OWWA’s Indifference to Undocumented OFWs

The son of our neighbor died last January 29, 2016 in Spain. And through the goodness of the Lord was home yesterday and buried this morning.

During the wake last night, I happened to sit next to the person who worked hard to make things work so that their son will be brought home the soonest. She told me snippets of what she went through:

Bringing home the body of her kin is not without trouble. He was undocumented or illegally entered Spain to find work. But before he went to Spain, he was legally working in Norway as a nurse, and came to Spain when his permit expired.

On January 29, 2016, he died on his sleep, and was discovered by his employer. The employer informed the girlfriend of the boy who in turn informed his family here in the Philippines. Now, the big question was, “How can they get his body from abroad and bring it home?”

She was tasked to do the work.

Of course, this event is an unfortunate one that it only happened, God forbid, once in our life. So, having no idea “How” she thought of the most obvious agencies of the government who might be able to help or give advice on what to do – and first to mind was the OWWA.

She went immediately to OWWA office in Baguio City to inquire. To her dismay, instead of getting a professional answer, all she got was a very discouraging one. The director said, “They have nothing to do with the case because the subject was undocumented” – period.

Wow, that’s something. It was a plain ill-mannered way to handle an obvious problem of Kababayans asking for advice how to solve it; that the ones whom you expect to lean on gave you a cold shoulder!”

The family member who told me her story said the OWWA seemed to suspect everyone who goes to their office is only asking for money assistance. She said, “Okay, let us say I went to ask if they can provide financial assistance but since the law says the government cannot provide because of his being undocumented, will these people at least have the heart to tell me what best to be done in order to bring home the body of our son? Can she not at least recommend other offices who are working in cases like this? I believe this is not their first time to experience people erroneously coming to their office for help.”

Imagine yourself being the one who went there to ask for help and got nothing more than just the word “We cannot help because your son is undocumented!” How do you feel?

Anyway, God is great! He guided this mother, who did not let her anger get the best of her, to think what is the next step to be done. The next thing, with a companion, they went to DFA Manila and there they were given assistance and connected to people whom they should approach.




She continued, “We are lucky and glory to God who made things easier. I said, “Lucky” because while being in the DFA Manila there was one parent with her companions (probably family members) crying in front of the information for help because they have been waiting for more than six months for the body of their family member to come home."

Yah, we can have the comfort that our neighbor’s son is finally put to rest after a month of emotional waiting. A large amount of money was spent (From 20K euro down to 7K euro) to bring home the body and though this amount hurts it can only hurt the pocket. But the pain caused by insensitive people being paid by our taxes to help us in times of needs like this one is more painful and will not easily be forgotten.

Anyway, we pray and hope, they will learn and next time they’ll be ready to help even those ones considered undocumented as they call them. May they realize that while those OFWs are undocumented they are working so hard and are sending their hard earned money home; In return, is helping our country’s economy.

Lastly, let us pray that those families of OFWs will not have to go through months and even years of waiting for the bodies of their love ones who were unfortunate while away whether legally deployed, became illegal, or used the backdoor because the front door was so full of red tape.

Filipino Voices can Easily Capture Israeli Hearts

The winning of a Kababayan and fellow caregiver, Rose “Osang” Fostanes, in X-Factor Israel made me and all Filipinos proud that Filipinos anywhere in the planet can do an impact and is making this country a talk of their towns. From the miss Universe, Miss world, American Idols, and now X-Factor Israel all are making a buzz to the whole world, topping the lonely news of disasters that are besetting the Philippines.

Osang’s winning reminded me one of the memories I can’t forget I had during my 2nd month working as caregiver, for my third employer, in Gilo, Israel, a neighborhood found in Jerusalem and can be passed by when one goes to Bethlehem.

The work required me to stay all the minute next to my ward because of the fear he will stand up and lost his balance. The only time I see outside is when I peeped on the window, or when I go out early in the morning to throw out garbage.

In the 5th day, boredom kicked in which my very nice religious sons(Brother-in-laws) of my employer noticed, so, they brought me a radio with a cassette tape player. I was so happy, because I had with me some cassette tapes to play for the purpose of overcoming the sickness. The cassette tapes I brought with me from the Philippines are country songs, and my favorite local ones, Ilocano and songs from my favorite Igorot singers, Joel Tingbaoen(Sorry Lourdes I can't find any of your tapes that time).

First, I played Eddie Rabbit which they heard and commented I must be happy now that I can listen to music and songs to fight my loneliness. Then they left.

At the following day, the son came in to see how their father was doing. Their father was sleeping so I was inside the laundry room, that was converted as my room, listening to the voice of one of my local favorite singer, Joel Tingbaoen. Joel Tingbaoen is locally well known singer in the cordillera, singing songs from foreign country singers.  He was our most favorite male Igorot singer since we were kids with my playmates.  I remember we used to carry around a cassette tape of him and play it whenever we found a home with cassette player.

I thought my employer's son will just said goodbye as they usually do when their father was not available, but to my amazement, he got inside my room praising the song I was listening to.  And since it was Saturday, he did not stay long because he was going into their synagogue.

I thought he was just trying to be nice to me on that day, but the following day he came again, now, together with his brother-in-law, just to listen to the voice of the singer, which according to them, with a very beautiful voice like Elvis Presley. They don’t understand much English, and don’t understandd what the songs were all about, but they wanted to listen to the voice – back to back.

No kidding, but during that whole week, when they came in the evening, they would let me play the tape first before they go home.

Sad to say, they no longer heard the voice of Joel Tingbaoen the following week, because there was a misunderstanding between their sister who was in-charge of my recruitment and with my agency.  The agency found me another job, so, I left with my precious tape.

And now that Osang wins this competition despite her being a Filipina and in an age everyone gives up, and not having the beauty everyone expects from a Champion, especially, in a career and age where outward looks is the strongest factor to win, I am now convinced and believe, Israel can be easily serenaded by any Filipino singers.

