OFW Chronicles: Filipinos Abroad

I woke up this morning a little bit odd than usual. My pillows are on the floor and my eyes are aching or something. Then the usual or routinary thing to do, get in the bathroom and prepare for work. Upon reaching for my toothbrush I saw my reflection on the mirror. I look terrible, what could have happened in five hours while I was asleep. My eyes are swollen and some remnants or traces of salty water on my face. I could have been crying in my sleep but I don’t remember anything. The gush of water from my head to my face suddenly jerked my memory. I dreamt of my late father, we were talking (as if he was still here) about my brothers and sisters like we always do when we get the chance. We are both concern of their current situations in life. As if he were telling me that he’s leaving for good and I should do something about it. Then we talked of my late mother of how much she loved me and how proud she was of me. Then all turned blurry like a dream as it is but enough to make me so...

And so I thought I can relax in the Airport’s boarding lounge (I was wrong). A long line in the entrance, I finally got through then x-rays, done. Luggage checked-in, no hassles, 27kg exact weight. Another long line for OWFs where OEC are being checked (It’s nice to have some privilege as an OFW, airport’s fee and travel tax exemption), it took me 30 minutes or more then finally my turn. I handed over my passport together with the boarding pass and the precious “OEC” (Overseas Employment Certificate).

Eden Zaniega de Castro-Villa, who had worked in Hongkong as a household service worker (HSW) to earn dollars for her family in La Union, is now generating much bigger income from her handicraft business, which was expanded with the financial assistance from the Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA). “After working overseas, I decided to go home and open a small school and office supplies and craft store ,” shared Eden, who also at the same time was engaged in silk farming. Source: Official Website of the Department of Labor and Employment For OFWs, this is the kind of story that keeps us motivated to dream. The story of Eden Zaniega re-invigorates my enthusiasm to go on. It gives me hope that someday I too can succeed on my future plans after retiring as an OFW (Overworked Filipino Worker) Oops! I mean Overseas Filipino Worker (smile). Being away from home just to provide for the family is not the life I have imagined of having when I got married. I wanted a simple yet comfo...

Anywhere in the world it’s no longer unusual to see Filipinos, from east to west, south to north. OFWs are everywhere and somewhere in the world there are stories untold. Somewhere in Kuwait there is a mother crying and longing for her children she left back in the Philippines; does his husband cares? If he is busy with the other woman. Somewhere on an oil platform a man restless, trying to call on his wife’s mobile phone and no answers, where could she be? Perhaps in a place so private even the writer have no access.

A year have passed, 14 months actually and in two weeks time I’ll be hearing roar of one of the noisiest engines on Earth; the airplane’s engine. A very irritating sound unless you’re inside the plane buckled up, seating comfortably and bound for home. Doha-Manila, hmmm I can almost imagine the indescribable feeling upon entering that open door while the steward is checking for your seat (hoping that it would be near the window). That excitement, the moment the plane lift its nose for takeoff; the calmness when it finally settled on its required altitude, “priceless”.

When is the Right Time to go Back Home? “There is no place like home, there is no place like home”. Oops!! I forgot I’m not Dorothy of the Wizard of Oz and I don’t have the ruby slippers. She could go to Kansas as long as she can rub the slippers and wish for home but for us OFWs it’s not just rubbing shoes and voila! “Home” we will be, no it doesn’t work that way as there lots of things to consider. One way or the other, every Filipino outside the country has felt the same way. When the going gets tough, home is where we want to be. To be with the family that will comfort, understand and would try to appease our emotional turmoil. When is the right time to go home for good? What does it take to be able to have a decent means of living back in the Philippines? How many more years an OFW must bear to realize what he/she has dreamed of achieving in deciding to go abroad? These are the questions which aren’t that easy to answer. It really depends on the individual concern. When...

Image via Wikipedia Life is like a box of chocolates, you’ll never know what you gonna get” – Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) When we’re kids we tend to see life in a very positive manner, always trying to fast forward time so we can be adults. I envied my brothers who are working and earning money. I kept on imagining what I can buy with “lots of money” but never did I wonder how hard it is to work. Now I’m an adult working and earning money and this time I know what and how it takes to earn a living.