On OFWs and online earners
By louievill
@louievill (28851)
Philippines
August 20, 2011 7:50am CST
For the information of everyone OFWs means overseas Filipino workers, as it implies they are Filipinos working abroad and often referred to as new heroes (although not everyone would agree) because they bring in the much needed dollars although they become a liability at times especially if there's turmoil in other countries and all of us have to bare bringing them back, they also carry the name of our country so how they behave also affects most of us, I am not judgemental so I will stop here besides this is not the main point of the discussion and only stating a fact.
Now my main point is don't we online workers also bring foreign currency to our country? I know it is not as much as OFWS does but at least we do not leave the country and become a liability at times. Was just thinking if even half of the 94 million Filipinos could just have some kind of thing to do online such as Mylot.
Filipinos are hard working, give us a task like click ads and we would do it as long as we get paid, we speak English very well so we qualify for legit sites like mylot although we are not an investing people so we rarely upgrade or invest and things like that. So Filipinos do you behave if you are in a foreign online site because you carry our flag?
For non Filipino friends here at Mylot, do you carry yourself while doing online earnings knowing you carry the flag and honor of your country, what's your take here? It is just earn or what you do reflects how people would think of your country? I want to know , thank you
5 responses
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
22 Aug 11
Being Filipino doesn't have anything to do as far as my online behavior is concerned. No do I make it a consideration, maybe a limitation when it comes to the way I express myself. In general, I am just being me so I guess the Filipino in me just follows. That way there's no pretensions. The concept of OFW, or online Filipino workers has crossed my mind and I came to realize that we also contribute to our GDP although it may not be that much i'm sure it's already a sizable amount.
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
23 Aug 11
I have a lot of friends on FB and I recall posting something on my wall on whose interested in earning online, so far I was only able to get two or three responses saying they're interested so that means majority of my more than two hundred so called friends aren't interested or they're are not checking my wall at all . Some of my colleagues also knew that I earn on line, in fact I've shown them the cellphone and Digital camera that I got using my mylot's earning but that's just it, I think they were envious but so far no one has asked me to teach them.
Now also on behavior, I agree that there's a tendency to pretend to be something you're not that's because online, especially in mylot, a person is limited on how descriptive he is and on how good he is with words which can make it harder or easier for someone to pretend. In some cases it may not be intentional since readers will tend to have different perception of one person.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
22 Aug 11
maybe it's because there are still very few people that do online earning or know it is possible and even if they know it is possible, they do not try. Make this case study, ask a friend how many ofws he knows or know somebody who knows any ofw and for sure they can name a lot. Now ask this question, " how many online earners do you know?" and most probably you will get the answer " what's that".
Now on behaviour, I think online or offline, people are bound to make a slip once in a while especially if they are faking or pretending and not being natural.
@meriel (101)
• Philippines
21 Aug 11
not all filipino knows this site or have any idea about online jobs. yes filipino are hardworking but let us face the fact that not all filipinos knows how to use computer. we are lucky that we are not one of them. filipinos are known for being a skilled workers that is why other countries preferred filipino to be their employees and not only that. filipino are respectful and a hard worker individuals.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
21 Aug 11
hello, I think another problem is many Filipinos know how to use the computer and know the sites but they cannot afford the PC and the ISP (connection), most earning sites require you to have a unique IP or else you get banned, something you cannot do on the internet cafe, so most of our computer literate countryman have no choice, since they can't afford a pc and the isp, they just spend unproductive time playing games on shared computers or internet cafes
@meriel (101)
• Philippines
21 Aug 11
yup there are many filipinos knows how to use the computer and know the sites but i don't think also that those people can't do online job because they don't have computer at home with internet connection. the reason why we are joining online job because we want to earn money. so why not spending a minimal amount on internet cafe if we can earn more than what we have spent. if the person wants to do online job they will look for a way. and those people who just spend their money playing online games are those young individual who are not in need of money they only want to enjoy and have fun.
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
23 Aug 11
I've thought of this when i have my online earnings remitted to my local back account. But then I said, it could just be too little to be noticed, same as you have said but its how many littles would contribute to one big contribution, right.
Regarding the Filipinos working on online sites and helping the economy, well I'd say yes we are millions, but maybe half or even less than that have access to the internet.
Not all also, just what Letran said are into this kind of things. Believe me, I would have chosen other things if not for the freedom of speech, and the vent part of my personal issues. haha I've basically made this a forum where i share my thoughts, and everything.. and the money or the pay out becomes a bonus.
