Divine Mercy Filipino Community forum on stress management

Members of the Divine Mercy Filipino Community in Tel-Aviv attended a workshop on stress management, facilitated by Father Nilo Tanalega, SJ, the executive director of the Ugat Foundation from the Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. More than 100 participants were present for the two hours sessions over two days on January 8 and 9, 2016. Fr. Nilo solicited the participation of the attendees by asking the question: "What are the usual reasons for stress among the migrant workers in Israel?"

The participants identified at least three situations which cause stress among them: 1. family left behind in their home country, 2. employment or work-related stress and 3. relationships.

Family left behind in the home country often place increasing demands for financial assistance for the education of children, expenditure for needs (gadgets, vices, building of big houses, etc); and for extended family. Employment or work related stress is tied to overwork, no time for rest, demands of employers, going to disco houses, gambling, other vices, etc. Relationship stress is tied to creating another family in Israel, jealousy and gossip in the workplace, at home or even in the church community.

Fr. Nilo explained that the OFWs (overseas foreign workers) should increase self-awareness: they have to know themselves, their capabilities, and the extent to which they can support their family. They have to be honest with their family members, that the work here is not easy and that the money they get from work should only be spent on the most important needs of the family. A second aspect is self respect. They are not machines. They are human beings, who get sick, tired and lonely, but they have to choose their responses to the problems they face by respecting their own dignity as a person, not giving in to vices and other activities that may distract them from work related stress or even loneliness. Individual consultations were also conducted after the sessions.