SINCE Christmas Day is just around the corner and travel restrictions still in place, many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) will again be spending the holidays where they are working, away from their loved ones for the second year in a row.
While the longing to be with family is collectively felt by OFWs and their families all-year round, it is most especially felt during the Christmas season, which many describe as the world’s longest celebration of the yuletide season.
However, distance is definitely not enough to stop families from celebrating the most anticipated holiday in the Philippines.
For last minute shoppers, there is still time to organize a gift to send for family and friends back home to show them that they are top of mind near or far.
So here are some practical ways for OFWs to celebrate Christmas with their loved ones even while away from home:
Bring tidings of joy to the table
Want to relieve stress for the big meal? OFWs can order from local online food delivery services and send it straight to their family’s door. It may not be the same as homemade recipes that Lolas and Titas whip up every Christmas but might be the biggest win for this year’s Noche Buena.
Beyond providing a quick and ready option for loved ones, buying food from a favorite local vendor is also a nice way to give back to the local community hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
See the family on the big screen
Upgrade video calls by connecting a mobile device to the TV or any large display so it feels like the entire family is in the same room. By doing this, OFWs can chat with loved ones in real time and are captured better in the Christmas family photo.
Nowadays, especially with the onset of the pandemic and social distancing, families can stay connected during the holidays using the many available video chat apps on the internet so every one will have a grand time despite the distance.
Send love home over long-distance with WorldRemit
Can’t decide on the right gift to send home? Let them pick their own.
Sending money to family and friends for Christmas can be a fast and easy way to get them exactly what they need. Money transfer companies, like WorldRemit, offer a better, cheaper and more secure way to send money to the Philippines and hundreds of other countries.
With WorldRemit, OFWs can easily check the best time to send money with daily exchange rate notifications. In most cases, money transfer takes just minutes, making it perfect for a last-minute gift. Send to accounts at more than 70 banks and mobile wallets (including GCash, Paymaya, Coins.ph and GrabPay) and/or cash at any of WorldRemit’s over 24,000 partner locations all over the Philippines.
Every Christmas, billions of dollars are transferred to family members by expats living and working abroad in the rush to send gifts home. According to the World Bank, around 40 percent of the remittances sent during December are declared as gifts.
WorldRemit is helping families take part in Christmas traditions and celebrations by connecting those families that are overseas. As a special Christmas gift, WorldRemit is offering three transfers free of charge. With the code “3FREE” or “3PASKO,” OFWs get the best value out of their hard-earned money.
To get started, visit https://www.worldremit.com.