Going by the data from the Philippine National Statistics Office, in 2009-2010, approximately >2 million Filipinos at any one time had ventured abroad for greener pastures. The exact and most up-to-date number may be difficult to ascertain but the OFW (overseas Filipino worker) phenomenon is a reality that affects the lives of many Filipinos.

There are always several aspects to a story, even if it appears to be good at the outset. The OFWs, whether their jobs abroad are land-based (eg, nurses, caregivers, domestic helpers, doctors, engineers, IT professionals, skilled technical workers, artists, musicians, cooks, etc.) or sea-based (eg, seafarers), are indeed modern-day heroes, especially with their foreign currency remittances that help not just their loved ones but the local economy as well. However, there is also the counterpoint of long-distance relationships, the so-called "brain drain" effect, and other tangible and intangible factors.

(Video from youtube.com; posted by wowie888 10.09.06)