Since 2009 we’ve provided hundreds of thousands of jobs in the Philippines.

It’s something we’re proud of.

Here’s why (from Julia, my Online Filipino Content Specialist):

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When I was growing up, coming from a single parent home was actually pretty common. But it’s not because our parents are divorced. There’s no divorce in the Philippines. The reason why a lot of us come from single parent homes is because one parent usually had to work abroad.

When I got pregnant, this was actually an option presented to me and my husband. We knew we wanted to have a family but we weren’t sure if we could afford it. The best option at that time was for me to work abroad, since I had the best prospects.

Imagine telling a new mother that? That in order for me to provide for my family, I had to be ready to leave them.

I threw a tantrum. I’m not proud of it. I blame my pregnancy hormones for that. But if I’m being completely honest, I probably would have thrown a tantrum even without the hormones. Having a family of my own was something I have always wanted. Breaking up my family for the sake of money just didn’t make sense. I didn’t care if this was the norm. Doesn’t matter that this option was supported by friends, family, and generations of overseas Filipino workers before me.  I really didn’t want to do it.

So when the option of working from home was presented to me, it was a godsend. I had to take a significant pay cut but it meant I could stay at home. We’d save on childcare and the expenses associated with my commute. Our combined salary barely covered all our living expenses. It was hard for the first couple of years but we made it work. Eventually I started making enough for us to be comfortable and start saving for the future.

Now, our daughter is the odd kid at school. She’s one of the few kids where both of parents attend all the school events. Unlike other kids in her class, she’s never experienced that lingering sadness of knowing that your family isn’t complete for the major milestones in your life. She can count on the fact that both Mama and Papa are going to be there, even if it embarrasses her sometimes.

Do I envy my peers who make more money or have more lucrative careers working abroad? A bit. But I also know for the fact that they’re just as jealous of all the birthdays, Christmases, family vacations, and major milestones that we’re able to celebrate as a family. 

– Halloween event we attended as a family. Not seen here is the laptop my husband was carrying so he could work while our daughter played with the other kids.

– An ordinary day. My husband taught our daughter to make muffins. She was so proud of the fact that she did it all by herself.
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I love that families get to stay together because we provide work at home jobs. 

Legitimate work at home jobs.
Julia has worked for me for more than 10 years. 
Her husband has worked for me for more than 5 years.
Their daughter lives a different life than most of her peers.

John