Thank you ISRAEL for giving ALL people the chance to prove themselves regardless of their race, looks, and status in life to show up their talents. Proving you don’t discriminate people and judge them fairly regardless of your ego.

To Rose “Osang” Fostanes, you made our country proud again, but most especially, you’ve taught us and given us, fellow caregivers in Israel and all OFWs around the world, HOPE that success comes at the right time as long as we don’t give up. MABUHAY KA, at Mabuhay ang ating Bansang Pilipinas!

Here is a video share from YoutTube to view Rose "Osang" Fostanes winning moments:

My Experience as an OFW

  Life as an OFW is very challenging. Aside from the challenge of overcoming the melancholy of being away with your family, there always comes a time when other challenges confronts you up to a point the question of morality and practicality of life become two distinctive things where one is sacrificed in order to survive. And most of the times morality is given up in favor of practicality because, as a common reason, you can’t live and achieve what you want by being upright. Thus, in the most trying times, many OFWs resort to “selling” their bodies in order to survive – Filipina and other races. While others always find ways to survive, upholding their integrity and moral life, like, Manang Lex. She said she went abroad to earn money for her children’s future, and to help her family.

Here is her story, retelling me how she survived two of her very trying moments abroad including the crisis that beset the world economy at the latter part of year 2000 when I visited her at their modest home at La Trnidad, Benguet.

I worked in Abu Dhabi, Manang Lex said, as she pointed to me some of her pictures taken abroad that are inserted on the pages of a medium size photo album.

I don’t know if the word “hard” can picture the difficulties I went through, she said, in between smiles and jokes. Just glad I am now home alive and healthy, she continued. Many times, I did not have a permanent job, so, I worked as freelancer, customary term for people who don’t have a permanent working visa, yet. As being a freelancer, I experienced different kinds of employers and life experiences abroad.

Most of the works, I say, were okay, although they all bring out your best, spiritually. I said, spiritually because, as one of the daughters of very conservative religious parents, we were strictly thought to always follow the right path, or not to compromise “good for bad” even though it can make your life or situation better. And when that time comes, trust Him and have faith. I did not know those teachings were put to test later.

The time came when I must go away; endure the taught of being away from my love ones – to survive!

Here at home, the word "abroad" was a sweet word to hear. It sounds like it is the ultimate solution to all your problems. But a thing I found out to be also a bitter word because of the dreadful experiences I had to go through. However, it was not that so dreadful because all those experiences made me a better and stronger person today.

And out of those experiences, there’s an incident that sometimes makes me shudder when I think about it.

For being an honest employee, I offended or triggered the anger of one boss(I called him the little-boss or right-hand boss) in the company I was working. He was the right-hand of the owner(I called him Big-boss) of the company, and the overall administrator each time the owner leaves to do his business abroad.

 The Big-boss, hired me as his secretary through the recommendation of one of my employer who was his friend. As the secretary I was tasked to check stuffs that arrived, released, and updated him of what was happening while he was away.

 So, I did as he directed. And from doing my job, I didn’t know that the little-boss was offended and upset. He became so nasty to me, saying insulting words, but I did not mind him because he was not the one who hired me. And in addition, I was just doing what was told to me by my Big-boss.

Then, one day, while the big-boss was away, the right-hand boss told me to pack-up and go home as I am no longer needed in the company. Surprised from his reactions, I told him, he was not in a position to fire me. It was only the big-boss who can do it because he was the one who hired me. But, he would not listen and even had all my stuffs removed from my office.

Then he ordered his Sri Lankan driver to bring me home to my apartment. At first, I did not want to go home yet, and stayed inside the office for almost two hours, because I know the big-boss will be arriving on that day. While I was waiting, the driver tried to persuade me to go home. And sensing I was determined to wait for the arrival of my own boss, he told me that it’s better for me to go home then contact my boss if I wanted to speak with him, and do it in another place.

Then I was shocked when he revealed about his boss’ plan of hurting me. He said the assistant boss ordered him to bring me to the farthest desert – mistreat me, and then leave me alone. However, the driver said he cannot do such a thing, so he will just pretend he carried out the plan. But, he needed my cooperation, so, the bad man will not notice.

The driver said he learned from friends who worked with the bad man, it’s what he was doing to all employees who drew his resentment. Afraid of what I learned, I decided to follow his advice, and agreed he drove me home.



Another challenge came again on the later years of my being an OFW. The company I worked closed due to the crisis that affected the country in 2008. I was jobless, and had so many things to pay. I was paying a flat, and sending money to my children who were in college, and also to my mother who was sick.

There were some part time jobs, but I don’t like the job work of cleaning houses. I am an office girl and not used to working in houses. I thought hard what to do to survive. I had experience selling goods here in the Philippines, thus, I thought of giving it a try.

 I went to the malls to look for something to sell. I bought herbal medicines and things for women to use and I sold them to anyone on the streets I met. To the Filipinos and foreigners who are interested with my stuff.

It was awkward at first because I had to introduce my products and convince them to try and get them as steady customers. The wok required me to walk daily. Also to take advantage of time when I know more customers are easier to be found. I got up at 5a.m in the morning to prepare myself and the goods I had to sell. At 7a.m. I was out from my flat and go to the parks, restaurants, and on weekends, I visited Filipino flats, because it was there day off. Most of the times, I was home late around 10-11 at night. For almost a year, it was what I did to survive and be able to not break sending money home – monthly.

