What if the key to a better future isn’t overseas, but in the very fields we leave behind?
Every year, thousands of Filipino farmers trade their plows for passports, hoping for a brighter future abroad. However, many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) return home to the same poverty they left behind. In San Felipe West, Pangasinan, a groundbreaking initiative is proving that the dreams they sought overseas can actually be realized back home, in the very land they left behind.
This video follows the story of Johnny Lampa, a 50-year-old farmer and father of four from San Felipe West, who left his rice paddies to work in Saudi Arabia. Like many OFWs, he sought a better life for his family, but when his overseas job ended, he returned home to face the same financial struggles. Debt, rising costs of farming, and low crop prices made it difficult for him to provide for his family or fund his children’s education.
In partnership with local leaders and the police, Pure Bayanihan provided Johnny and his fellow ex-OFWs with the support they need to restart their farming livelihood at home. This program gives farmers a second chance by addressing the real challenges that force farmers to leave. By offering affordable farming supplies, eliminating transportation costs, and providing flexible payment options, Pure Bayanihan is helping farmers rebuild their lives on their own terms.
Through this sustainable solution, returning workers have found more than just resources—they’ve found a support system. Together, they’re creating sustainable farming practices, strengthening their community, and breaking the cycle of poverty that once drove them abroad.
