How do we assure the safety of OFWs?

Batas Mauricio

IN the face of the gruesome murder of Joanna Demafelis in Kuwait in 2016 yet, how could we ever assure the welfare and safety of some 20 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the hands of their foreign masters who are either nymphomaniacs or sex addicts, or are monsters masquerading as humans?

We should have searched the answer to this question a long time ago yet, but it is clear that there is no one in government or in the private sector that sports even a modicum of interest in finding a solution to the problem of assuring the welfare and safety of our countrymen who had to enslave themselves abroad just to find a living for them and their families.

It is truly disappointing, to say the least, that there is so little interest on this issue, considering that the entire country–the government and the families of our OFWs–have been benefitting greatly from the OFWs placing their necks in the chopping board whenever they seek employment in foreign soils. If there have been no dollar remittances courtesy of OFWs, it is certain that economic ruin would have already come upon our nation, and Filipinos would have suffered all the more.

***

Mind ailments need not shame anyone. Have you been noticing grievous sadness, erratic mood swings (from being greatly happy and gay, to being despondent and boorish, sometimes laughing uncontrollably to crying profusely) and other creepy behavior among your children, siblings, or other relatives, friends, and associates?

I learned that we should not be angry at them for all these, and neither should we scold or berate them for displaying such “weird” actuations. Instead, we should be compassionate and understanding towards them and, if circumstances allow, they should be brought for examination and treatment by a doctor whose expertise is the mind. I have been assured that if proper attention and medication is extended to them at the right time, they could get better.

Juan Leonardo “Julian” Mauricio, one of my nephews by my brother, lawyer Leny Mauricio, underscored the importance of not ignoring this kind of a mental status of a person, to prevent him or her from killing himself or herself, or his ailment from getting worse.

I considered the discourse given by Julian significantly relevant nowadays. The fact is that, studies by mental experts have shown that millions of Filipinos have mental ailments which have not been brought to the attention or examination of doctors. Because of this, the proper medication and ministration have also not been given to the affected people.

In a report about the study of mental health problems among our countrymen in 2004, it appeared that some four to five million Filipinos were afflicted with various kinds of mind instability. In 2017, a report by Dr. Lourdes Ignacio of the National Academy of Science and Technology (Nast) confirmed that one in every three Filipinos (or 30 million from the current census of 100 million Filipinos) are mentally impaired.

In his “eye-opening” lecture, Julian made it clear that all those suffering from this kind of sickness needed empathy and help, not insults or verbal and other assaults. Because he himself underwent severe and varying cases of mental disorders (he said he had four) and benefited from the help of a famous mind specialist, Dr. Randy Dellosa, he founded a group that can extend assistance to others similarly afflicted. Please go to the Facebook page of Julian (Julian Mauricio) to learn more about this.

During the open forum that followed his lecture, Julian managed to discuss the various causes that contribute to the mental affliction of a person.

In his own personal experience, Julian pointed out that the sources of his problem were stress and pressure from family and work, which caused him to try killing himself four times! Things turned for the better, however, when Dr. Randy Dellosa started medically administering to him, setting him on the path of greater mental capacity and wellness.

Well, thank God in the Name of Jesus! Indeed, there is no problem that has no solution.

One solution that we are suggesting is the study of the different verses of the Bible about the mind and one’s thoughts. There are plenty of verses in the Bible dwelling on wellness of the mind which could very well be used to strengthen our thoughts towards wellness and power. You may call me for these verses!

E-mail: batasmauricio@yahoo.com