As I am thinking about it now, I secretly feel proud I had the courage to do such things and survived. However, I feel bad and sad about many of our kababayans there who submitted to the lure getting into a relationship with foreigners in exchange for a few hundred dollars($200-$300 a month) as allowance just to survive and no to “default” sending money to their families home. Many of them were tempting me to do the same; however, I cannot stand the idea. Although, I am already widow when I went there, it never occurred to me to marry a Muslim man, especially, when I observed they have a very low regard of their women. In fact, many of the Filipina who had relationship with them ended in a very bad situation. They lost their freedom; because they had to report every move they do to their partner, and in addition, got black-eyes as bonus, and worst others got killed by their partners. My big thanks go to my parents who thought us a very strong spiritual foundation, because who knows what happened to me if I gave in to the temptations of taking the shortcuts to survive.

 Looking back, I don’t know if I can do it again. Nevertheless, those experiences gave me one important lesson, when your back is against the wall, you will learn to find ways to get over the humps, no matter how high they are. And you don’t have to give up your dignity because there are many ways the Lord provided for you to overcome problems as there are many problems cropping up to test how strong your faith is.

OFW: Skills you need when you go abroad

“Abroad, abroad” that is the dream of most graduates today in the corrupt laden countries like the Philippines – to work overseas because that is where you could get money. Forget that you have a title because all that matters now is to earn money - no matter what. However, it would be much better if you could maximize your earning capacity to earn more money, and be able to save some.

 My 10 years of stay abroad to earn cash taught me that relying on your own salary, as a domestic helper, caregiver, and the like, will not give you enough to send to your family, and for your own personal expenses. It taught me that those who have skills have a very big advantage over those who are relying only on the work they know, and could not do anything to earn extra income.

 No matter what country you’re in - the trade is all the same. You work to have a salary, and you look for part time jobs to earn extra. You always need some cash to finance your needs, like, rent, food, clothing, and of course, the boxes of goods such as corned beef, toothpaste, soap, clothes and anything that would fill up the box to send for your family home.

 When I went abroad, I used my knowledge and skill in massage to earn extra income to finance my hobbies without touching my whole month salary. Aside from massage, I saw friends who have other skills and saw how much money they were earning. In addition, they do not need to go looking for their clients, it is the people looking for them, thus during the week, clients(99% kababayan) are making schedules with them for the weekend if they are live-in, and some do it during the weekdays if they are live-outs.

Skills that are in demand

1. Manicure and pedicure – everyone wants to have clean nails, so, every week same clientèle ask for a schedule to have their nails cleaned. What is good about this skill is that even men are looking forward to have their nails cleaned.

2. Haircut - A good haircut would complete good looking nails. Thus, this is necessary additional skill to learn. A scissor is not a big thing to carry around – but be sure it is properly kept to not be accused of carrying a deadly weapon.

3. Massage – this is my forte, and there were not many people doing it. Pressure, stress, and physical work get its tool upon us during the week. Add to that the boredom, and depressing routine work you do each day and you would surely have a very sluggish body on the weekend.

4. Technical know-how, such as knowing how to repair and reprogram computers, repair television,washing machine, microwave oven, oven toaster, etc.

5. Part time Cleaning – this is the most popular among Filipinos abroad. They look for families who needs help and make appointments with them. When both are satisfied with each other, a mutual understanding develops that their relationship would last as long.

6. Food preparation – No one could beat the traditional food we have at home. I saw kababayans who are preparing Filipino foods and sell them to the Filipino community, and cater to them during birthdays, weddings, and other occasions. The only thing about this skill is that you have to put out a little capital at the beginning for the things needed to cook the foods you will prepare.

There are ways more that OFWs could earn extra money but are not as the ones enumerated above which do not require much capital outlays - and are risk-free. If you are a risks-taker, and had saved enough capital, these other ways could generate massive income for you without doing so much physically. This is the principle of letting your money work for you.



 

Hence, for those who are planning to go abroad, do not just go there without learning and mastering one or two skills to have in your hands, unless your profession is something that would really give you an earnings that an extra work is not needed at all.

Ang Batas sa Mata ng Batang Anak OFW

Bago ako umuwi noong 2010, namasyal muna ako sa kaibigan ko sa Tel-Aviv.  At siyempre, inuman, pulutan, at kuwentuhan. 

Sa aming kuwentuhan ay nabanggit namin ang tungkol sa buhay Pilipinas.  Magmula sa klase ng buhay, trabaho, kurapsyon sa gobyerno, at klase ng batas sa Pilipinas na kung saan medyo tumagal ang mga palitan namin ng mga kuro-kuro kagaya ng disiplina ng mga tao pagdating sa pagpapatupad at pagtupad sa batas.

Habang pinag-uusapan namin ang batas ng Pilipinas, di naiwasan na maikumpara namin sa batas sa Israel at kung papaano ito itinuturo sa eskwelahan, at kung papaano ito sinusunod ng mga mamamayan.

Syempre pagdating sa ugaling Pilipino tungkol sa pagsunod ng mga tao sa batas para sa ikabubuti ng lahat ay puro batikos ang inabot sa amin.  Pero hindi naman lahat ay masama ang sinabi namin. Natutuwa nga kami na pinagkuwentuhan kung papaano nakakalusot ang mga mamamayan sa kanilang katigasan ng ulo, at kawalang hiyaan, na dahil makatao daw ang mga nagpapatupad ng batas ay pikit mata na lamang na pinababayaan na yurakan at ipagwalang bahala ng mga tao ang mga nakasulat na batas pantao.

Pero ng ikumpara namin sa batas ng Israel – kung papaanong ipinapatupad nito ang mga alituntunin na walang pinipili, kahit sino pang mataas na tao sa kanilang gobyerno, ay abot langit ang aming pagsaludo at respeto sa bansa.  Na kahit maliit ay malakas siya at kinatatakutan ng malalaking bansang Muslim. 

Dito naikuwento sa amin ni Pareng Noel ang tungkol sa apat na taong gulang na anak na babae ng kumpare niya.

Isang hapon ng biyernes na kung saan nag-umpisa na ang araw ng Shabat o Sabado sa mga Hudyo ay naganap ang isang pangyayari, kung saan talaga namang nakakabilib ika nga para sa isang batang apat na taong gulang lamang na alam sundin ang batas.  

