Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

International travellers  arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport festooned with Christmas decorations  on December 18, 2023 in Pasay City. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

CHRISTMAS-OFW

Jekki Pascual

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176647504803820231218-ofw-gift-giving-JC-0167.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">International travellers  arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport festooned with Christmas decorations  on December 18, 2023 in Pasay City. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The holiday season brings many Filipinos abroad back home to celebrate with their families. But there are also a segment of them who needed to fly out of the country before Christmas.</p><p>Arnel Sumasadsad, a welder, is heading to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. He and his brother will both work abroad with a two-year contract. Their flight date is December 23, 2025 or just two days before Christmas.</p><p>He said they have no choice but to follow the instructions to them by their employers. He is joined by 10 other construction workers on the same flight.</p><p>&quot;Napakabigat ng katawan. Malungkot. Kailangan umalis para sa pamilya, para sa pangarap,&quot; he told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>His whole family rented a vehicle from Batangas to bring him and his brother to the Ninoy Aquino Intetnational Airport. His wife, children, sibling, and his mother all joined the trip. The next time they will see each other in person will be two years from now.</p><p>&quot;Malungkot na masaya kaming pamilya. Dalawa sa aking anak na aalis. Wala pong magagawa at kailangan umalis,&quot; said their mother Anita who hugged and kissed Arnel.</p><p>Based on data from the Manila International Airport Authority, figures for Monday, December 22, 2025, showed that there were 42,603 arrivals from abroad, and 39,281 departures to other countries. Departures include OFWs who has no choice but to fly out and miss holiday celebration at home.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>HOMECOMING</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>It&#x27;s a different story for arriving OFWs who will celebrate Christmas with the family after a long time. </p><p>Laarni Zate, OFW from Dubai, said she is excited to finally see her family including her five children Cagayan de Oro.</p><p>&quot;Mayakap ko mga anak ko kasi almost 3 years din na hindi ko sila nayakap. Through video call lang... excited sobra,&quot; she said while in transit at NAIA.</p><p>Both Arnel and Laarni show different stories of OFWs this holiday season, but one thing that connects overseas workers is the importance of families, holiday season or not.</p><p>The MIAA is seeing fewer passengers today compared to the record high passengers last weekend, which reached over 170,000 passengers per day on Saturday and Sunday.</p><p>The number of passengers slightly dropped to 164,000 Monday, lower than the weekend figure, but still higher than ordinary days. MIAA expects passenger volume to decrease on Wednesday, and will surge again after Christmas.</p><div><br/></div><p>. </p>

<p>The holiday season brings many Filipinos abroad back home to celebrate with their families. But there are also OFWs who needed to fly out of the country before Christmas.</p>

The holiday season brings many Filipinos abroad back home to celebrate with their families. But there are also OFWs who needed to fly out of the country before Christmas.

'Para sa pamilya': OFWs return home for Christmas, but others to fly out too

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'Para sa pamilya': OFWs return home for Christmas, but others to fly out too

Jekki Pascual,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 23, 2025 03:38 PM PHT

Read More:

ofw

overseas filipino workers

christmas

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