Balikbayan (Homecoming)

R.S. Mallari (SpK)

It was 2008 when I boarded the plane
Left my heart with my crying wife
With her, my daughter and my son
Time to go on a journey, first flight

As I buckled up, stared at the window
I knew then, it’ll never be the same
My heart filled with pain, much sorrow
I left my family with, only my name

In 2009, three months before my home flight
Misfortunes struck me in bulk
Everything came to a sudden halt
The company where I worked, bankrupt

I endured three months existing, not living
In a dilemma, I want to go home yet I cannot
Thoughts of my family, kept me moving
Until I found a new pasture, one more shot

November 2009 was the darkest
Death has taken my beloved mother
I, the favorite son, the youngest
On her final hour, I wasn't even there

Now 2010, ticket at hand, at last
After two years of sweat and blood
To be reunited with my family at long last
The entire wait, worthwhile, I am so glad"

Comments

Loans Available for OFW

The Philippine Government particularly OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) which is the lead institution that serves the interest and welfare of member-Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) has come up with a program which main purpose is to help and Finance some livelihood programs of OFW and their families through Financial Loans. Please see below the description and the criteria for the said program.

Are OFW's Rich?

"Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are not rich. We have this notion that when someone is an OFW or based abroad, he or she is loaded. Not true. An OFW might earn from P50K-P300K a month, depending on the location. Those in Saudi Arabia or the United States might earn in the high range. But to say that they're 'rich' is a fallacy (amen!). There's no place like home - Living Abroad : For some OFW's the notion maybe true but for most it's a fallacy like what the author of the article where I got the excerpt said. I have seen the plight of some unfortunate Filipinos working here in Qatar and even heard of some earning as low as QR 700.00 that is roughly Php 8,360.00. Imagine the hardships and the sacrifices it takes just to earn that meagre amount so they can send money home. I just can't imagine how they are surviving with that salary as the cost of living here is relatively higher compared to Saudi Arabia. My food allowance here ranges from QR 5...

One Car for Every OFW Tax Free

Image via Wikipedia One lazy evening my buddy Delfin, his wife and I were having coffee at a nearby coffee shop to where we live here in Qatar, it’s the usual conversation until it lead to about how difficult it is to acquire a Qatar driving license, then we turn to cars on how easy it is to own one here because banks here are so aggressively offering car loans to those who are interested even to those that are not interested. It is easier to buy a car abroad than in our country as the banks ask only of minimal requirements unlike in the Philippines where banks have their own agents to look into the credit standing of the person who is applying for a loan and sometimes even go deeper than that, as if he is some kind of a criminal being under surveillance but that’s my own observation anyway.

OFW Chronicles: Filipinos Abroad

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