Remittances play a crucial role in supporting households and rural communities, particularly in emerging markets like the Philippines. However, the 2014 “de-risking” policies and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic have affected migration, employment, and remittance flows. Central banks are now working to better understand these shifts. This study examines how remittance recipients use these funds and what the impact of remittances is on household consumption. Through unique surveys conducted on migrant households and banks, findings show that cash remittances significantly boost household spending. The growth of remittances is positively influenced by the number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), unemployment rates, and peso depreciation, while high wages and transaction costs reduce remittances. These new results are consistent across multiple robustness tests.