PASS KO Muna Ang Work

Kasama sa kontrata nating mga ofw's ang hindi makapag-celebrate ng Pasko kasama ang mga mahal sa buhay.

Lalo na sa aming mga nandito sa disyerto. Kahit na ilang beses pang sabihin ni Mel Tiangco sa 24 Oras na malapit na ang Pasko, mahirap maramdaman dito. Wala ka namang makikitang signs ng Yuletide seasons.

For a first-timer like me, talaga namang tatamaan ka ng homesick pag nakahiga ka na bago matulog. Ang dami kong biglang nami-miss sa trabaho sa Pilipinas kapag napag-uusapan ang birthday ni Bro.

SIMBANG GABI
Ilang beses kong binalak kumpletuhin ang mga misa tuwing madaling-araw kasi sabi nila ay matutupad ang wish mo kapag nabuo mo ito. Malay mo, bigla nga akong maging milyonaryo. Pero ilang beses rin akong nabigo kasi ang hirap talaga gumising ng alas-kuwatro ng umaga!

Only in the Philippines mo lang makikita ang mga kabataan na gumising nang madaling-araw para magsimbang-porma kasama ang mga syota nila. O kaya naman, magsimbang-lasing after maubos yung bote ng alak habang hinihintay ang misa!

Siyempre, ang pinaka-miss ko sa lahat sa ay ang puto bumbong at ang special bibingkang may itlog sa gitna na tinitinda sa labas ng simbahan. Lagi akong nagpapadagdag sa tindera ng kinayod na niyog tsaka ng pekeng Star Margarine na nagpapasarap sa lasa nito. Pag-uwi sa bahay ay samahan mo pa ng hot cocoa... Magnifico!! Pero paano mo gagawin ito kung ala-sais ng umaga ang pasok mo?


PALUWAGAN
Sa school, ang tawag ay class fund. Noong nagtrabaho na ako, ito na ang tawag. May option kayo ng grupo kung para sa inyong lahat o for personal use ang pag-iipunan niyo. From the word itself, para mas makaluwag ka. Tayong mga Pinoy kasi, namamahalan kapag hiningian ng pang-ambag ng isang bagsakan. Kahit na 100pesos lang ang contribution, mabigat pa rin sa bulsa. Kaya ang solution, piso daily one hundred days before the Christmas party! Bakit kaya mas nagiging kuripot ang tao kapag nagkakaroon na ng trabaho?


KRIS KRINGLE
Monito, monita. Sino nagsabing kuripot ang mga Pinoy? Napakagarbo kaya natin kasi bukod sa paluwagan, may pinagkakagastusan pa tayong mga regalo daily. At nagsisimula ito usually kapag nag-start na rin ang simbang gabi. Something old. Something new. Something slippery when wet. Minsan ok ang matatanggap mo pero madalas ay corny. San ka ba naman kasi kukuha ng worth 10pesos na regalo? Kahit sa Divisoria, di ka pupunta kasi lugi ka sa pamasahe. Araw-araw, nag-iisip ka kung paano mo ipupuslit sa drawer yung regalo mong mukhang tae kasi nakabalot sa dyaryo! Sana ay huwag lang something gooey at baka maitapon lang kapag nakapa ito!


WISH LIST
Karugtong ng kris kringle. May chance kang magsabit o magsulat sa bulletin board ng gusto mong makuha mula sa nakabunot sa'yo. Dito mo makikita ang ugali ng tao. May mukhang tanga kasi pera nalang ang gusto. Ibalik nalang daw ang ginastos niya. May makapal ang mukha kasi alam na ngang 100 lang ang usapan, hihiling ng tig-200. Yung iba, konting kapal lang kasi babayaran ka nalang ng sobra sa hiniling nya. Be careful with what you wish for, it just shows the true you!


GROUP PRESENTATION
Pinakaaabalahan ng lahat. October pa lang ay nagpa-practice na kayo dahil talo kayo noong nakaraang party. Kahit na 'di ka makatulog pag lunch break, ok lang. Kahit nagagalit na ang misis mo sa kakauwi mo ng gabi sa bahay dahil sa rehearsal, ok lang. Nakanangsyet, ilang beses ng bumenta ang ''Katawan'' ng Hagibis, inuulit-ulit niyo pa rin?! Sabagay, sa mga company parties mo lang mapagtatawanan ang mga corny at kahihiyang ginagawa ng mga empleyado. Once a year lang naman. After one week, makakalimutan din nila yun.


