Gift of a lifetime: Why more OFWs are gifting property to their families for Christmas

For millions of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), Christmastime is a happy opportunity to come home and spend quality time together.

- By ABBY REBONG

After excitedly putting together the contents of their balikbayan box for their families back home, the holidays is also a great time for OFWs to surprise their families with an extra-special gift-their own home.Gifting a house-and-lot or a condominium unit for Christmas is a lovely fulfillment of the Filipino Dream, which benefits the family in the long run.

For most Filipinos, owning a home is the grand manifestation of success and financial stability. This dream is rooted in cultural ideals such as:

Filipino culture is intensely family-oriented. The family unit is the core of society, and every decision, especially financial ones, is made with the collective well-being of the family members in mind.

• Security and Legacy: The home is a physical anchor for the family. When an OFW buys a property, they are ensuring that their children and their parents have a safe, stable place to live in, shielding them from the risks of renting or displacement.