It pains me
I was on vacation last Christmas in Manila and got an opportunity to see my former colleague who worked with me in Africa for about 2 years, I guessed so. She had resigned long ago and now happened to work in Makati. Things are not so good with her financially. In fact, she is in heavy debt with her credit card company. She could barely pay the interest. It was quite frustrating to see her in such dire situation.
While we were eating in a cozy restaurant, we talked about those good and bad old days when we were still working with our strange and evil boss. Suddenly, she murmured to me that I had a nice and costly shirt. She further said that oh my husband could not afford to buy such kind of T-shirt. What she said actually pierced my heart since this a lady who happened to love buying costly and quality stuff during the time she was still earning well from her short stint working abroad. Now, they are suffering and need to tighten up their belts even more. Well, since I am still working overseas, I borrowed or should I say gave her US$300.00 to enable her to at least ease their burden.
The social cost of working abroad
Ang dami naming OFW na angkalat sa mundo. Mula sa karatig asia hanggang sa sulok sulok ng Africa ay merong Pnoy na nakikipagsapalaran para guminhawa ang buhay. Pero maganda bang maging OFW. Madami bang masayang OFW? Maaring oo pero marami din sigurong nalulungkot at naghihirap. Kasi nga sa mundong ito bawat aksyon meron counter reaction. So kung sa ngayon ang aksyon mo ay maging OFW, ano kaya ang magiging reaction nuon. Isa na rito ang cost of working abroad. Ano ano nga ba ito? Sa aking pananaw ay ito ang mga sumusunod.
•Ang hindi mo makasama ang mga mahal mo sa buhay dahil nasa malayo kang lugar.
•Ang pagbaba ng antas ng qualidad mo sa buhay. Ang aspetong ito ang patungkol sa gawain mong pang-araw araw nuong di ka pa OFW. Kung lagi kang nasa mall, mahilig kumain ng tuyo o di kaya bagoong o nagsisimba tuwing lingo maaring di mo na magawa ito kung nasa ibang bansa kana. Sigurado akong ma miss mo ito.
•Iyong mga naiwan mo sa Pinas na lagi na lang umaasa saiyo at ayaw nang magtrabaho. Ang inaatupag na lang ay mag tongits, gumala at magpalaki ng bayag.
•Ang homesickness na mararamdaman mo na minsan umaabot pa sa pagkasira ng ulo.
•Minsan paguwi mo sa Pinas doon mo malalaman na madami palang utang ang pamilya mong naiwan at hindi mo alam kung paano mo ito mababayaran.
•Di rin maiwasan na malulong sa bisyo at kung ano ano pang pangyayari na akala mo sa komiks lang pwede ay nangyari sa ilang miyembro ng pamilya mo.
•Dumarami ang fren mo at kamag anak na laging humihingi sa iyo ng tulong na para bang di ka nauubusan ng pera.
•Lumalaki ang sahod ng OFW pero parang mas mabilis dumami ang problema nya.
Tapos sabi nga nila na life is too short. Iyon na nga short na as in short pero bakit kailangan mas mangibabaw ang hirap kesa sa saya.
Shit Happens
Shit Happens
When you woke up in the morning alone and not knowing what to do.
When you were young and saw your father dying of throat cancer due to heavy smoking.
When you noticed that your mother a widow was struggling to make ends meet.
When you were going to college not having any money in your pocket.
When you saw the girl you love but can’t do anything just stare at her.
When you work and go to school at the same time.
When you do all good things for a woman and still she does not appreciate them.
When you do good deeds and nobody cares.
When you were taken for granted and used you for her/his own benefit.
When you were taking good care and helping your only grandmother financially, physically and emotionally until her last day while you were waiting and looking for other relatives to assist you; but they never came.
When you are required to work overseas and missed the opportunity to be with your daughter during her younger years.
When your love was not being reciprocated.
When you know that it is the end of a relationship and nothing you can do about it even you tried hard enough.
When you saw your mother health’s failing due to breast cancer.
When you sacrificed something in order to gain but in the end lost it.