 Ayon sa kuwento ni pareng Noel, umuwi daw ang mag-anak galing yata isang kasiyahan sa parke o sa isang apartment ng kapwa Pilipino din.  Sila ay nagmamadali sa paglalakad dahil may mga bitbit at kargadang medyo mabigat na kaldero at lamisa na ginamit. Narating nila ang krosing na may mga ilaw pangtrapiko. Sa kabila ng kalsada ay ang kanilang flat.  Tamang-tama na pagdating nila sa krosing ay pumula ang ilaw.

Pero dahil nag-umpisa na ang Shabbat, halos wala ng sasakyan na dumadaan. Kung meron man, ay mga sasakyan na lamang ng mga hindi relihiyoso, o mga palestiniyan, at ibang lahi na may sasakyan.  Dahil bakante ang kalsada at walang sasakyan na dumadaan pagdating nila doon, ang ginawa ng mag-asawa ay dumaan sila kahit nakapula ang ilaw.  Sa pagmamadali, di nila napansin na nagpaiwan pala ang kanilang anak na sumusunod sa kanila sa gilid ng krosing.

Dahil sa kabila lang naman ng krosing ang kanilang apartment ay madali silang nakarating.  Pero medyo hiningal sa pag-akyat sa ikalawang palapag na flat nila.  Pag-upo nila napansin nila na wala pa yong kanilang anak.  Kaya nagtanungan sila kung nasaan ang kanilang anak.

Habang sila ay nasa ganoong situwasyon na nagtatanungan, bumukas ang pintuan at saka biglang bumalibag sa pagsara.  Imbes na matuwa silang mag-asawa dahil dumating ang kanilang anak at wala na silang pagtatalunan, sila ay natulala at natahimik na parang mga bata na pinagsasabihan ng mas matanda sa kanila.

Kasi daw, sabay sa pabalibag na pagsara ng kanilang anak sa pintuan ay galit na galit itong nagsesermon, sabay nakapamaywang ang isang kamay at umaaksyon ang isang kamay, at ang sabi ay, “Lama, lama ima, aba? Lama? Si adom….adom…!”(Bakit, bakit nanay, tatay?  Bakit? Pula, pula…!”) ang sigaw daw sa pautal-utal niyang hebro na salita.   Kahit hindi nakumpleto ng anak nila ang mga sinasabi ay naintindihan nila na siya ay nagalit dahil lumiban sila sa krosing kahit pula ang ilaw.  Ito kasi ay itinuturo sa mga bata sa kanilang pinapasukan na Gan Yeladim o Daycare Center. At dahil alam nilang sila ay mali ay tumahimik na lang sila at nangako na hindi na nila iyon uulitin.

Natawa kaming mga nakikinig, pero alam namin na iyon talaga ang dapat gawin.  Ang sumunod sa batas.  Lalo na sa ating mga magulang dahil tayo ang mga tinutularan ng ating mga anak.

Talking to a Drug Mule

The news about our countryman executed in China for the crime of drug trafficking greeted most of us early in the  morning of December 9, 2011, when we clicked our yahoo messenger.

The man was calmed according to our vice-president, V-president Jejomar Binay, though his family was crying. 

The fact that he was calmed implies that he accepted his upshot because of what he did.  He knows long time ago that this is the extreme result of what he did if he was caught – the price he would pay for gambling with his life. On the other hand, he knew that if he were not caught, it would have been a long time financial freedom – not only for him, but also for his family. 

However, the question left with us is to marvel “How” they became involved with such kind of work because the “Why” question is obvious with us that money is the end point of it.

Luckily, about a few months ago, I was able to speak with a person involved in such a kind of work one time when I chanced to sit with him in a bus going up to Baguio city.  That conversation gave me little knowledge on how these drug mules as they are called, got into the business whether knowingly or not.

I do not remember how we started to talk, but I remember that in the middle of our conversation the topic went from a casual to about how hard to find a decent job here in the Philippines that could pay enough to about life abroad. 

He said he was an x-abroad. First, he worked in Africa in a tunnel, but when the company’s contract was finished in two years, same goes with their contract, and were sent home.  They were told to be ready for a call when the company find another work for them.  However, the waiting was long that his savings dwindled. 

He applied again for an offer to work abroad, but quit after more than a month. By the time we talked, he was trying to find another opportunity to go abroad again.

Out of curiosity, I asked what was wrong with his last work. He said nothing was wrong, but he felt it was dangerous.  I don’t know what was that mean, so I pressed him to tell me more by asking more questions, while telling him stories about the adversities of being an OFW, hoping that would make him comfortable to tell me his story – which he did.

He applied with one of the agencies in Manila, which was recommended by a friend.  When he went to inquire about what job have they got to offer, he was told to just submit his bio-data, Xerox copy of his passport, NBI, and of course a few cash for processing his papers and to pay the agency.  He didn’t have to worry about his plane ticket because it was paid by the hiring company.   However, he did not know what was the job, but he was told he will know it when he will arrive at the place because they will be trained and be assigned to the work they are most effective.  In addition, there was no particular place or country was given because the hiring company has many contracts in different countries, so they will know it when they will be there.

In just barely a month passed by, he was informed to be ready and was given the date of his flight.  Furthermore, the agency told him not to carry so many clothes because the company will provide it to him.

At the NAIA airport, he was told he has a suitcase in his name, and that he doesn’t have to worry because everything is okay, he only have to enjoy the travel.

He took a PAL flight from Manila to Hongkong, and in Hongkong, he transferred to another plane.  The next thing he knew, he was in Turkey.  He really had no idea what was going on, so he just went on with what was coming next, anyway he was not doing anything and he was enjoying the travel, the food at the hotels, and new places he saw. 

