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Take a Peep on the Life of an OFW

The dawn is breaking yet you are awake, mind won’t concede with the idea of sleeping. The bed sheet is begging mercy underneath your restless back, pillows soaking with sweat and tears. The room is silent only sigh and inhibited sobbing echoes’; walls are cold adding unsolicited sympathy.

Its four o’clock in the morning, eyes tired of being consciously closed. Asking yourself tons of questions which torture your sanity, answers are hard to come by within your logic. Sometimes you opt to create an alternate reality within the realms of your intellect.

The sun crawling its way in the east, the sky is like burning with spectacular array of colours. Others are waking up to prepare for yet another day while you half-awake, half-asleep forcing every move towards the bathroom, trying to muster every bit of strength left  to face another battle of your life as an OFW.
At eight thirty in the morning yesterday, hardly started anything, a message from your roaming phone has broken the silence in your prison cell called the “office”. The message came from a familiar number saying “Don’t be shaken with what I am about to tell you. Mom was taken to the hospital after being found lying unconsciously on the floor in the dining room. After the doctor’s examination, it was found out that she had a heart attack and needs to be confined.”

Two more months and you are about to have your much awaited leave vacation but you decided to en cash your two way ticket to pay for the hospital bills. Sending them back home including the one month leave allowance because your younger brother have to pay for his tuition fees. Just a week ago you withdrew all of your savings to give to the vehicular accident victim of your beloved brother-in-law and promise to pay “end of never”. You cannot say “no” to your hysterical sister saying she cannot take care of your nephews if her husband goes to jail. For the next two months you have to settle for bread and fillings, noodles and can foods because you need to save money for the medications of mom, the school allowance of your younger brother. And next month you will be one of the absentee “Ninong” (Godfather) to one of your newly acquainted relative’s child.

Who could make you sleep now as the teeth of “homesickness” biting you every night? All your plans for a summer week on the beach and mountain climbing have to wait for another two years. Who would fill you’re longing for your mother’s embrace? Who will tap your shoulder and say “It will be alright” when your pillar of strength (your father) is nowhere near you?

Then some excessively intelligent people will say “OFW’s do not deserve to be called modern heroes.” Then who deserve the label? A Label that is not even enough to compensate and recognize the contributions of OFW’s in the Philippines’ economy.

Comments

  1. why does every time i read yours stories can't help myself, i want to give you a hug and tell you that some time things will be alright and you will live a happy life soon.. .every thing has its own reason. be strong!!

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