Skip to main content

Hard Part of Being an OFW is Leaving


Whenever I am alone I can’t help it but to recount past events in my life, asking questions and stupid enough in trying to find answers. Why am I here in a foreign land, totally different culture or should I say mix of cultures? Does my eldest daughter know that I have left them to provide for them?
Will my four year old son still see me as his father? I was able to be with my family last April for a month and I am lucky enough that my boy and I didn’t have any trouble bonding, he has this charming character of being able to deal with strangers, yes I was a stranger to him because I left him when he was only 15 months old and have no memory of me. As for my daughter and even with my wife there was this awkwardness but with much effort I was able to patched up things and my vacation was enough to energize me for yet another year of being away from them.

And on my way back here in Qatar, the night before, I have tried putting into words all the emotions I felt during those last hours before the flight.

“Expat on Board”

my mind is in chaos
emotions in mutiny
I want to freeze time
hold the earth in my palm
stop the sun set
for tomorrow I have to set sail
another year I must bear
leave my beloved
and face life without living
sleep without rest
as the emptiness
will be my cohort
loneliness will be my blanket
strength I seek
to carry on
not for me
but for my love ones
that I will leave behind


Originally published on My Poetry Site

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mga Bagong Bayani (OFW) Ipagbunyi inyong Kadakilaan

Sa bawat daan na iyong tinahak Sa mga luha sa mata mo pumatak Sa katawan mong pagod at batak Sa pamilya mong muntik mawasak Sa bawat mga araw na lumilipas Sa yugto ng buhay mong nalalagas Sa damdamin mong nagagasgas Sa mga nagdaraang mga oras Saan ka kaya patutungo? Sino kaya ang sa luha magpapatuyo? May hahagod kaya sa katawang hapo? Manitili kayang pamilya mo ay buo? Araw na lumipas maibabalik ba? Makikita ba mga sandaling nawala? Kaya pa ba sa bigat ng iyong dala? Oras na nagdaan mapapalitan ba? Mga Bagong Bayani....Ipagbunyi inyong kadakilaan..

Tanging Tanglaw (Tula para sa mga OFW)

Sa maghapong walang humpay na pag-gawa Katawang hapo at kulang sa kalinga Hanap lang sa tuwina ay pahinga Ngunit naisin man ay di magawa Damit na nilabhan ay nasa kama Madalas sa malayo nakatingin Nagtatanong kung ano ang mithiin Kalaguyo at kapiling ay dilim Taghoy ng ulilang damdamin Idinadaan sa buntung-hiningang malalim Sa bawat pagpikit ng mga mata Ala-ala ng mga iniwanang sinta Na nakatunghay sa iyong gunita Ang masidhing pangungulila Kayakap mo hanggang umaga Sa muling pagbangon, bakas ng luha Na sa magdamag ay dumaloy sa mga mata Pilit mong itatago para di makita Dahil ika'y malakas sa tingin ng iba Baon mo ay huwad na ngiti at tuwa Sa agos ng buhay sa ibang bayan Wala kang ibang pagpipilian Mahirap man kailangan mong sabayan Dahil sa balikat mo iyong pasan Pangarap sa mga anak sa kinabukasan Ikaw, ako, sila, tayo na nangangarap Na sa ibayong dagat ay naghahanap Asenso na sa sariling bayan ay mailap Sa likod ng makapal na ulap Tanging tang...

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.