He said from Turkey, he had two more stops in Europe, then to China, back to Hongkong then Philippines.  He was like a tourist; however, he said it was scary, and did not do it again. 

According to him, he did not see the luggage and didn’t really know what was it, but he was not dumb to not know and suspect he was used to do something illegal. He said he met two people who were doing the travels many times already, and learned from them that there were more involved with the trade.  Sometimes, they go alone and other times two or three of them.


The money involved is enticing, because if you did it three times or more in few months, you can stop and have enough money.  The pot money he said ranged from P150K – P240K/travel or trip.  That is why some are really taking the chance, even though they know their life is at stake.

I asked him why he didn’t give another shot, and he shook his head, and said, “While the pot money is real money, I won’t take the chance because I love my family, and I want to enjoy life.  I’d rather find a job knowing I am alive tomorrow, than playing Russian roulette where in you do not know if you’re still alive the next day!”

I asked if he knew the one that was just executed in China a month before - he said, “No, but that one scared me,” he said.   

Utak OFW

Isang bagay ang laging bumabalik sa aking isip tuwing naaalala ko ang buhay ng isang OFW – kung bakit karamihan ay walang magandang nangyayari sa buhay kahit ba tumagal sila ng ilang taon sa ibang bansa.

Noong panahon na ako’y naroon, lagi kong iniisip, “Ano ang gagawin ko para sa madaling panahon ay makauwi na ako,” at syempre, na sana sa aking pag-uwi ay meron akong uuwian na panggagalingan ng ikabubuhay ng pamilya ko - na hindi ko na uli iisipin ang magbalik abroad. Lahat kasi ng kilala kong nag-abroad sa aking lugar, ay bumalik ulit kahit na gusto na sanang manatili sa piling ng pamilya. Pero dala ng walang pagkakakitaan at lumalawak na pagkagastusan, ay pikit mata at kagat ang labi na muling lumayo para sa “komon-rason” – kinabukasan ng mga anak!

Noong ako’y nasa lupain ng mga hudyo, sinubukan kong ilabas ang aking nasa isip sa mga kasamahan doon. 

Una, ay sa organisasyon na aking sinalihan.  Sinabi ko na ang organisasyon namin ay katulad ng isang higante na kapag gumalaw at gagamitin ang lakas, malaki ang magagawa niyang ikabubuti ng lahat ng miyembro. Inilahad ko ang isang plano – kami ay magkontribusyon ng pera at magpapatayo ng isang kooperatiba sa aming lugar sa Pilipinas para magtayo ng negosyo na ang bawat miyembro ay magkakaroon ng dibidendo.  Subalit sa una pa lang ay sinalubong agad ng malakas na hindi pagsang-ayon mula sa mga inaasahan ko na lider.  At karamihan sa mga miyembro ay sumunod sa kanila.  Inilahad ang lahat ng negatibong rason at wala man lang nagtanong kung papaano ang gagawin sana para mapag-aralan kung may pag-asang magtatagumpay.

Pangalawa, ay binanggit ko sa mga kabarkada ko habang kami ay nag-uusap tungkol sa buhay ng Pilipinas, pero kaagad ang sagot ay bakit daw yon ang pinag-uusapan namin.  Ang importante maayos ang trabaho namin at nagpapadala ng pera ay ayos na.  Kasunod ng mga negatibong rason at halimbawa ng mga sumubok na lahat ay walang nangyari.  Nariyan ka na walang pag-asa ang negosyo sa Pilipinas, at mga pera ng miyembro na itinakbo ng mga nagtatag. Sa ganoong sagot ay napailing ako at dismayado na gaya noong una ay walang makikinig sa akin.  Sabagay sino nga ba naman ako, at totoo naman ang mga rason nila, eh.

Subalit ako’y di  pinapatulog ng isipin ko – ganoon na lang ba kami habang buhay - isang OFW. Laging sumisiksik sa isipan ko ang mga nakita kong ex-abroad na sana ay gusto ng manatili sa piling ng mga anak, pero bumalik ulit at iniwanan ang kanilang pamilya.  At ang totoo ay meron din akong mga pinsan na maliliit ang mga anak ng iwanan, at ngayon may mga apo na - pero naroon pa rin sila.  Ako nga apat na taon lang yong aking panganay ng iniwan ko at ang bunso ko na pangatlo ay isang taon lamang!

Kaya minsan na may mga kakilala akong kababayan nag-iinuman sa ibaba ng apartment na tinitirahan namin, nakiupo rin ako at tumagay, para makipagkuwentuhan at makibalita kung anong isyu. 

Sa gitna ng kuwentuhan na ang paksa ay buhay Pilipinas na, nailabas ko uli yong aking nasa isip, at napatanong ako tungkol sa kung ano mga plano nila at ano na ang mga proyektong naumpisahan. Subalit, biglang binago ang usapin na ang sabi bakit daw yon ang pinag-uusapan namin. Mga pagod sa trabaho at minsan lang makalabas kaya inuman na lang at magpulutan.  Total kahit ano gawin daw ay wala naman talagang pag-asang magtatagumpay ang negosyo sa Pilipinas dahil pinapatay ng mga malalaking negosyante, at mga kababayan na ugaling “Talangka!”  Kaya tuloy ang inuman, at gaya ng lahat ng mga kuwentuhan ay napunta sa payabangan. 

Ang isa nagkuwento tungkol sa ilang kababayan na babae ang natikman at kung sino ang mga babaeng gusto pang “Tuhugin” kong magkaroon siya ng pagkakataon na maangkin.  Meron naman ipinagyabang na may natikman na babaeng banyaga.  Yong iba naman ay ipinagyabang yong mga binugbog na Thailander, at yong isang kababayan na hinusgahang traidor dahil umawat siya at mistulang yong Thailander pa ang kinakampihan.  Meron din ipinagyabang, na kahit di na siya magtrabaho ay binubuhay naman siya ng mga babaeng "koleksyon" niya at inaanakan lang.  


