OFW Chronicles: Filipinos Abroad

I don't know how to start and write this article about the devastating typhoons that have hit the Philippines but I will try to make it an inspirational one. I am here in Qatar far away from home but as if I heard the moaning of the drowning victims young and old. Miles away but I smelled the agony of loosing love ones. My heart is in pain while watching the horrible videos spread all over the internet. I can’t even imagine the thought of losing a child; it makes me chill and it falters my heartbeat. Help will be served like clothing and food, yeah it will definitely give comfort to those hungry and for those who lost their belongings but who and what will be given to those that are grieving and in pain? How will you explain to a child that his parents are not coming back to take care of him? Give him toys? And how would you console a mother who lost her children? Give her Teddy Bear? Sometimes even the most faithful person will question his/her fate, which is natural and und...

The question "Is it all worth it?" always come to mind. The sacrifices, the longing, culture shock, unbearable home sickness and sometimes even death. Well, as for me yes it is, I can take and bear everything for the sake of my family. But like on my previous post I hope there will come a time when.. I don't have to leave my family to provide for them. I seldom pray but in my occassional prayers I do not forget to include to ask for the prosperity of our beatiful country.

I can't help but to share this video. She said it all in a manner that all of us Filipinos outside our mother land can relate to. All the  common questions that are being ask to us by other nationalities.  The one that really struck me was the question "Why are you sending all your hard earned money back in the Philippines?" And she answered it nicely. Filipinos' main priority is the family second to none.

I will ask again, savings? How many of us ask the same question every now and then? Are you saving anyway? The law of supply and demand  applies here, I noticed that if you will send Php 20,000, a family of two can survive a month, send Php 30,000 it will just be the same, the money will be spent.Let me expound on it a bit further. Humans tend to consume more, knowing they have so much. An office worker promoted and salary increased will send additional money for his family back home hoping that his or her partner will be able to save. Ideally it's probable but in reality it's impossible. I can enumerate at least two reasons for this: 1) People have the capacity to adapt and adjust, when resources are scarce they will find a way to maximize what they have including recycling. Simple example would be clothing, when no extra money in the pocket we will find a way to wear even our oldest dresses in the closet with little of experiments, with the right combinations it can lo...

No one is an island, this is very true for someone like me who doesn't have any relative here in Qatar. What I have found in Buhay Qatar are not just friends but family, support group and every aspect you may need as an OFW. Whenever I feel down they are there to cheer me up, whenever I am alone they make me feel I belong, whenever I need to laugh they are not just there to deliver funny lines but to make you realize that life is not something to survive but to enjoy and cherish. The bonding, the respect and the camaraderie is so strong that every moment I am with them, I feel secure, loved and wanted.

Sa aking pansamantalang pagkariwara Sa mundong sarili kong katha Sana sa pagbabalik, galak at tuwa Sa akin ay maging sagala Sa dilim ng aking kinalagyan Mga impit kong dalangin Sa Kanya ko ipinarating Mga usal kong adhikain Sa Kanya ko na ipinalilim. Ningas ko man ay panandaliang nanamlay Munting baga ay nanatiling buhay At sa aking pagnilay-nilay Pag-aalabin muli apoy na aking taglay Bagong Pag-asa aking pinapanday. Sikat ng araw akin ng tanaw Adhikain ang aking magiging gabay Sa pamilya pangarap ay magandang buhay Pagmamahal ang siyang tulay Tungo sa nalalapit na tagumpay

I am just on my second year as an OFW and I don’t know much yet but I remember I used to hear from my friend’s father who is an OFW way back during the 80’s. He talked of Kabayans proudly saying that Filipinos abroad has special kind of bond. A bond so strong that even if you don’t know the person he will surely greet you with the famous; “kumusta Kabayan?” (How are you fellow Filipino?) “Saan ka sa atin?” (Where are you from in the Philippines?) so more or less I was expecting to experience this Kabayan bond when I arrived here in Doha. My first walk on the streets of Doha on my second day was the opposite. As I was wandering around in the neighborhood where I stay, a couple of Filipinos talking in our language so loudly came and passed by so I was so excited to know that It’s not too bad after all, I have kabayan neighbors so I look at them wearing my best smile possible and said “Kumusta Kabayan?” Instead of returning my greeting they look at each other and grinned, and as if I a...