13th MONTH PAY
Ito ang pinakamasarap sa lahat. May ibang companies na hinahati ito. Yung iba, binibigay ang kalahati tuwing June. Karamihan naman ay binibigay bago mag-Pasko. Ito lang naman ang panahon na maniniwala ka kay Brod Pete na may LUBI-LUBI!!


Nakakamiss talaga ang araw ni Bro sa Pilipinas. Pero habang nandito ako sa Saudi, PASSKO MUNA ANG LAHAT DAHIL MAY WORK!

~ NO BENTA

The Teminal - Marooned at the Airport

“I am sorry sir but you have no seat reservation for this flight!”

“Say that again please?” Seemingly annoyed, the Chinese check-in clerk repeated what she just said as her eyebrows realigned parallel to her slanted eyes. This time, the words rammed into my ears like a runaway train.

I felt my head spinning as I retorted. “What do you mean I have no reservation? I’m only on transit!”

“I’m sorry sir but looks like you did not confirm your seat for this flight! Next please!” her neck craning sideways searching for the passenger behind me in queue.

I just shut up in disbelief because I was afraid my next words would be expressed by my clenched fist punching her face. As I moved back to one of those mono-block seats waiting for another dislodged passenger like me, I tried to recall the events that brought me to this predicament.

It was Christmas season that time. 1995. I was booked to leave Shanghai morning on the 23rd of December. I knew that Christmas season has always been on top of all the peak seasons. But this is China, not a predominantly Christian place, so go figure.

Everything seemed alright because our HR officer who issued me the ticket gave me her reassurance. Besides, I had come that far already (checking in my luggage with Manila as final destination, completing the flight to Hong Kong) only to be denied a seat for my next flight. My understanding that time was that once a passenger confirms his seat for the first flight, the seat for the next flight is confirmed as well. Besides, what happens to the checked-in luggage?

I figured that some VIP, business mogul, president or Mafioso who wanted to go home for Christmas that time ran out of tickets and changed the rules. This is some grand-scale conspiracy probably connected to the time of JFK assassination, I mused. The dislocated passengers in the transit lounge started growing in numbers from different countries, race, color and body odor. It seemed the whole place had been transformed into a new Zion, an assembly of chance passengers coming from around the globe. Each had his own story to tell.

1. One couple, an Australian guy married to a Filipina said his friends told him how festive the
Philippines celebrate Christmas so he wanted to check it out. They were bound for Boracay.
Wow! Such a memorable experience that was for him!
2. A Filipina working as a caregiver in Europe, panic-stricken and uncertain how she could stay
in the airport indefinitely with limited money and resources
3. A bunch of Filipino seamen from Johannesburg coming in loud and strong at first but ending
up like wrinkled prunes after learning they have to wait as chance passengers
4. Multitudes walking, climbing, rolling and running. Here and there, left and right, up and down,
everywhere like Willard’s battalion of mice finding their way out of a gigantic maze
5. Me – stunned like a soldier on his way to Afghanistan. I had no extra clothes. I was getting
smelly. I needed a bath. I was waiting for a slight provocation and I would fire
my rifle indiscriminately. Shite!!

I rang my brother who lives there. He told me to leave the airport. The immigration will surely grant me a temporary visa because of regional diplomatic policies he said. I was hoping I could still wait as a chance passenger so I took his advice as an option which turned out a mistake later on. So I waited (perhaps my experience influenced the plot of the Tom Hanks’ film “The Terminal” without my knowledge).

Night came. A familiar baritone voice attracted my attention. It was my boss, probably more surprised than I was. I told him that the check-in clerk insisted that I did not confirm my seat for the next flight so I would have to wait as a chance passenger. After reckoning that I would take ages before I could get that chance, he told me to upgrade my seat in any empty slot in the business or first class. “No problem, I will pay’ he added. So I did. My next flight would be morning the next day.

I thought I was finally free from worry so I decided to leave the airport to spend the night at my brother’s home. Then trouble came. The immigration officer questioned me why I did not show up immediately after our plane landed earlier that morning. So I sweated out explaining to him what happened until he eventually buckled under and granted me a three-day stay.

