“They Only Remember Us At the End of the Month”
Why I Created the OFW History Project
My name is Mia Albano. The photograph to the left is my father, who left the Philippines at age 20 to find a better life for himself and his future family. The active and systemic migration of Filipinos for temporary and typically contracted employment in foreign countries exploded in the 1960s when the Philippine government formally established legal frameworks and policies to promote such labor. These individuals with Filipino citizenship who reside in another country for a period of employment have been coined Overseas Filipino Workers. Not only has the deployment and brokering of Filipino migrant workers around the world perpetuated the underdevelopment and “brain drain” of the archipelago nation, but it has had significant effects on scales of the intimate and personal, including on workers’ own bodies, senses of self, and families.
About the Project
The OFW Oral History archive is an ongoing project dedicated to the collection, preservation, and elevation of the diverse voices and narratives of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families. Through in-depth oral history interviews, our goal is to capture the everyday lives and experiences, both historical and contemporary, of this often overlooked yet crucial segment of the Filipino diaspora.
Within this archive, you will find compelling oral history interviews featuring OFWs, their family members, Filipino researchers, academics, and other members of the Filipino diaspora. Conducted by Mia Albano, a first-generation Filipino-American and the visionary behind the OFW History Project, these interviews serve as a platform for sharing and reflecting on life experiences. They offer a unique opportunity for both narrators and listeners to envision alternative futures for themselves and their communities.
Interviews in this archive give voice to themes such as family dynamics, separation, transnational kinship, spirituality, religion, community, experiences of loss and grief, unity, racism, abuse, mental health, friendship, dreams and ambitions, childhood memories, motherhood, parenting, the Filipino diaspora, and aspirations for the future.
Our archive aspires to stimulate meaningful conversations surrounding Filipino migrant labor, fostering a deeper understanding of the realities faced by Filipino migrant workers across the globe. This archive is made possible by the generous support of the Judith Lee Stronach Baccalaureate Prize and The University of California, Berkeley.
OFW History Project, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity, Tax ID 92-2721269. Donations are fully tax deductible for U.S. taxpayers.