The Secret Lives of OFWs

LET ME TELL YOU A SECRET.

Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs. You either know one, are related to one, want to be one, or are one. OFWs are so ubiquitous to the Philippines that we think we’re familiar with the kind of lives they lead. We presume we know who they are, what they’re like, or perhaps even what secrets they keep. But do we?

From mananangals to aswangs, engkantos to mambabarangs, oryols to andudunongs, and even the great Bakunawa—The Secret Lives of OFWs follows eight different stories of Filipino migrant workers who happen to be supernaturals. Forced to embark on their own migratory sojourns to seek a better life and provide for their loved ones, these stories delve into the struggles faced by OFWs and their families—and how even feared creatures of Philippine folklore are not spared from the hardships of the diaspora.

This collection tells moving narratives of love and resilience. Of enduring against the monstrosity of abuse, assault, isolation and fractured family dynamics. A speculative exploration that answers the question: can the horrors and challenges of the Filipino migration experience surpass even the darkest realms of the supernatural?

Author: Jet Tagasa

et Tagasa is a former OFW and broadcast media professional. She lived and worked in Hong Kong and Dubai for over two decades, from 1996 to 2018. In 2019, she settled back in Manila, alongside her husband and two cats . When she’s not weaving spine-chilling stories, Jet unleashes her creative energy as an Events Creative in Manila, Philippines. Her inaugural literary venture, The Secret Lives of OFWs, opens a new chapter in her storytelling journey.