Strangely, the next day was full of sunshine. I had a restful night. I was wearing signature clothes (or imitation which I didn't care) my brother lent me. I was smelling like Hugo Boss. I was escorted to the airport by my brother wearing a suit and tie. He paid our breakfast and my airport tax (which is no longer required now). He lent me some relief money. I met the chinky-eyed check-in clerk again. This time she was wearing a pleasant grin identical to that of the stewardess in the poster at the wall behind her. It looked like she had been exorcised and had totally forgotten the evil trances she had the night before. And during the flight I learned why first class IS first class – “Would you like to have some coffee, Sir?”, “Would you like to watch a movie, Sir?”, “Care for champagne, Sir?”

There is glory after pain.

~ WANDERING POTTER

The Borne Identity

I culled this story from my old blog in the Multiply site. Just thought it’s loud enough to attract attention.

So here it goes. He-he-he!

Ok so this is the first time I’m going to write something here. Really, I don’t know how to begin this but perhaps I can evoke my high-school literary skills once more. That’s a long time ago so that should come easy for me because I also used to be an associate editor of a company newsletter, which I still footnote in my CVs till now. At least, the fond memory of my excited colleagues anticipating to read my column each time an issue comes out still sends me high-school shivers.
Let me tell you a story. Once I visited Italy with a colleague and we went to Venice over the weekend. It was crowded with tourists, as always. It came to me as some sort of ritual that if you visit a foreign country, you should see a famous place or landmark like Eiffel Tower, Great Wall in China, Liberty Statue and others and have your picture taken. It’s no big deal really. It’s still just a common norm that works well to convince your friends that “I was there!” despite the proliferation of all these computer-generated manipulation nowadays when anybody can fool you that he was in this place and that. The picture is always the best medium of identifying the place and the person together.
Well, I also did an amount of this identifying work by finding someone who was also a fellow Filipino. Italy is not like Hong Kong or Singapore where you can bump into a fellow countryman with intermissions of five to ten minutes. I felt like waiting for ages to find one until perhaps I started yelling some common chants like “Cory, Cory” and flashing the notorious “L-sign” with my hands to match. “Hmmm, not a good idea to create the Filipino image abroad”, I thought. Instead, I started looking for clues.
Yes, clues! Or shall I say, those unique to Filipinos. Let me list some that are common if you happen to walk in the park:
1. If he looks Malayan in race, not too tall to qualify for a basketball team but not too short to
wear G-strings, he could be Filipino.
2. He’s wearing printed T-shirts, walking shorts and pair of sandals or branded rubber shoes
altogether. Or if it’s cold, he’s wearing a sports jacket, Levi’s, Guess or any famous brand of
jeans and rubber shoes or sneakers altogether and a baseball cap as topping.
3. He carries a clutch bag.
4. He may wear some jewelry: necklace, rings on several fingers, etc.
5. If he speaks English, he pronounces each word very distinctly. Sometimes the “f” will
sound like a “p” and vice versa, a speech habit we fondly call as “f-p syndrome”. This goes
to the case of “v” and “b” sounds as well.
6. You say "Psst” and he turns around.
7. His name is Boy or Bong.
8. If he’s thirty-somethin’ or above, his fat belly is beginning to show up.
9. He addresses his friends, acquaintances, fellow mates “Pa-re” or “Pre” as an Aussie will
call his “ma-it”
10. He points to something afar by shaping his lips in a "kissing" fashion.
11. He looks lost like he’s also looking for a fellow Filipino. He might even yell “Balut” and
wait for the acknowledgement.

I'll tell you what "balut" is next time.

Well that's it. That’s all there is in that blog.

In parting I would just like to express my opinion on this matter of Filipino identification mentioned in this list. I think Pinoys everywhere are more likely to hear more compliments about them when somebody sees them in person than when they are watched on TV covering songs of white celebrities. Try singing the song of Mariah Carey on TV with her watching and she might say “that brown monkey can sing huh?’

Peace....

~ WANDERING POTTER

That Fever of Loneliness Called Homesickness

“ET phone home, ET phone home!”

This line "E.T. phone home" was ranked 15th on the American Film Institute’s 100 Years, 100 Movie Quotes list. Perhaps not only because the 1982 science-fiction film “ET” was a blockbuster but also because everybody feels a feverish yearning for home that includes ET, the childlike alien who quoted this popular line.

A decade and a half back my wife and I were having a very special dinner at home. What made it special was not the dish we were enjoying that time. It was topic we were discussing. We both had decided that time that I would start working overseas. What was odd was that all the excitement we had that week fizzled out that dinner.

