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.

The U.P. Dilemma

 

The suspected suicide of one of U.P.’s(University of the Philippines) students is being blamed on the school’s tuition policy of “No Late Fees” and many people are shouting the institution should change it because it puts too much pressure on students that when they cannot handle it will force them to do something unthinkable – worst – to take their own life.

In the first look of the policy, we say it is the reason why this poor student took its life.  And as we could read from the comments of many, they are telling U.P.  committed an indirect murder.  Well, that is true if we only listen to what we think, but if people really have the wisdom, U.P.’s policy has nothing to do with the decision of the student’s ending her life.   I will say it is exactly as what the old saying says, “Barking at the wrong tree” or pointing a finger at the wrong cause.   

I am not saying the U.P. management has no fault at all, but they lack hindsight on how students react when they are put to pressures.  

The student, maybe in the future, will take her life, just the same, when confronted with more debilitating problems.  It just happened that her emotion cannot take it any longer than this time.  In short, she was not prepared to stand strong in the midst of challenges.  The truth is the problem has a more established reasons. 

Where a child’s character foundation starts?  There’s no question that it is at home.   Thus, the parents could also be blamed for their child’s weakness when faced with problems like the one she just had.  The schools the child attended since she started learning her ABCs are also partly blamed for not recognizing the child’s shakiness and made corrections about it (which I see as a national problem on education) because the department of education is not doing enough to prepare children to become emotionally strong when they face the stress of college life and the challenges of life by the time they look for a job and think of having a family of their own.  

Where parents are deficient, the school should be wise enough to fill up.   Suicide is uncalled for as a response to pressures.  During college, pressures should be a welcome challenges for students and supposed to solve them answering riddles with their playmates.

In the case of the U.P. policy, the school should have provided some remedies to overcome it, like offering study now pay later to students or granting loan to students who can’t afford at the moment, offer part time paid jobs, etc.   It is like teaching them to solve problem by looking at possibilities.  If there are remedies offered and the student still failed to pay, then there is no choice but for the student to face the consequence of her action because 90%, I am sure, is irresponsibility on her part.

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…

I Am A Father

Votes For Sale: How Voters Can’t Cheat Vote Buyers?

Election is again hovering in the wave and is now becoming a hot topic of the town.  As usual, when talking about politics, issues like vote buying is always on the table to discuss about.

Have you been wondering how a crooked politician knew if the voter he paid don’t trick him, and be sure the paid voter wrote his name on the ballots?

This question had been bothering me for years until one day, during a wake of our cousin who was killed by robbers, I met someone who spelled out how paid voters will be checked if they voted for the politician whom they sold their precious vote.

The system is very simple, and I am so dumb I did not think about it to save my head of a problem I should have not been thinking and instead thought of other more important ones.

The person, I spoke with said vote buying is a very open to the place where he was staying, but is a puzzle to people who were not involved.

This is their way.

A politician, through his goons, offers money to almost all registered voters, an amount irresistible to say “No” for people who have the lowest daily income, and where work is very limited.

And if you’re one who is willing to sale your vote, you will be paid the amount immediately, and there’s no way you could back-out, or cheat the buyer.  Your money is given to you with a big smile, but, with a glare of “Be sure to do as you promised or else be sure you’ve prayed hard enough to save you from going under the ground – six feet!”  Which is as far as the fellow remembered, his or her prayers saved no one.  Perhaps, he said, their angels abandoned them by the time they sold their souls to the devils.

When you get your money, a carbon paper with clean white sheet of paper underneath is also given!  Be sure to put the ballot on top of it when you vote.  And when you write down the names of the politicians, it must be duplicated on the white sheet of paper.  because failing to do so will put your life in jeopardy.

When you get out from the precinct area, you will be followed, and be asked for the duplicate to submit it with your name.  You’re lucky if you are given a chance to explain, or run if you did not write down what was expected from you.   Mostly, victims are gunned down immediately, and everyone is expected to have seen nothing.