase.. dati
kada kuha namen ng grades
diretso agad kame ng Mcdo
kaen.. ngayon hindi na.
Nakakainggit dati ako yung
nasa sitwasyon nilang
ganyan, date ayaw ko pang
pumupunta yung nanay ko
kumuha ng grades tas nung
umalis sya dun ko lang
nalaman na sana pala hindi
na lang umalis si mama ko,

Celebrating Graduation and
Receiving Awards
sana pala....ano! Sana pala
sya pala kumuha ng grades
ko para di kame iniwan para
mag trabaho.
He/she need their parent Ahh 3 years ayun sanayan
to accompany them on na lang yun tapos sa report
the stage for their card ayun. Walang kukuha
graduation. ng report card ko kase nasa
tita ko ako eh may pamilya
rin yun. Sa graduation pag
kailangan ng aakyat sa stage
walang aakyat. Tita ko lang.

The table 3 shown the events/occasion or situation the teenagers need the
presence of their parent. The teenagers celebrate occasions such as Christmas,
birthday, PTA and graduation without their parent. They wished as they celebrate those
occasion their parents are there especially when they graduate.

Research Question 3: How do they overcome their longing to be with their parent?
These are how teenagers overcome their longing to be with their parent.

Table 4. Ways to overcome their longing to be with their parent

Themes Definition/description
Understanding their parents Efforts one by the
participant to be more
aware of one self. The
participant becomes more
aware of the situation.
Sample Quote
Super! Namimiss ko sya
super! Parang sabi ko sa
isip ko maikli lang Ang 4
years na to! Lalaksan ko na
lang loob ko! Sinisipagan
ko mag-aral kasi alam ko
pag nakakuha ako ng
mataas na marka o
makasama ako sa top!
Super matutuwa magulang
ko! Parang sukli ko na rin
yun sa hirap na ginawa nya
na pinili nyang humiwalay
saamin at pumuntang ibang
 bansa.
Adjustment done by Seeking significant others Ang laging sinasabi ng
significant others support in overcoming the Mama ko sa akin 'mas
longing for his/her parent. umiyak ako kapag wala na
syang trabaho yung Papa
ko,' ayun yung lagi kung
iniisip.Tama naman.. Mas
nakakaiyak naman talaga
kung wala syang trabaho..
kahit negative aspect yung
malayo sya, titignan ko na
lang na positive yung.
bagay na yun
To prevent longing from Make ways to avoid longing Hmmmm.. ginagawa ko lagi
their parent from their parent. yung mga ginagawa ni
mama, kasi si mama
mahilig mangalikot ng mga
bagay linis dito, linis doon!
Ginagawa ko mga
ginagawa nya noon! Tapos
minsan nag via video call
kami, ganun!
Communicate with their Through internet they Sa internet na lang pag
parent communicate with their hindi busy, video call na
parent lang eh kase may kaiba rin
naman ng time ang bansa
yun nga nakakamiss dahil
wala na kaming time may
bonding.
As shown in table 4, the participants who have OFW parent adjust themselves
from their longing to be with their parent. They understand their parent whose working
abroad with the help of their guardian who was left with them. The participants seek for
another way to forget their feeling of longing and used internet to communicate with
their parent. The teenagers think positively to overcome their longing.

CONCLUSION

Nowadays, thousands of people in the Philippines seek for a job abroad to work
as seaman, domestic worker, professional and others. Filipino Teenagers who suffer
from longing through many experiences from their parents who were left behind. They
also endure emotionally feelings such as longing, sadness, helpless and misses from
their parents. On the first day their parents left to work abroad, they have to adjust
because no one will company or help them. As they do their household chores, they
experience having hard time because some of them do not know how to do household
chores. There was also a change between the closeness of the parent and their
children. They felt awkward when they talk to their parent and they cannot express their
feelings because they are afraid to talk to them. The teenagers absolutely need the
attention or the presence of their parents especially in important situation or occasion
such as birthday, graduation, recognition and every special event in their life. They feel
sadness as they celebrate each occasion without their parent, waiting for them to greet
them or even went home just to celebrate with them. All of the participants have suffer
many struggles in their life while their parents are working abroad. However, the
teenagers have different ways and strategies to overcome their longing from their
parents. It was also found that all of the participants sought back their parents to
become a whole family. This is interpreted by the researcher as depicting the Filipino
trait of patience, understanding and loving from their family. The researchers believe
that they apprehensive there is what keeps the participants confident in handling their
situation by themselves.
The research studied young Filipino teenagers aged 13-19 but most of them are
in below 18.The research was also limited to an interviewing only those below 19 from
Junior to Senior High School. Mixed methods may also be employed in order to find a
possible correlation between dimorphic and the occurrence of longing. However, if
phenomenology is still to be pursued, the number of participants should be increased,
for the purpose of further researching data saturation.
This study is recommended to teenagers who have an OFW parent so they
would understand the situation. They have to think positively to overcome their longing
to be with their parent. To the OFW parents,

References:
Anonymous (nd). Overseas Filipino Worker. Retrieve from
http://en.wikipilipinas.org/ indexphp/overseas_filipino_worker)
Williams, L. (2015,March 3) The Impact of Oveseas Filipino Employment on
Eucational Outcomes of Filipino Chilren. Retrieve from
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/230075315_The _Impact_of_Parents_Ov
erseas_Filipino_Employment_on_Eucational_Outcomesof_Filipino_Chilren
Rufo, A. (2008, September 27) Six Million Filipino left behind by OFW parents.
Retrieve from http://news.abs-cbn/pinoy-migration/09/05/08/six-million-filipino-
chilren-left-behin-ofw-parents
Tobin, V. (2008, September 27) Six Million Filipino left behind by OFW parents.
Retrieve from http://news.abs-cbn/pinoy-migration/09/05/08/six-million-filipino-
chilren-left-behin-ofw-parents