Bantay OCW (Ang Boses ng OFW)
Seafarer’s insensitive wife
By Susan KPhilippine Daily Inquirer
A ship captain noticed that one of his officers often looked anxious and could not focus on his tasks. He would often stay alone in his cabin when off duty.
The captain tried unsuccessfully to get the seafarer to open up about his problem. The seafarer would only say he was not feeling well. From being a happy person, he became a loner and even irritable.
When the captain got in touch with the officer’s wife through his manning agency, he learned the couple was having problems. It was also evident from the text messages the husband received from his wife.
It seemed the wife was insisting that her husband should send in advance P5,000 for the junior-senior prom of their daughter. But the husband could not comply with his wife’s request, hence, her abusive text messages.
After hearing about the problem, the captain talked to the officer and found out the seafarer did not have the courage to ask his wife to explain how she spent the big allotment he sent to the family regularly.
Every time he tried to talk about expenses, his wife would act like she was having a heart attack. The officer worked as an engineer and he sent enough to his family. He said his wife was very sensitive about money matters.
It was found out that the wife never saved anything for the family, not even for emergencies. The seafarer was worried of what would happen to them if he no longer had his job or he became disabled.
The manning agency asked his wife not to bother his husband over the small amount she needed. Or she could ask the manning agency for help to prevent bigger problems that could arise while his husband was at sea.
The captain would like to send a message to seafarers’ families. He said they should be more considerate and not to bother our seamen with small problems and to be more understanding of their situation and the hard work they were doing. Their inability to perform their work well would have an adverse effect on their fellow crew members and the efficient operation of the ship.
Wives of our seamen should realize every peso of their allotment is hard-earned by their husbands. Do not spend everything just because you will be receiving your next allotment.
Another thing is, do not wait for your husband to ask you to account for your expenditures. You have the obligation to make a list and show the family expenses to your husband. This way you will enjoy a more harmonious family life, even if your husband is away from home.
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Susan Andes, aka Susan K., is on board at Radyo Inquirer 990 dzIQ AM, Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-12 noon and 12:30-2:00 p.m., with audio/video live streaming: www.dziq.am Studio: 2/F MRP Bldg., Mola St. corner Pasong Tirad St., Makati City; PTV 4, every Friday, 8 -9 p.m. and GMA News TV International Helpline: 0927-6499870 E-mail: susankban tayocw@yahoo.com/bantayoc wfoundation@yahoo.com
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Tags: Family , OFW , overseas Filipino worker , Seaman