“Kaya ba natin?” she asked me as a tear flowing down her eye accentuated her concern.

I froze as I tried to find sense to my impending reply. Instead of a reassuring verbal response my eyes welled up in tears as well. Finally with a crackling voice I uttered “Kakayanin natin ito…” Then I looked at our barely 3-year-old son seated at a high chair between us playing with his food. His juvenile innocence only broke my heart more. It was hard to accept leaving a very young family all in pursuit of a better life. She would have to start living her life in the absence of a husband, a father, a friend as I would in her absence as well. As our minds began to get too preoccupied with the difficult challenges ahead, we prayed for our Heavenly Father’s guidance.

The day to exchange farewells inevitably came although my mental attitude was not ready yet. My wife and I had a tearful embrace. The next time to see each other again would wait for six months. I instantly felt a tinge of homesickness the very moment we unlock ourselves from each other’s arms. My feet were dragging my whole body as I walked to the entrance of the airport terminal. I felt that its facade suddenly turned into a detention prison. I had mixed emotions and I felt helpless. I realized that it was not anything like the movies where my own character would just decide not to leave, drop my luggage and go back to my wife’s waiting arms. Time was sucking me into another dimension of existence.

My plane bound to Hong Kong left without the last farewell phone calls, SMS, etc. The waving and flying kisses were our last gestures of goodbye. Owning cell phones at that time was still a privilege. All throughout the flight I was hypnotizing myself to start living an OFW life.

I met my new boss at the Hong Kong airport and went together to a hotel to spend one night. After freshening up, I decided to pay a visit to my brother who lives there and called him up. Within minutes he picked me up in my hotel and had some dinner at home. Later while having light conversation, I mentioned to them that I was beginning to feel homesickness. I even told them I was having a strange feel of guilt in my decision to accept an overseas job. They reassured me that everything would turn out fine and added that in due time my anxieties will just fade away. Furthermore, my brother said that Shanghai is beautiful, booming and exciting unlike the repressive cultural climate of Saudi Arabia which was his first overseas stint. I spent the next hours listening to his stories how Filipinos like him struggled living and working with very limited social freedom. He admitted he was just one of the fortunate few to leave Saudi for Hong Kong.

The whole thing finally sank in my mind. For a newbie OFW I was even luckier.

The next day, my boss helped me get a visa for China and flew to Shanghai hours later. For the next few years I kept abreast with my family only through mail and fortnightly long-distance phone calls. The feeling of isolation had always been so intense that going back home twice each year at Christmas time and summer season was ecstasy. Some felt even much more. I remember one British colleague who quit when the company charged him the huge amount of phone bills he incurred talking to his family for long hours daily.

Now the times have changed. Throughout the years technology stepped in making communication more accessible. Gone are the anxious waits for the mailed letters and expensive long-distance phone calls. The growing internet helped me stay with my family together while providing for their needs overseas. We learned that with love and trust the family spirit will always triumph over the bitter challenges of life.

~ WANDERING POTTER

OFW, Expats, Whatever

Dito palang sa titles nagkakatalo-talo na. OFW or Expats. Yung “o” sa pagitan ng dalawang titles na ito ang boundary line ng tila separation of classes o caste system defined by the job nature of Filipinos working overseas. Kung blue collar ka employed in a construction company as a carpenter, plumber, mason, etc OFW ka. Kung ikaw naman ay nasa senior management level ung tipong nakasuot ng kurbata pag nasa office at naka-casual shirt wearing a safety helmet pag nasa field Expat ka. Best example nito yung isang political ad noon sa TV showing Pinoys working overseas at different levels. Narun ung mga construction workers sweating it out under the scorching heat of the sun pero nakangiti pa rin - OFW. Then ung isang Pinoy supervisor naman with beetling brow na naka-casual golf shirt at safety helmet reading a blueprint to his crew - Expat.

Funny pero nakataas ang isang kilay.

But the truth is OFW or Expat they have the same definition and therefore are the same equal titles. A Filipino who is working on a foreign assignment. But I have met some people who strongly object being addressed as OFW. They seem to connote that OFWs are the domestic helpers, construction crew, caregivers, chauffeurs, cooks, orderlies, etc. On the other hand, Expats are those who are in the managerial or consultant levels. But strictly by definition, they are all the same. Pinoys who work overseas are all expatriates (ex – out, patria – country) no matter what the jobs are. Perhaps we were only used to associating the title Expat to white people which local companies in Pinas hire. And generally they hold the top level management positions. Therefore the misperception stuck. I would call it simply corporate myth as they can also be categorized as Overseas Foreign Wimps err.. I mean Workers, sorry. So going back to the “o” that separates the OFW and Expats mentioned earlier, there seems to be a shadow of discrimination looming among Pinoys separated by these two titles. And sometimes one is promoted from “OFW” to “Expat” because of seniority.

