IS THERE LIFE AFTER WORKING ABROAD? YES, AND POSSIBLY A MUCH BETTER ONE, TOO!
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, there are approximately 2.3 million Filipinos working abroad. It’s a large number—around 2.2% of our entire population—but most of them have the same reasons for choosing to become an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW): lack of local employment opportunities, hope for a better future, and perhaps the most universal—better income.
But there’s a trade-off, as many OFWs will attest to problems like homesickness, depression and broken marriages and families because of prolonged absence of their loved ones. For those who decide to move back home, is there life after being an OFW? For Janno Tionloc, who worked and lived abroad for more than five years, the answer is a resounding yes!
Janno was working as a Software Engineer in Singapore when he thought about returning to the Philippines. While he was earning well, he felt that working in the corporate world was not for him. At around the same time he was making a decision, a friend of his joined Philam Life, and wondered if Janno would be interested in making the same leap. “The timing was great because I was on the lookout for a career that will help me fulfill my dreams and those of my family’s.”
What made the decision easier was learning about Genesis by Philam Life, the company’s flagship strategy in growing its pool of Elite Advisors, who are provided with holistic support as they transition into the Financial Advisor career. Capital support, cutting-edge sales tools and technology, and comprehensive training and development curriculum are provided to better equip them with expert knowledge and skills to become best-in-class Financial Advisors.
After being overseas for so long, Janno went through an adjustment period in the Philippines, but he says “nothing beats being back in our own country with our family for good.” Having a new lucrative source of income helped. But more than the financial rewards, one thing Janno appreciates most is that he has finally found the fulfillment he was seeking in life. “My favorite part of the job is witnessing how our clients’ lives transform over time while being a part of their journey towards achieving financial freedom.”
Part of his responsibilities include giving clients accurate, reliable, and timely information about their policies to build their confidence and literacy on managing their finances. For Janno, insurance coverage is important because it gives people peace of mind, knowing that their families and loved ones are financially protected when the unexpected happens.
It’s the career advice he constantly shares with his fellow workers overseas. “Being an OFW myself, I understand all the hardships and sacrifices they face every day working away from home to provide a better life for their families. That’s why it’s important to have a concrete plan when they decide to come home for good. With the work I do today, I have been paying it forward to fellow OFWs who wish to rejoin their families in the Philippines.”
Fulfilled, financially stable, and reunited with his loved ones, Janno is now living the dream. “I am so blessed because this career provided me an avenue to be the best person I can be while making a difference in other people’s lives.”