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.

The OFW Menace

Who says being an OFW is a blessing? On a glimpse, yes, it is, but every OFW understands that it carries with it a very heavy curse because of the many sacrifices and trials every OFW must have to overcome.

Any success one gain from working abroad, cannot compensate for the years missed being with the family, especially with the children whom you left when they were a few months old, or can barely walk when you left.

The warmth of love of being together as family was completely sacrificed.

What material things can replace the smiles, and hugs of children? What material things can replace the hugs and soothing rub of parents to their children when they’re afraid of lightning and thunders, or hurt from exploring new things? Nothing!

I know this from experience.

While it is true that you will be off better financially, you do not know how much love and affection your children lost from you as their father, from you as their mother or both from you as their parents when you were away. In addition, they lost the opportunity to learn from parents how to travel this life when their time comes to leave and live at their own. And vice-versa. How much smiles from kids each parents missed while being away? If their smiles in the internet cam makes a parent’s heart jumps with joy, then how much more if one is cradling the child?

How much opportunity you missed to teach them wisdom they need to learn to make them mature and responsible person while they grow up? You can’t reprimand them when you only have once in a while opportunity to speak on facebook, skype, or google+, or Ymessenger if their mother said about their mischiefs.

Because of this abroad syndrome, the strong sense of family closeness is now fading. Many children are now living like orphans of live parents. When these kids marry, they have no sense of how to become parents because they didn’t have “parents” during their kiddy times they could emulate. (I experienced this with my parents who grew up without parents – they were kind of learning how to handle us as when we were growing up)

I see people whose wife or husband is working abroad. They were young a decade ago or two ago, but now they have aged and I cannot imagine, where is the happiness of being married when they have been living separately most of their lives – if one call that a married life. These people are lying to their face if they say they’re living happily away from each other.

Okay, they built big houses, bought cars, lands, and complete material things as the number one investments of many OFWs, but what’s the use of having all those things when you cannot enjoy them because you’re still busy working to earn more money because there’s not enough saved for the future. One of my employers used to say, “Most people are working so hard as if they’re going to live forever!”

Many times, it’s already too late when they come home. I have seen many of these OFWs had arrived home very sick, disabled, and cold dead. What hurts the most is when one did not enjoy the warmth of love, parents and children were longing for when they were away from each other.



You may also like to read My Experiences as an OFW

When you ask OFWs why they are going abroad or staying away for so long, the foremost reason given is they are working for the future of their children. Yes, they’re sacrificing because of their love to their children. Love - or the ambition to get all the material things every human being desired to have in this world? Because if it is true that the ultimate reason is “Love for the children,” how come many if not most OFW families are broken? Why can’t the husband and wife stay together as one family for the sake of their children? Why can’t they forgive each other’s shortcomings – for the sake of the children? Poor children – they’re being used by their parents as escape goats for their selfishness. How many OFW parents applied for annulment of their marriage for the sake of themselves but did not think about the sake of their children?

Many children are wandering for they have no goals in life because they have no parents to guide and show them examples how to live life even without wealth. Then at the end when they failed on their studies and became menace to the society, they end up taking all the blames because they did not value the sacrifices of their parents - and did not listen to the teachings of their teachers!

When the kids are lucky enough to finish their college and got a degree, most of them end up working as OFWs because there were not enough jobs in their own country or the degree they finished is a low paying job. How many of those kids I saw were helped by their parents to go abroad after spending so much money in school? I said they’re the next generation or cycle of OFWs. When they get old and lucky enough to have family and children, the children will replace them, too, in after more than two decades, and the cycle continues – until nothing is done to stop the cycle.
My ten years of being an OFW made me understood, that OFW as a means to improve one’s financial status is a big blunder. It’s a menace to the family as a foundation of strong society.

A menace that must be addressed now to avoid the inevitable collapsed of a nation.

You may also like to read Cheapear Places to Remit In the Philippines

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.

Reflection of Life as OFW

By:  Jolyn

Fast, like the weaver’s thread whirled, days spun and be gone.  And the only reminder is how we missed our families at home!  We know how much time had gone when we experienced an inexplicable longing for our children to be with them.  Worst, when a long holiday is near fast approaching, but we cannot make use of our time to be with our family!

We need to work hard to support our family. For me, I need to do more extra job cleaning houses, aside from being a caregiver during the night, just to earn more dollars and save some for the future of my kids especially for their education. 