Napansin ko na agad ito nung first time ako magwork abroad. Hindi komportable yung mga fellow Pinoy colleagues ko na matagal na sa company na matawag o ma-address silang OFW. Immediately they cut the conversation and correct the speaker that they are indeed Expats not OFW. “Mga expats tayo dito at hindi mga OFW” they profess. Wha…? Ok the speaker stands corrected. Pero what’s the big fuss? Sadly there IS a big fuss. It creates a caste system among Pinoy employees belonging to different levels of job positions. It spawns jealousy and eventually devolves into disunity. Once again highlighting the notorious perception that the crab mentality lurks in every Pinoy migrant worker.

My present thoughts tell me that every Pinoy who works overseas share a common cause. Family. And because of that feeling of love and belongingness towards that small but vital unit of society the Lord has blessed us all, we chase our dreams wherever they go to provide the best to all our beloved. And in our journey we build new families with Pinoy colleagues in host countries that adopted us. The moment I decided to be an OFW or Expatriate, I long omitted the “o” that separates them.

~ WANDERING POTTER

The Calling

Never na pumasok sa isip ko ang mangibang-bansa.

Noong malapit na akong matapos sa course kong civil engineering, marami na ang nagtatanong kung maghahanap ako ng trabaho sa abroad. Ang sagot ko, "Kailangan ng Pilipinas ang mga professionals".

Idealistic. Paksyet.

Pinangarap kong magkaroon ng magandang bahay, ng magarang sasakyan, ng malaking ipon para sa pamilya at magiging sariling pamilya ko.

Pero sa entry level ko sa unang trabaho ko as MT o management trainee, binigyan lang ako ng humigit kumulang walong libo kada buwan. Langya, ibawas mo ang tax ng gobyerno na wala namang pinupuntahan. Yung SSS, Philhealth, at Pag-ibig. Magkano nalang ang natira? Eh 'di ang unti-unting naglalaho mong mga inaasam.

Ilang beses ko ring nasabi na ayoko na. Hanap nalang ako ng ibang trabaho. Pero dahil siguro sa mga kasama at sitwasyon sa Pilipinas, tumagal ako ng more than six years sa first job ko. From MT to supervisory level, umangat din naman ang position at sahod ko.

KINAYANG PAGKASYAHIN PERO KULANG.

Noong mag-decide na kami ng labs ko na magpakasal last year, gumawa kami ng budget plan. Kahit bali-baligtarin, ito lang ang computation tamang formula:

INCOME - EXPENSES = SAVINGS

Pamasahe sa pagpasok araw-araw. Pambayad sa renta ng bahay, sa tubig, sa kuryente, sa telepono, sa internet, sa pamamalengke, sa gasul, sa damit, at siyempre para sa leisure time (kaya pala laging masakit ang ulo ni ermats nang mawalan ng trabaho si erpats).

Sa tulong ni Bro, sumapat naman ang blessings Niya sa amin.

After ilang months ng walang-kapantay na masayang pagsasama, we received another blessing. Actually two blessings from Bro. Nalaman namin sa ultrasound result na kambal ang dinadala ni misis.

I'M THE HAPPIEST MAN AT THAT MOMENT.

Panay ang pasalamat ko sa Kanya at sinabi ko na gagawin ko ang lahat to become a good father to them.

Weeks passed by and I came to the realization na kakapusin ang kita naming mag-asawa sa paglabas ng mga angels namin. Doble kayod dapat dahil doble ang gagastusin para sa kanila. 'Di naman ako masyadong kinabahan dahil alam kong magtutulungan kami ng misis ko. Pero sinubukan kong magcompute, mukhang kakapusin na kami.

Mabait talaga ang Diyos. He finds a way to help us face the challenges in life.

Tumawag ang pinsan ni misis at sinabing magpasa ako ng resumé sa company nila na naka-base sa Saudi. Nangangailangan daw ng quantity surveyor.

Ilang beses kong pinag-isipan. Ilang beses naming pinag-usapan. Ilang beses kong iniyakan.

