The Philippines and the Illusion of State-Created Heroes

Millions of Filipinos leave their country each year, not due to natural disasters or war, but because their government fails to provide adequate and decent employment opportunities at home. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority reveals that in 2024, at least 2.19 million Filipinos worked as migrant laborers abroad, representing 4% of the total workforce.

This outward migration of labor has become a cornerstone of the Philippine economy. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are not only the backbone of their families but also the nation's largest source of foreign exchange. Their remittances constituted approximately 7.3% of the Philippines' Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2025, according to the Philippine News Agency. This reality positions the Philippines as one of the world's largest and most significant international labor exporters, a status acknowledged by the United Nations Network on Migration.

However, beneath these figures lie millions of families enduring years of separation, children growing up without parents, and aging couples living apart. Their departure is often not a choice but a necessity, driven by the absence of viable alternatives offered by the state. The critical question shifts from "why do they leave?" to "who truly benefits from their departure?"

The narrative surrounding OFWs, particularly the government-bestowed title of "Bagong Bayani" or "New Hero," is presented as a critical lens through which to view the nation's economic policies. Initially dominated by male workers, the OFW demographic now sees women comprising a majority, at 57.2% in 2024. These workers are primarily deployed to Saudi Arabia (22%), the United Arab Emirates (13%), and Hong Kong (6%).

The policy of labor export, initially framed as a temporary solution during Ferdinand Marcos's era to combat economic crisis, high unemployment, and foreign debt, became institutionalized. Instead of leveraging the substantial remittances to build domestic industries, successive governments opted for the easier path of maintaining the labor export pipeline. This was formalized through the Labor Code of 1974 and further strengthened with the establishment of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) in 1982. The "Bagong Bayani" title, launched by President Corazon Aquino in 1988, sounds noble but, the article argues, masks the state's failure to create sufficient dignified work opportunities.