When Melita Garibay first arrived in Hong Kong in 1981, things looked very different to today: the HSBC headquarters was still under construction, the MTR was only a year old, Jackie Chan was just starting to make waves in Hollywood, and Melita was a young and bright-eyed 27-year-old from Pangasinan. 

She could never have imagined that, 40 years later, she would still be here, working with the same employer. “Ang tagal ko na dito sa aking employer, buti mabait sila sa akin. Swerte ako sa aking naging amo,” [I’ve been with my employer for so long, it is great that they are good to me. I am lucky to have them as my employers] says Melita.

Life in the Philippines can be hard, and many have opted to work abroad to alleviate poverty. Unemployment and low wages are major drivers for Filipinos looking to leave their hometowns. According to the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), there were 2.16 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in 2023 (data collected from April-September 2023). If we include the whole Filipino diaspora, there are an estimated 10 million Filipinos living, working, and studying abroad, almost 70% of whom, like Melita, originate from Luzon. 

“Namimiss ko ang aking pamilya sa Pinas. Pero hindi na ako nakapangasawa at ‘di na din ako nagkaroon ng sarili kong pamilya, sobrang busy sa trabaho. Marami din akong pinagpa-aral na mga pamangkin, marami sa kanila may mga trabaho na at sariling pamilya na din. Meron akong pinagpa-aral na pamangkin na nasa Canada na. Balang araw, gusto ko din silang dalawin doon,” [I miss my family back in the Philippines. But I didn’t get a chance to get married or have a family of my own, I’m just too busy with work. Although, I have put a lot of nephews and nieces through school, many of them have their own jobs and families. I have a niece whom I helped through school who now lives in Canada. One day, I want to visit them there too] Melita shares.

Melita has been working in Hong Kong since 1981 – the black & white photo above is her passport photo from her time of her arrival, age 27

With the hope of providing a better future for the younger generation, many OFWs have sacrificed being away from family and loved ones to be the breadwinners of the family.  

The emotional and mental toll this can take is immense. There have been many studies about the children of OFWs developing “care drain”, a loss of connection and intimacy with the absent parent due to prolonged separation. They may feel abandoned, which in turn can lead to anxiety and depression. 

Likewise, long-term absence can create instability in marriages and relationships, leading to an erosion of trust and affection towards each other. While Melita’s situation is somewhat different, missing the chance to have a family of her own, while being heavily relied upon by other family members, is an emotional burden she continues to carry with her. 

Such is Filipino culture that our strong family ties promote familial responsibility and dependence, which can lead to feelings of obligation and financial pressure. 

In a recent Pangyao interview with Tynna Mendoza, Interim Executive Director of Enrich HK, an NGO that promotes empowerment and financial literacy, Tynna shared, “Involving family members and keeping an open communication with them is important, so they are aware of your goals, understand how not to overspend, and keep within the means of the family budget.”

A statement by the Commission on Human Rights Philippines (CHR) in 2023 claimed that only about 1% of OFW earnings go into personal cash savings, with around 5% used for business capital or investments. The rest of their earnings go towards covering debts, children’s education, housing, and living expenses.

Nonetheless, Melita is rightfully proud of what her working life in Hong Kong has afforded her: “Nakapagpatayo na ako ng bahay sa probinsya namin. Doon ako tumutuloy kapag umuuwi ako sa Pinas. May farm na din ako doon na inaalagaan ng pamangkin ko. May mga baka, fruit trees, at may mga gulay din,” [I was able to have a house built in our province. That is where I call home whenever I go back to the Philippines. I also have a farm that my nephew takes care of for me. We have cows, fruit trees, and vegetables] she smiles contentedly.

The CHR supports the House Bill (HB) No. 00176 – otherwise known as the “OFWs Retirement System Act” – which seeks to provide “retirement benefits, dependent’s pension, voluntary separation benefits, and a set retirement fund to support these benefits and similar gratuities” for OFWs, and HB No. 8574 – or the “Kabayan OFW Pension Act” – which recommends adequate protection for OFWs and their dependents against the risks of old age, disability, sickness, death, unemployment, and other contingencies. As of the publication of this story, however, both of these bills are still pending in the Senate under the Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs.

Although the Social Security System (SSS) in the Philippines provides a retirement plan, the benefits do not kick in until participants have made at least 120 monthly contributions and reach the legal retirement age of 65 years old. With 41% of domestic workers aged 25-34 and 39% aged 35-44, in reality, not many stay employed in Hong Kong long enough to finish making their contributions.

On the 15th of June this year, Melita was recognised as the longest serving migrant domestic worker (MDW) under the same employer, Mr John Yeung (a previous Deputy Director of Immigration in Hong Kong), from 1981 to the present day – a total of 44 years. The Gawad Parangal 2025 awards were organised by the Philippine Alliance of Hong Kong to honour Filipino MDWs who have worked in Hong Kong for more than 12 years. Melita was nominated by Social Justice for Migrant Workers, a community group aimed at uplifting the lives of MDWs through community service.

A beloved longtime member of the Filipino Prayer Group (FPG) at St. Joseph’s Church, Melita has devoted a lot of her time to helping others and keeping their faith up, even through trying times. “Every Sunday, nandoon kami sa St. Joseph’s Church para magsimba at para din magsamasama din kami sa Prayer Group namin. Parang pamilya na ang trato namin sa isa’t isa,” [Every Sunday we are at St. Joseph’s Church to attend mass and to get together with the Prayer Group. We treat each other like family] shares Melita.

Talking of her future retirement plans, Melita says, “Mahilig akong magtanim kaya kapag dumating ang araw na mag for good na ako, ‘yan ang gagawin ko. Aalagaan ko ang aking farm kasama ko ang mga mahal ko sa buhay. Simple ang buhay namin sa probinsya, basta may pakakabusy-han ako, masaya ako.” [I love looking after plants. So, when the time comes that I will go back for good, that is what I will do. I will look after my farm and stay close to my loved ones. Our life in the province is simple, as long as there is something to keep me busy, I am happy.]

Gawad Parangal 2025 awards were organised by the Philippine Alliance of HK on 15^th June, 2025. Melita (pictured here with CG Jun) was given an award for longest serving MDW under the same employer (44 years)