Mahirap pero kailangan. Lahat gagawin ko para sa asawa at magiging anak ko.

Kaya bago ako umalis papuntang Saudi, binaon ko sila sa puso ko upang maging singtibay ng bato at singtatag ng bloke ng semento.

~ NO BENTA

We Will Inherit the World

The figures below were taken from Wikipedia's OFW Population / Statistics:

Total OFW Population
8,726,520-11,000,000 estimates
Regions with significant populations
United States 2,802,586  Saudi Arabia 1,066,401  UAE 529,114  Canada 462,935  Australia 250,347  Malaysia 244,967  United Kingdom 203,035  Japan 202,557  Qatar 195,558  Singapore 156,466  Kuwait 139,802  Hong Kong 130,537  Italy 120,192  South Korea 80,715  Taiwan 74,010  Germany 54,336  France 47,075  Bahrain 44,703  Spain 41,780  Israel 36,880  Greece 29,344  Lebanon 25,818  Macau 23,348  New Zealand 23,023  Guam 22,567  Norway 20,035  Netherlands 19,163  Sweden 18,435  Ireland 16,832  Papua New Guinea 12,932  Switzerland 12,042

Sa estimated 92 million na population ng Pilipinas, estimated 11 million or 12% ang OFW's.

Magtataka ka pa ba kung bakit bawat lugar sa mundo ay may marunong magsalita ng Tagalog? Magtataka ka pa ba kung bakit may mga dedicated Filipino Stores sa ibang bansa? Magtataka ka pa ba kung bakit kailangang may TFC ang ABS-CBN at PinoyTV ang GMA7?

SIGURO HINDI NA.

Mula skilled workers hanggang professinal level, papasukin ng mga Pinoy. Wala na siguro kasing makitang pag-asa sa Lupang Hinirang.

Huwag ka na rin magtaka na balang araw ay magiging "Super Power" ang Pinas. Ang mga nag-aalaga sa mga future leaders ng ibang bansa ay Pinay. Ang cook ng White House ay Pinay. Yung nakaimbento ng "iloveyou virus", nasa Pentagon na raw.

WE WILL DOMINATE THE WORLD!!

~ NO BENTA

Free Call and Chat

This is a great application for both PC and Mobile Users. You can have free calls and chat to your loved ones through popular networks like Yahoo! Messenger, Facebook, Skype, and Googletalk.

This is really a big help for OFWs to cut down expenses on international calls.

Download the application at http://www.nimbuzz.com/en/mobile/download

~ NO BENTA

Pagtatrabaho ng malayo sa pamilya - Hanggang kelan?

Nakabakasyon ako sa Pinas minsan nitong taon. Naimbita kami ng isang mommy na friend ni misis dahil birthday ng anak nito at magti-treat daw siya ng pizza. Isang munting celebration at naibahagi pa sa amin ng kanyang kaibigan kaya para sakin lumabas talaga itong special treatment. Ang nakatutuwa pa rito matalik na magkaibigan ang kanyang anak at aming anak na parehong nasa Grade V sa boy's school. Kaya ako nama'y giliw na giliw na nanonood sa dalawang batang nagbobonding habang naglalaro ng kanya-kanyang Nintendo DS samantalang ang aking asawa nama'y busy rin sa pakikipagkwentuhan. At sa mga sandaling yun, naglakbay ang aking diwa sa sari-saring imahinasyon nagbabalik tanaw sa mga munting okasyong tulad nito na namimiss ko gawa ng pagtatrabaho sa abroad.

Naputol na lang bigla ang aking pagmumuni-muni nang parang nananadya'y tinanong ako ng friend ni misis.

"Hanggang kelan ka magtatrabaho sa abroad?"

"Huh? A..eh..sa totoo lang...di ko pa alam.." sagot ko naman sabay lunok ng laway.

Matagal na nga rin akong nagwowork sa labas ng bansa. Walong taon na bagama't paputol-putol nga lang. Sapat na siguro yung dalawang taon pa para hustong sampu. Kadalasan ganun ang naririnig kong planong time frame ng mga OFW. Time frame para makaipon na ng husto at pwede ng magtayo ng sariling negosyo. Pero sapat na nga ba ito sa talagang nararamdaman ng karamihan? Sa nararamdaman ko ng mga sandaling yun ng ako'y tanungin?

