For Mama: A Documentary of a Typical OFW Family in the Philippines

When his wife left to work overseas, Meljohn Manguerra had to take on being both father and mother to their children. The most difficult for him was coping with the everyday things without having a co-parent at his side. "I missed having my wife around to talk to about raising our children," he said. Image by Geric Cruz. Philippines, 2014.

Maribeth Manguerra is home from her third overseas contract to attend the graduation of two her children. She wants to leave again, but her husband and her children want her to stay so they can at last be a complete family. Image by Geric Cruz. Philippines, 2014.

Neth Manguerra is the eldest child and "Ate" or big sister of the Manguerra Family. When her mother left, she took on managing the home and taking care of her younger siblings. Image by Geric Cruz. Philippines, 2014.

Jomar Manguerra and his older sister, Neth, have made a promise to their Mama and Papa: They will put off getting married so they can work and put their younger siblings through school. That way, their Mama won't have to work abroad anymore. Image by Geric Cruz. Philippines, 2014.

JohbeAnn Manguerra was too young to remember anything about her Mama leaving to work abroad. "I just remember feeling that Mama had left me," she said. Image by Geric Cruz. Philippines, 2014.

Jam-Jam Manguerra, the youngest in the family, was about a year-old when her mother left for another overseas contract. She is now 7-years-old, but for most part of her life, Jam-Jam has grown up without her mother. Image by Geric Cruz. Philippines, 2014.

Johbeann Manguerra graduates high school with high honors with her mother finally present. Image by Geric Cruz. Philippines, 2014.

MANILA, Philippines – Maribeth Manguerra has been away for many years. She has missed graduations and birthdays, first steps and prom nights. She wonders sometimes if her children understand, but even if they don’t, it is a choice she will make again.

It was difficult the first time. In 2002, a change in ownership forced Maribeth to quit from her job in a factory. Her husband Meljohn’s income from welding and sign-painting continued to be unreliable. Meljohn stayed to care for the children. At the time, their eldest daughter Johneth was 11 years old, their son Jomar was 10. The youngest, JohbeAnn, was only a toddler.

In the months after Maribeth left for Lebanon, 3-year-old JohbeAnn would stand with her father at the family’s balcony, waving goodbye to airplanes flying overhead.

Maribeth returned home after completing her contract. She and Meljohn had another child, Jam-Jam. It was Johneth who raised the baby, while her mother worked as a housemaid in the city.

It would be another 7 years before Maribeth decided she had to leave again, this time to work as a domestic helper and nanny in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Women's work

In a guest laborer market that was once dominated by men recruited to work in construction sites and oil rigs, women now make up almost 50 percent of the labor migrants from the Philippines.

[READ: Philippines – A History of Migration]

The majority of female OFWs land jobs classified as unskilled, and work inside homes or factories.

Filipino women make up a significant portion of the estimated 1.5 million domestic workers in Saudi Arabia.

“Many OFWs look at going abroad as a ‘temporary project’ to save up for something, usually the education of their children or a home,” said Marla Asis, a researcher at the Scalabrini Migration Center.

However, many returning OFWs struggle to make the same amount of money as they did when working abroad. The solution to inadequate incomes is to accept new contracts and leave again for overseas.

Labor migration becomes a recurring cycle of coming and going, packing and unpacking.

Mama's turn

Maribeth concluded her third contract in April 2014, and came home to attend the graduation of her two middle children. Jomar completed an automotive vocational course and JohbeAnn graduated from high school at the top of her class.

The entire family, now including 7-year-old Jam Jam, refuse to allow Maribeth another contract.

The two oldest, Johneth and Jomar, have taken on jobs and promise to put off getting married for the sake of the younger siblings. After years of their mother working for the family, the two now want to take care of their Mama.

It is Maribeth who insists on taking on another contract. Leaving her family behind, she says, is the only way she can care for them.