Pakiramdam ko noon ay "Out-of-place" ako.  Mabuti na lang marami na akong mahangin na naging kasama noong kapanahunang ako'y wala rin sa landas kaya tumahimik na lang ako - sabay tungga sa bote ng beer at pulot sa pulutang hita ng manok na niluto sa oven, at higop sabaw ng "papaitan" karne ng kambing!

Marami pang beses na tinangka kong buksan ang paksa at plano sa mga kababayan at mga kaibigan, pero iisa ang payo sa akin – “Walang mangyayari diyan kabayan/kaibigan, dahil corrupt ang gobyerno natin at alam naman natin ang utak talangka na mga kababayan natin.”

Hindi naman ako lubusan na bigo, dahil may mga kababayan pa rin na naniwala sa aking adhikain at meron kaming itinayo na grupo na ang bisyon ay kalayaang pinansyal sa bawat miyembro, lalo na sa mga OFW.  Ang misyon ay makauwi sana ang lahat ng miyembrong OFW, at dina sana iiwanan uli ang pamilya.   




At totoo nga ang mga narinig kong kinatatakutan ng mga kababayan na una kong pinagsabihan ng aking plano – katakot-takot na pagsubok ang pinagdaraanan ng grupo mula sa umpisa hanggang ngayon.  Isa na riyan na lokohin ka ng pinagkatiwalaan mo, at mga mapanirang nasama sa grupo.  Idagdag pa ang personal na pagkabigo sa mga plano mong pangkabuhayan dahil sa mga mapagsamantalang kababayan.  Minsan panghinaan ka ng loob at matatakot dahil parang ang hirap abutin ang “kaitaasan ng matarik na bundok.”

Pero, kahit ano man ang mangyari, alam ko naririyan ang Poong Maykapal na gumagabay sa mga naniniwala sa kanya, at gaya ng ginawa niya sa Lupaing Banal(Israel) matutupad din ang pangarap ng aming grupo at makikita ng lahat na ang tagumpay natin ay nasa pagtitiwala sa Kanya, at “PAGKAKAISA’’ natin lahat na ibahin ang takbo at paniniwala sa ating utak.   Alam kong magtatagumpay kami, dahil sa ilang beses na halos mawala na ang grupo ay nakatayo pa rin at lalong lumakas.

Kailan ba may "Kuwentong-tagumpay" na hindi muna dumaan sa maraming pagsubok bago natupad ang pangarap?  Dahil kong madali sana ang lahat, alam ko, wala na sanang nangarap o sumubok na maging OFW kapalit ng pait ng luha, at sakit sa dibdib na malayo ka sa mga minamahal mo sa buhay!

HINAGPIS SA ABROAD (CAREGIVER’S WOES)

Being away with our family could bring out the best of us, especially, in writing.  One of which is to compose poems, and songs where we tell our feelings when no one is there to listen and give us a shoulder to cry on.   "Hinagpis sa abroad(Caregiver's Woes)" was composed by me when I was thinking how hard was it to be away from our love ones sacrificing almost everything just to give them the best we can give as a parent, a child, and as a brother or a sister, 

I hope this can give an idea to those who's love ones are away, that life abroad is not the best, but one of the worst experience any family would have. 

I hope that thru this song something must be changed and that OFWs not be promoted again as the unsung heroes just to ease the pains they feel, and continue sacrificing to save the country from the corruptions, and selfishness of people who were assigned by the Lord to lead the country from the rot its in.

              1

Kapag amo’y masungit                                                                            

Inis mo’y di masambit                                        

Iyo na lang kinikimkim

Hinagpis sa iyong dibdib

‘Pag s’ya naman ay makulit

‘Di ka pwedeng magalit

Dahil iyong iniisip

Na s’ya ay may sakit

      Iyo na lang tinitiis

     Iyo na lang tinitiis

     Iyo na lang tinitiis

Koro 1

T’yaga lang kabayan

Ang iyong kailangan

Yan ay puhunan

Sa pag-unlad ng buhay

O, kay hirap nitong buhay Pilipino

Kailangan pang lumayo

Para umasenso

Magsilbi sa hindi kadugo.

              11

Sa gabi’y puyat ka

Dahil tinatawag ka

Kahit ikaw ay hirap na

Wala kang magawa

Ang mahirap pa nito

Minsan ay inaabuso

Amo mong matino

Lalong pahirap sa ‘yo

    Sa sobrang pagod mo

    Sa maghapon

    Tuliro na ang utak mo.

Repeat Koro….

,br />

           111

Kay hirap talaga

Nasa ibang bansa

Nagsasakripisyo ka

Para sa pamilya

Kahit oras ng pahinga

Ay kumakayod ka

Para madagdagan pa

Dolyar na maipadala

    Makaahon ka lang sa hirap

    Wala nang pahinga

     Ang iyong katawan.

Koro 11

O, kay hirap nitong

Buhay Pilipino

Kailangang lumayo

Para umasenso

Pamilya mo’y iniwan mo

Lupa’y isinangla mo

Magpakahirap ng todo

At magsakripisyo

Baka sakaling buhay ay

    umasenso!!!

Pilipinas: Tatak Ng Alipin

Ang pangalan ng ating bansa ay simbolo ng isang alipin. Ito ay parang tatak na tayo ay pagmamay-ari ng isang amo na pinagsisilbihan natin. Bagaman masasabi natin na tayo ay malaya na sa kamay ng amo na ito, ang tatak ay hindi pa rin nabura sa ating katawan.

May kasabihan ang mga matatanda na ang marka sa katawan ng tao ay pwedeng marka na malas o marka ng pagiging swerte. At kung ating iisipin, bakit kug totoo na tayo ay malaya na, bakit kahit sa ayaw o gusto natin ay lumalayo tayo at pilit na nagpapaalipin sa ibang bansa? Bakit kailangan natin na magsakripisyo ng dugo at buhay para lamang guminhawa ang ating pamumuhay?