Kung anuman ang maging sagot ko sa tanong na yun, ito'y isang desisyon na gagawin ko para sa pamilya ko hindi lang sa sarili ko. At marahil yun din ang magiging sagot ng iba. Bago ako nagdesisyon na magkaroon ng sariling pamilya kinondisyon ko na ang isip ko na hindi madaling ipagkaloob lalo pa't panatilihin ang isang maginhawang buhay sa kanila. Umiikot ang tagumpay at kabiguan. Minsan swerte minsan malas. Pero masakit makita na naapektuhan ang pamilya pag matumal ang daloy ng swerte lalo pa't bata pa mga anak at nag-aaral. Sa panahon ngayon lalo na sa Pinas, kulang na kulang na sa job opportunities lalo na kung nasa middle-age na. Talagang ramdam na ramdam na yung tinatawag na middle-age career crisis. Try mong imaginin yung isang dating senior level manager mula sa isang nagsarang company at kasabay ng mga new grads na naghihintay sa isang job interview. At kung type mong manood ng simulation nito, panoorin mo si Jim Carrie sa Dick and Jane. OMG!

Kaya mabuti naman at bukas na ngayon ang pintuan sa apat na sulok ng daigdig para sa mga opportunities. At dahil sa pag-export ko ng aking professional expertise, isa na kong bayani ng bayan. Siguro nga kung para sa pamilya ko. Ang pagiging breadwinner naman ay isang heroic deed na. Ok lang yun. Kaya lang yung tagline na "bayani ng bayan" sa tingin ko nagmula lang sa isang airline commercial na naging national slogan. Kahit ito nabudburan na rin ng paminta ng pulitika.

Sanhi na rin upang mapagkamalang madatung kasi nga dollar-earner lalo na kung magpopost sa facebook ng mga kodakan mula sa ibat ibang lugar o gimikan samantalang ang totoo ay nagpapalipas lang ng homesick.

Salamat naman at sa panahon ngayon marami at hindi na masyadong mahal ang means of communication kaya sapat na yon para magkaron ako ng second wind para magpatuloy sa pagiging OFW.

Kaya para sa akin hanggang kaya pa ng katawan at masaya naman sa trabaho kahit nagsasakripisyo okey lang yung manatiling OFW. Kahit na middle age ka na at first timer pa. Kumbaga sa mga kasalukuyang OFWs "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Enjoy your work and savor the opportunity. Ilang beses na akong nakarinig ng mga anunsyo ng ilang OFW na magreretire na sila at magnenegosyo na lang sa Pinas. Kung hindi nangyari, hindi tumagal. Madaling maubos ng mathematics of economics ang perang naipon sa pagtatrabaho sa abroad. At para naman sa mga first timers "Age doesn't matter. Follow your heart." You can listen to the advice of old folks about the loneliness of working away from the family but perhaps with a grain of salt. Nung time naman nila okey lang na magwork sa Pinas kahit na walo pa mga anak. Simple lang ang buhay noon. Kung me TV na kayo noon komportable na pamilya. Sa ngayon makakarinig ka ng "Pa, ako na lang walang cellphone sa klase namin". Kaya yang dramatics ng homesick ngayon daig na ng economics. Kaya bukod sa sariling family, meet your global family.

Ang pagkakataong makapagtrabaho sa abroad upang kumita ng maayos ay isang biyaya mula ke Lord. Ito ang isang purpose Niya.

~ WANDERING POTTER

B'LOG ANG MUNDO

BILOG ANG MUNDO..


Isang tagay sa lahat ng mga Bayaning Pinoy na nasa apat na sulok ng sanlibutan.

Ang sarap mapanood sa TV na nakakatulong tayo sa ating bayan. Tayong mga OFW's daw ang nagpapalago ng dollar reserves ng Pilipinas. Pero nakakalungkot aminin na hindi naman sa kapakanan ng bansa natin ang dahilan kung bakit tayo nagpapakahirap sa lupain ng mga dayuhan.


PAMILYA ang dahilan. Period. Wala nang iba pa.


Kung sapat lang sana ang kinikita natin sa lupang sinilangan, 'di na tayo kailangang mangibang-bansa at iwanan ang kani-kaniyang pamilya kapalit ng dolyares.

Dollars - ang sarap ng feeling kapag nasa kamay mo na. Katumbas lang naman nito ay lungkot, saya, hirap, at ginhawa.


Samahan niyo kami at lasapin ang buhay ng mga Pinoy sa ibang bansa.

~ NO BENTA