The social construction of reality among professional Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Thailand
List of Authors
  • Jason C. Cocjin

Keyword
  • institutions, professional OFWs, social construction of reality, Thailand

Abstract
  • This study discusses the social construction of reality of professional Overseas Filipino Workers in Thailand. It identifies their new realities, accumulated understanding, and shared definitions of socio-cultural realities and patterns of acting. It describes how the professional OFW’s engage, build a new identity and internalize their concrete roles in Thailand. Lastly, it examines how they turned a new subjective reality into a new objective reality. In order to determine the social construction of reality of thirteen (13) professional OFWs in Thailand, the study used a qualitative descriptive research design as a technique of inquiry and analysis. Face-to-face, audio and video online interviews, as well as talking via an application, were used to collect data. The findings revealed that the participants encountered and engaged with Buddhism, the monarchy, and the Thai economy the most in Thailand. These institutions became ingrained in their daily knowledge, collected wisdom, and shared definitions of their socio-cultural realities. As a result, while living and working in the state, they establish their knowledge, conduct, connections, and responsibilities. Their new identity incorporates Thai customs of interpersonal relationships and task completion. Justifying, explaining, and defining an action, a system, or an idea as acceptable or normal is how subjective reality is transformed into objective reality. Some of their actions in Thailand were routinized and eventually became commonplace. Finally, the participants' cultural memories are used to understand Thai norms. These findings may be useful in conversations about socializing Filipinos on values, attitudes, and abilities that clarify the Filipino identity.

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