Makati's young professionals recast "OFW" to mock their own overworked urban lives

Young professionals working in Makati City are recasting the traditional meaning of OFW, overseas Filipino worker, to describe themselves as "overworked" or "on-site" Filipino workers, using social media to satirize the financial district's high costs and expatriate-style amenities.

The trend has spawned a wave of social media reels that chronicle daily routines against a backdrop of skyscrapers, manicured parks and coffee shops, while parodying classic OFW experiences with jokes about homesickness and working hard to support families.

A Seafarer's Satirical Lens

Nick Tumbagahan, who relocated to Makati from Bacolod City in the central Philippines after working as a seafarer overseas, documents his "OFW" life in videos showing him leaving his Makati condominium, walking to his morning coffee spot, heading to the office and unwinding at the gym after work.

"The idea came from my own experience," Tumbagahan said, explaining that he left home in search of better opportunities like many others in Makati. "One day, I jokingly referred to myself as an 'OFW in Makati' and it resonated," he added.

The reimagined acronym captures the paradox facing young workers drawn to Metro Manila's premier financial district: urban convenience and professional opportunity paired with a cost of living and hustle culture that mirrors the sacrifices traditionally associated with working abroad.

Source: South China Morning Post