This is also what happened to Karen Bernisi, who spent almost 12 years of her life working as a beauty consultant for Dubai Duty Free in the United Arab Emirates.
However, this pandemic caused canceled flights, lockdowns, and “no work, no pay” scheme was common, she had no choice but to go back home.
Karen reminisced about how much hope she had during her stay in Dubai despite the total lockdown for the country and the “no work, no pay” scheme.
“Nagho-hope pa rin ako bumalik, hintay lang nang hintay, sabi ko baka babalik yan tapos magiging ayos na ulit kaso ayun…” she recalled.
She chose to return home to her family as opposed to enduring far away with having no assurance of all that will have returned to normal since this pandemic is unpredictable. Having her family near her is much bearable than having them far away with no certainty that things would return to the way they were.
“May pera ka pa pero ‘di ka na sumasahod mauubos lang kaya bakit hindi mo nalang ipagsapalaran sa Pilipinas?” said Karen while thinking of coming home instead.
With the high cost of living in the United Arab Emirates, having no job with continuous expenses would only last you a month. Staying there and constantly waiting for something to happen just isn’t practical. You’ll just end up losing all your savings just for your daily expenses when you could have used it in the Philippines to start all over again.
“‘Yung iba nga naming kasamahan nag-suffer ng depression, anxiety, may na stroke pa nga eh,” she added.
Losing their job and forced repatriation with the possibility of contracting the virus is a source of depression for OFWs, especially for the ones who are undocumented or illegal immigrants. Constant overthinking of things has led to serious emotional problems like depression because worrying about having to go home with not enough savings, pending loans, and the idea of having to maintain their old ways of living while suffering unemployment adds to their already deteriorating mental state.
“Hindi matatapos yung buhay mo sa pagiging OFW magiging maganda pa rin buhay mo kahit wala ka sa ibang bansa,” she concluded.
The doors Karen has are not simply limited to foreign countries. Lockdown has happened, but she has opened doors in her own country with her family next to her. Uncertainty continues to lie upon Karen and millions of unemployed Filipinos in a country with less regard and care for the modern heroes of the economy.