Online earning is not easy, you need patience, hardwork, and more patience really to be able to stay long in this and still be active.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
23 Aug 11
yes it takes drops to fill the bucket and drops are hardly noticeable . As to what we do here at Mylot, I enjoy it too because we I get to share my view or give advice although I would disagree that the site is all free speech since it's bound by certain rules and guidelines. Going back, besides Mylot I guess most of us are also into other sites that are "pera pera lang" (just for the money) but again we do not have accurate statistics and exact numbers of who exactly does what. I agree online earning is not easy it's like drilling for oil or gold panning, everybody is hoping to hit the jackpot but at the same time being contented or consuming what they earn at present
@jaiho2009 (39141)
• Philippines
20 Aug 11
I want to comment on this line
they become a liability at times especially if there's turmoil in other countries and all of us have to bare bringing them back,
Now they become liability?...for bringing them back?
Do you have any relatives working abroad?
Just imagine if any of them (your loved one/s) being trapped in that country having wars or trouble...what would you feel?
And how about those ones sitting in their position and doing nothing but wasting the taxes from OFW's- who you called as liability
Do you know how much taxes and money those OFW's sending back home - here in our country?
If- we have to bring them back home- it is OUR RESPONSIBILITY and NOT LIABILITY-
they're bringing our country dollars used to pay our ancestors debt!
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
21 Aug 11
hi Jaiho,
Please don't misinterpret my point, I did not mean they are libilities per se in fact we hail them because they bring in dollars and are regarded as heroes okay. Now my concern is with the turmoil especially in the middle east where people rebel against their leaders, protests becoming violent and sometimes it gets out of hand that they turn against our country man, now my comment is not against our ofw but directed towards our government, we send so much people out but when a problem arises, we do not have a concrete contingency plan to get them out, what pissed me so much is when it was time to leave, our people were left behind, some have to hitch hike a ride from other countries or walk in the desert and some just stayed come what may because our government had nothing more to offer but words. Okay they chartered flights and our airlines were very generous but a few days late and not enough. So please don't get me wrong, I would volunteer to fight my way in just to fetch them if we all have to the same way I reported when I was a young man when the Marcos government called in reserves just incase the MNLF sessecion went out of hand ( some people I knew did not report), good thing they were able to fix the problem. Now that we know the possibilities, I hope our government set aside what this people contribute incase we need to extricate again when there is problem and that is what i was referring to as liability, hope you get it right
@murkie (1103)
• Philippines
21 Aug 11
now that you mentioned it, i begin to wonder about the similarities and the not between ofws and onliners.
yes, both earn the same currency. and cummulatively (not sure if there's a word as such, hehe) both brings in tons of money.
however, dissimilarities should be obvious. for one, online work isn't that much popular YET in ph. i mean, many filipinos are on it, but it is yet to become a "pang masa" job. whereas, working abroad is a phenomenon that is highly regarded (especially by politicians).
ofws need to sacrifice being with their loved ones, whereas onliners stay mostly at home, which brings resentment for some and/or being taken for granted by others. considering the fact that filipinos are much too emotional about their family and home.
i agree with you when you say that we carry the country's flag, since we are global and mingle with the international community.
i just hope online jobs (and the people doing it) would gain support and understanding from the people and the government, and never be looked down upon.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
21 Aug 11
hi murkie,
oh yes there is such a word as tons of money, the only problem is other nations makes mega tons, that's why there is still a deficit LOL, Seriously yes there are similarities and disimilarities, politicians love OFWs because they charge them with so many fees. our poor ofws have to pass so many requirements before they can leave and sometimes even victimized by illegal recruiters and some still suffer when they are already in other countries, quite a few also lose their spouses for being away a long time or their children resent them for not being in their side when all these people want is a decent earning for their family, tsk..tsk.. but many get lucky too and make it bigtime or at least live comfortably, so it's still all gamble and luck.
Online earners also make dollars but they are more secretive, besides very few laws govern them, no body knows who makes what and how much. I'm not so sure murkie but I think online earning is not taxable here?? correct me if I am wrong please. Yes but if the government will look at online earners like they do the ofws, might do more harm than good, think it's better this way for us
Yes we carry our flag too when we are in an online site, that's why I behave as best as I can and hope all do the same, that's the reason why some sites ban certain countries.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
21 Aug 11
harhar, maybe the government will rethink or have a senate investigation when we start putting up HYIPs (high yield investment programs)and start raking in a lot of cash, government will take interest, they will ask where is their share from you and me
@murkie (1103)
• Philippines
21 Aug 11
hello louievill.
online income is not taxable yet since the amount is not that high enough to be taxable. but in some cases, some transactions are (my guess).
and i think you are right us being the elite few. harhar. but i also think it would be good to share this line to some of those who maybe interested.