Life is a gamble. Never in my wildest dream had I planned to leave my husband, especially, my two precious daughters for abroad. I just want to be a simple mother and a simple wife. However, life nowadays is very demanding that to fulfill my goals in life, I decided to sacrifice, thinking that in few years, all I planned will be achieved… but it’s not easy like the way I thought.  The few years became a big chunk of absence from my family, that in between, challenges are cropping up like bitter and poisonous mushrooms.  Problems that is common to OFWs – family matters.  

Many times, I feel so tired from working hard, which is aggravated by being alone and away from the comfort of my family. Physical tiredness I can deal with, but mental tiredness is tough to overcome when it slowly sets in as I start questioning myself why I need to work in a foreign land. Leaving behind what are dearest to me.  The thought of circumstances why I am away starts to torment me emotionally until sometimes I get the feeling of anger as I begin looking for people to blame.  Or, many times, I question G-d why he allows me to suffer; albeit, there is no one to turn to in times like this, thus I pray to Him for help. 

I pray every morning and whenever I am feeling distraught. I ask God to help me overcome obstacles; to help me accomplish my goals, and be home as soon as possible for my family.  Oh, how I missed my kids. For my husband? I do not know, his ego must have been slighted, because I now bring home a greater share of the bacon, that he looks for causes to do his crooked things, and find ways to hurt me – emotionally. 

Life is a bed of roses – however, thorny roses that the stings penetrate to the bottom of my heart.  But G-d is a real solace.  He brought me to stay and work here in the Holy Land, in His beloved City of JERUSALEM.  Being here lessens my loneliness for I feel God’s presence as I meditate with His words I hear from attending Messianic Services.  Thanks to God help, I stayed firm and strong despite the trials in life, trials that made me appreciate more the beauty of living.

Finally, I saw the purpose of my life, telling others what God has done for me.  Thank you to the one and only G-d, the trials and challenges opened my eyes and filled me with His spirit. I hope that sharing Yahweh’s kindness, in every opportunity, could also open the way for my friends and others find their way to the Lord and surrender to Him while His spirit guides them to the path of life.

After all the challenges that came into my life while being an OFW, I am glad that I overcame it all, and I am happy to reached the sixth year, this week, staying and working here in the Holy Land. I considered these as an inspiration to guide me as I journey in this constantly changing world where I can blend rhythm of my work and passion.  

Let me take this opportunity to say a BIG THANK YOU, to all the people who love and trusted me and accepted me for what I am. Thank you, Lord for guiding and loving me constantly. To my husband, whom I don’t know, if he still adores me till now. And to my children who serves as my inspiration? And for the undying love of my parents and brothers and sisters. Yahweh keeps us always safe and blesses us more and more…

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.  

Tatak na Malas!

TATAK NA MALAS! 

By: C’ZAR 


 
Kabayan, totoo yata ang kasabihan
Na kung minsa ang kapalaran ng tao ay sadya ng nakatatak
Tatak na dito mo makikita kung s’ya’y swerte o malas!


Baka nga totoo!
Dahil ng aking suriin kung mayroon akong tatak
Ako’y nagulat sa aking natuklasan
Mayroon nga akong tatak!
Tatak na sa pakiwari ko’y hindi swerte kundi malas!


At hindi lang ako kabayan
Ikaw ay mayroon din nito!
At kahit saan man tayo magpunta
Dito nila tayo nakikilala kung sino tayo.


Noon taas noo kong sinasabi
At ipinagmamalaki ang aking tatak sa lahat!
Subalit ngayon ay nanlulumo ako na ito’y sabihin!
Oo, ngayong alam ko na ang sinisimbolo nito
Hindi ko alam kung ito’y aking ipagmamalaki pa rin, o, ikakahiya!


Kabayan, alam nating lahat
Na ang tatak na inilagay sa atin ay parangal
Sa hari ng dayuhang sumakop sa atin!
Ito’y simbolo na tayo’y inari at parang hayop na inalipin!


At ako ngayon ay naniniwala
Na ito ang sanhi ng malas natin!
Dahil sa mahigit isang-daang taon na sinasabing kalayaan natin
Wala tayong asenso kung hindi tayo magpapaalipin!!!


Sa aking pagmumunimuni, kabayan
Ito ang nalaman kong katotohanan!
TAYO’Y ALIPIN PA RIN!!!
Dahil dalawa lamang ang gating pagpipilian
Kakapit ka sa patalim, o, mamatay ka sa kahirapan!
At ang sinsabi nilang ating kalayaan
Ay kalayaan lamang na mamili ng among ating pagsisilbihan!!!


Ngayon ang tanong ko sayo kabayan
Kailan tayo kikilos para burahin na ang sanhi ng malas natin?
Kailan tayo kikilos para gumawa ng tatak na sariling atin,
Baka sakaling matanggal na ang malas natin!!!


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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.