Cleanliness is next to getting the job
During dinner, a stay-in contractor in our site told me that he had seen a Filipina working as maid in his country. He blatantly asked me how much is the minimum monthly salary an average Filipino receives in a month when we work in our own Country. Maybe in his mind, he expects that we normally receive less than 100 US$ a month since most Filipina maids earn around 200 US$ overseas.
I answered him back that it is not that the 200 US$ monthly salary is enticing or huge that women in my Country willingly take the risk to get this job and work in your wagering war-torn country. The problem is we are over-populated. Our economy is not big enough to provide jobs for newly graduates or non-skilled workers alike. Thus, unemployment is a crisis. Our people accept a meager salary from overseas for the sake of just having a job. They also perceived that this is a stepping stone to migrate or find much better jobs in a developed country.
I told him your people are lucky because they are getting more than the worth of their money as these maids are mostly well-trained, educated and caring. Then, I started to be proactive and threw a simple question to him. There are a lot of maids coming from different Countries like India, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Indonesia to name a few. But why you prefer Filipinas despite the fact that their salary is high compared to other nationals. He replied that Filipinas are clean apart from being educated and having a good knowledge of English language.
As old adage says that cleanliness is next to Godliness, but it is more than that. Being clean is next to getting the job. I agree that most of us Filipinos are physically clean but very few are morally upright.
Free your mind
There are, of course, situation in which it is so depressing that you expected to be love or treated fairly in certain situation but didn't get it. Consider, for example, you have performed your job in your office more than par compared to others. You anticipated to be promoted and get a considerable annual salary increase consummately to your skills.
Suddenly, all your expectation died down like a blazing fire that was abruptly extinguished by high-pressured running water as the promotion went to other not you. This happened to most of us. In fact, Jesus had illustrated this desperate feeling in one of his great parables- the so called prodigal son. Yes, I am talking about the other older son who stayed with his father through thick in thin. He did not squander his inheritance like what his younger brother did. Instead, he obliged to be with his father to help him in their thriving business. But you see when his younger brother came back and ask for forgiveness, he was immediately accepted.
Like the older brother, will you simply accepted that situation and stay silently without any quiver. Let us go back to my first story of an office situation.
In this corporate world full of politicking, prejudice and craziness, you should expect the unexpected. Boss focused, picked and promoted the staff he likes with less consideration on what he or she may contributed to the growth and profitability of the company. Despite of this, you must persevere and do the right thing without hatred. For good deeds are bound to be awarded may be not now. But sure it will come. If we allow hatred rules in your heart, you will put your mind in state of depression and anxiety.
Life's Pain and Misery
An email was forwarded to me by a friend. The content of the message is poignant and at the same time unbearable. It was painful to see one of our sisters who stayed and lived overseas to suffer such horrendous feat.
Life is too short indeed and in fact even with its shortness it is also full of misery. Each one of us has its own problems to solve and cross to take. Some will come up victorious and other dies with it.
Let me go back to my story and present it to you. Below is the full detail of it.
----- Original Message ----
From: Larry
To: naijapinoy@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, March 8, 2008 6:46:38 PM
Subject: Phil. Brgy. Society - Nigeria [PBSN] Plea for help
To Filipino Community of Port Harcourt
All Filipinos from Other Communities
All Friends of Lolaine Asuquo
Dear All,
Some of you may have heard already of the very sad incident
that has happened to our dear friend Mrs.Lolaine Asuquo and her
eldest son Eturu.
It was early morning about 3am on Tuesday,4th March when armed
robbers attacked their residence in NTA Road Chuba Area.Frustrated
to enter their bedroom,got gasoline from their generator and set
house ablaze.Being trapped inside the room, both of them suffered 3rd
degree burns.Eturu 50% of his body and Lolaine 75%.Eturu's face has
very litle burns but from shoulder all the way down was badly
damaged.Lolaine' s face was burnt and the rest of her body saving only
her hair and few parts.They were both rushed to Palmars Clinic in
Agip Road by a neighbor.They were both conscious and had even
conversed with us.
Lolaine was in more serious condition than Eturu and with the
financial help of friends who were there that evening,Lolaine was
moved to Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital Intensive Care
Unit.Unfortunately, we lost her next day at 8am, Wednesday,5th
March.Letty shouldered expenses to put her in Mortuary while Eturu is
still in Palmars Clinic and has no idea about the passing of his
mother.
Her 2nd son who is studying in Philippines will arive
tomorrow,Friday to make decision on how she will be burried while
Eturu is recovering well according to the doctor.
For those who knew well Lolaine, would have witnessed the bitter
life she and her children have passed through.Lolaine was married to
a Nigerian she has meet in Philippines, while both as students.She had
a tough life and became a widow with 4 boys who managed in their own
struggle to finish school.Eturu, being the eldest, is the breadwinner
of the family.Children managed to survive in the absence of Lolaine
who left for Philippines and Dubai looking for job to support her
kids.She came back in Port Harcourt just few months ago and decided
to stay.Sent 2 sons to Phils to study further.With the little salary
she has together with Eturu, they help each other to provide for the
2 sons schooling plus that of her 8 year old grandson.Other son is
married and in Calabar but jobless.
Dear friends, let us open our hearts to this poor helpless
family who is in need of our financial assistance in this terrible
time of loss and grief.We thank God for our lives and all the
blessings He has showered upon us.There is a reason behind it.We are
blessed to cater for our needs and also to share no matter how little
of what we have for others.We may not need help at this time, but
life is too short and we never know what lies ahead of us.We may
need help ourselves oneday and God would provide for somebody to be
there to give us help.It is easy to love someone if you love them for
the sake of God...Please let us help Lolaine's children by donating
generously for her burial and treatment for Eturu so he could once
again look after his younger brothers.
I have voluntered to coordinate this iniative so please forward
your humble donations to me.A financial report will be given to those
who have donated.
Kindly forward this to anybody who is not in the list.
My heartfelt thanks and gratitude in advance on behalf of the
children.
May God bless your kind and radiant heart. . .
Accidental Hero
I am trying to remember the plot of the movie – accidental hero. If I am not mistaken, the story revolved to a man who had saved many lives during a fatal plane crash accident. Unfortunately, an impostor claimed the credit as a hero himself. The real hero in fact is reluctant to help but due to such opportunity accidentally presented in front of him. He was forced to do such thing as his conscience dictated. Everything happened accidentally.
What is the point I am driving at. You see every citizen of the Philippines including its Government affirm that OFWs are real hero. Being an OFW, do I consider myself a hero? Did I sacrifice something for the betterment of every Filipinos? Of course, I send back my salary in form of remittance back home – which considered by many a good deed to make the economy afloat, eventually making us a hero.
No high-salary job opportunity available to me is the main factor that I dragged myself to work overseas. Leaving my family, experiencing homesickness boredom and facing dangers on my place of work are few examples of sacrifices I made. But, this doesn’t make me a hero of feel like one.
If good and equal job opportunities are also available in the Philippines, of course, there is no point going away from home. I received equal benefits for these sacrifices. This is not a voluntary act to help others without receiving anything. Working abroad like any other jobs, you normally face risk. These sacrifices are simply part of occupational hazard.
I wish I am a hero but I guess am not. And that’s the truth.