Bakit sa kabila ng kayamanan ng ating mahal na bansa ay hindi natin ito mapakinabangan? Bakit hindi tayo nagkakaroon ng magandang buhay, samantalang kumpara sa ibang bansa na sinakop ng mga dayuhan ay nauna pa tayong lumaya, pero bakit sila ngayon ay mas mayaman na?

Dapat maging buo ang ating kalayaan. Burahin na natin ang pangalan ng dayuhan na umalipin sa atin. Oo, palitan na natin ang pangalan na Pilipinas! Dahil ito ay ang pangalan ng hari noon ng bansang umalipin sa ating mahal na bansa ng 300 daan na taon. Naniniwala ako na bago nila tayo inalipin ay may sariling pangalan ang ating mahal na inang bayan. Yon nga lamang at nawala ito kasabay ng pagkawala, at pagkabago ng sarili natin na titik, kultura, at tradisyon.

Kung papalitan natin ang pangalan ng ating bansa, ano ngayon ang magandang pangalan nya? Ito ay matagal ng pinagpapalitan ng galing sa mataas na sangay ng gobyerno natin subalit hindi sila nagkaunawaan dahil wala silang mapagkaisahan na pangalan, gaya ng pangalan na Maharlika, at Manila. Kaya nanatili ang tatak na Pilipinas sa atin.

Pero ang pagkabigo nila noon na magkaisa sa pagpapalit ng pangalan ng bansa natin ay hindi ibig sabihin na tapos na ang usapin. Dahil, kung hindi man tayo ang magkaayos ngayon, alam ko na sa mga susunod na henerasyon ay mayroon maipapanganak na makakaisip na hindi dapat na Pilipinas ang pangalan ng bansa natin at siguradong ilalabas pa rin ang usapin na ito para pag-usapan.

Isa tayo sa henerasyon na iyan, at aking tatanungin sa inyo kung ano ang magandang pangalan na ipapalit natin sa pangalan ng ating bansa?

At kung ako ang inyong tatanungin mga mahal kong kababayan ay, PERLAS NG SILANGAN (puwede rin na PERLAS lang) sa sarili natin na wika at sa englis ay PEARL OF THE ORIENT(or simply PEARL). Ito ay batay sa pambansang awit natin na Bayang Magiliw, at saka nabanggit din ng ating GAT Jose Rizal sa kanyang mga sulat. Ang mga ibang bansa ay kumbinasyon din na naglalarawan sa kanilang bansa, gaya halimbawa ng: United States o Estados Unidos, United Kingdom o Britanya.

Kabayan, ano ang iyong palagay/opinion sa bagay na ito?

1. Gusto nyo ba na palitan ang pangalan na Pilipinas?

2. Boto ka basa pangalan na PERLAS NG SILANGAN O PEARL OF THE ORIENT?(Kung Payag ka sa pangalan na ito, ano ang dapat na itawag sa atin na mga mamamayan?)

3. Mayron ka bang maimumungkahi na pangalan na mas nababagay sa ating inang Bansa?

The Fear of Going Home

In my ten years of stay abroad, it was disheartening to know that almost all of the Kababayans* who are there are afraid to go home - for good.  No one will admit it face blank, but that is what his or her words are saying.  The common words will be, "In two more years,” “In four more years,” or, “I'll go home once I could saved enough to put up a little business."  On my part, I said, “In four years, I should be home!”

Life there is not a joke.  It is a real struggle day by day.  As I watch my friends and the others, I saw how much they value their time.  On days they were supposed to rest, they will use that to go to part time jobs to earn more dollars to send home.  I myself had to go in different places to give massage treatment, massage relaxation, to customers who called me for my service.

In my first year, I thought it was peanuts, that in a couple of years, all my dreams will be achieved, but, like the others who went there first, I was dead wrong. Ten years gone and I was still struggling to earn more. 

Because Israel allows only a limited years of stay for foreign workers, in the 3rd year, most if not all kababayan start to worry about looking for a place or another country to go into before their time is up.  The reason was that they had not achieved their dreams yet. Their savings, if they have, was not enough to carry them through, especially when they have children in college.

Thinking about all the unachieved goals and stream of unending expenses ahead, makes each one of us cringe to think about going home yet. 

The scream of being with our children and families is being overcome by the fear of not being able to give them their needs, and the fear that we do not have a business or any other source of income to sustain us. 

Add to that the news brought by kabayans(countrymen) who just arrived from a vacation to our beloved country-Philippines.  That life in there is terrible.  Business is not doing well.  The prices of goods now doubled compared to the prices when you left two or three years ago.  The government officials are all corrupt.  There are no jobs, and if there is one, the pay is not even enough to pay for your bills, and pay for the travel from home to work. These news and more negative things about our beloved country always make us think, not twice, but a thousand and one times about going home.

Fear gripped us, because we know for a fact that most ex- abroad who tried to settle home after long years of being away, went back abroad just after a year of staying home because of one or all of the reasons stated above.  In fact, I am contemplating to do the same and break my words of not going away from home again.

Every OFW wants to go home. But the dilemma of where to find the next source of income is too much to think about, so they rather make the most of their time while they have the chance and health to work for “a few” more years.  

X-OFW: The Reason Of My Coming Home (For Good)

Before I went abroad to work as a caregiver, I had a plan of using the opportunity to be my stepping-stone of going to another country, like, UK, U.S., Canada, or Italy where I will have the chance of becoming a citizen and ensure that my life and my family will become prosperous.

While I was there, SOMEONE showed me the other way; I should go home and try to make a difference that might influence the others to do the same.

Before becoming an X-OFW, I have been in the dilemma of deciding whether I go home or jump off to another country. Like the others, I went abroad to prepare for my children.  However, things changed when I was there; all of a sudden, I decided to go home against all the negative comments from my friends and Kababayans who were telling me, “I will regret it!”  “What will you do in the Philippines?” Nevertheless, I did not listen. I believed my reason for going home is strong enough and it is the right thing to do.

Few things influenced my decision.

During my first few months in Israel, I learned the thinking of my fellow OFWs.  Of the 20 people I spoke with, there was only one person who talked about going home for her family; all the rests were talking on going to another country. But, what jolted me was many of them had their parents worked or still working abroad!

What? Is this mean there is an abroad syndrome – I mean – a cycle had been created that children of OFW parents are sure to follow their parents' footsteps?  Wow, that was not my dream when I went there.  I went abroad thinking my children should not be thinking about abroad; I want them to stay with their family, and when they think of going overseas, it should be as tourists and not as someone like me going there begging for work.

Another thing was many of us OFWs were crying because we were treated like not humans. Because of this, some were forced to forget the good moral values instilled by the parents by answering back - a no, no in the Filipino culture. Some of us just cry and let the tears wash off the pains in our hearts.  For me I used my pen to jot down the pains which resulted for my first song “Hinagpis sa Abroad” or “Care-givers’ Woes.”

More things forced me to think on what I should do to not end up a “Yes sir, yes ma’m” the rest of my life without seeing my children growing up.  That was the time I went to the book stores scheming books thinking I could find the formula to solve my problem.  There I found Poor dad, Rich dad book by Robert Kiyosaki.

The book influenced me to think differently in order to be with my family.  I thought to myself, that if I would go to another country, that means I have to sacrifice my family.  I have to be like the others who watched their children growing up in pictures. (Yup, the song growing up in Pictures by the Alabama also made me think about how hard it was to be away from your children) I did not follow exactly what the book advised about going into business, but there were lessons the book talked about which made me to decide to stop sacrificing too much just to get what I wanted in life.

Before finding the book of Kiyosaki, I witnessed the family closeness of my employers. 

During Sabbath, when I was invited to the table of my employer, I envied the happiness they have every time they were in front of their table eating together as a family.  The father telling stories about their cultures, and the lessons they could learn, and the children telling their ideas and opinions. During those times, how I wished I could go home immediately and do the same.

Another person who influenced me to decide to go home was my best friend Izzy -the last person whom the Lord made me to take care of for a few years to learn more about the reality of life. 

I saw the closeness of his family: The real essence of having a family; the importance of being together; the importance of a father being there with his children; they need him when they are afraid, and they need him as their hero to emulate.

 I had thought, “Should I leave my children to chance that they will emulate Jose Rizal (My country’s national hero) or Robin Padilla of the Philippine movies, or the bad boys (“Mandurukot -pickpockets, robbers, and addicts) on the streets of my place, Baguio City?"

Izzy (as most people knew him) told me how his parents mold them to become self-reliant and to work hard while at the same time to be religious.  Their parents started from nothing, and only the good parenting they received was the only thing they inherited.  With that, all of them ended up successful in their endeavors.  When he got married, he was still a poor boy, and he told me how much he worked as a teacher, and then switched to become a real estate broker.  He did not leave his family(wife and children)to become successful.

These things made me think, that it is not the money that I am going to make will make my children become well off in life, but the good parenting they will receive from me as their father.

I learned, that Jose Rizal’s belief that the young ones are the future of a country will never be true if the parents are not there to teach them how to become the future.  In my opinion, “The parents are the future of the country” because they are the ones to teach the children all the knowledge and wisdom to become good human beings and citizens of the country. The parents are the examples the children have to imitate.  The good lessons they will learn from their parents will make them the future of the country, but how will that be when parents are not there for them – physically?

When I got married, I thought I would better my father - at least – as father to my children.  I will do my best to teach my children the things I did not learn from my father.  Because I knew that if only my father worked harder in doing his job as a father to me, I might be somebody up there now, and who knows, the next president of my country. 

On the contrary, when the good Lord given me the chance to do what I was thinking to do, where was I?  Ten years went by like only ten Christmas days in successions. My children are already in their teens, and in few years, I will be a grandfather!

Wow, a grandfather!  Without even knowing how it feels like a father?
 

My children, too, will grow up without even knowing how it felt having a father!  Accordingly, will they know to become parents when their time comes?

With all these things bothered me, I decided to come home and become a real father as I wished. 

While we need material things, I believed it is not worth the sacrifices we do away from our family.  No matter how much we do to try to communicate with them (Thanks to the advancement of technology. We can see them now in the internet and talk to them like we are next to each other – if we are lucky they want to communicate with us – the games in FB are too much a competition) still, the emotion and affection are not completely felt by both parents and the child. 

I saw how much these Kababayans working very hard to earn dollars.  Day and night, days off, and holidays, they go find a part time just to have more dollars to send to their beloved children, and extended families to show they are good sisters or brothers to them – or else…! 

I saw how much loneliness is driving many Kababayans to become lost off the way, and how many families were broken?

I saw how many died without seeing their beloved ones because they believed they could overcome the disease that took their energy.

I saw how many of them did not go home to see their husband, child, father, or mother who died because of fear they would lost their job, or for other reasons, and for “Practicality’s” sake.

I saw how many of us stayed there for years, but life stayed the same.   Okay, the house is no longer made up of cogon and now looks like a palace, but where are the occupants?  That’s the problem the house will never become a home, because the families are not complete, and will never be.

Yeah, I saw them going to churches, but seems, some churches are not filled up with the Lord’s Spirit that is why many of their flocks are going astray; anyway, the LORD IS LOVE, so they will be forgiven!

There is so much to sacrifice Kabayan, yet, no one is doing something to stop the cycle; in the contrary, it is being encouraged (by calling us the unsung heroes and super maids)  that we leave our family, never mind the children, as long as we can send home more dollars.