The Flight of Maria and Juan

Rushing in on the way to the airport, seeking for nice parking places that are nearest to the departure area.  The whole families are there, with husband and wife that are not letting go of both hands.  Kissing them that if it’s the end of the world, Quite a romantic scene isn’t it? Kids are hugging their moms and dads, tears started to fall, all wishing well that Juan and Maria will be fine in the foreign land.  Maria and Juan holding their beloved passport and ticket together with the small baggage that will be the key for another chance to uplift their lives.

Turning back time, Juan and Maria are desperate to seek a good paying job preferably abroad.  Waiting for the Sunday issues of classified ads, turning it over from back to front, almost nearly crumpled.  Listing all the possible work that Juan and Maria will be able to apply.  Preparing the required document, photocopies of all the document they might find that will be surely uplift their credentials.  Evening comes, preparing what clothes to wear for tomorrow job hunting stunt.

Monday comes Maria and Juan, eager see a new hope can be seen in their eyes together with a dozen resumes.  Experiencing the Monday rush hour, waiting for the public transportation that are most are full of passenger, hoping that a jeepney or an FX will pass.  At last finally got to chance to board a FX with only a budgeted allowance for the whole day of job hunting experience.  Looking on their first destination,  Ermita Area  seeking for a correct direction, finally they found a recruitment office.  A sturdy security guard named Pedro, Juan and Maria approached the guard “manong san ko pwede ipasa application ko?” Pedro “dun po, kuha kayo ng application form tapos pila kayo para sa screening” Maria and Juan both hurriedly grab one, the fill it up with eagerness and after completion, they went to the queue.  So many people are also waiting for their turn, so seconds, minutes, hour passed.  Perspiring under the mighty sun’s heat finally it’s their turn.  Maria approached the agency personnel, “ Ano natapos mo?” Maria replied “College po, teacher po ako”. “Domestic Helper lang ang opening namin papunta sa Hongkong, Teacher below qualification po kayo”  Maria answer hesitantly “ sige po, pwede din ako DH ”.  We will notify you if you need for an interview.  Then its Juan turn; “ Juan ano natapos mo, marunong ka mgdrive?” Juan replied “commerce po, opo marunong po” “opening naming driver for now, ano gusto mo?” as usual Juan replied “pwede po”.  Okay we will notify you if we’ll be needing you for an interview.  So hopping from agency to agency they both call it a day.  On their way home with their belly crumbling for a dinner, with only a little money left for the day’s activities, tired to cook.  Going to the reliable “tinging ulam sa kanto”.  or we called it KFC stands for “Kanto Fried Chicken“.

On their house, were their kids are also waiting for them if there is a dinner to be serve, with a typical Lolo or Lola tending for their kids.  The dinner was serve and the family shared it happily, but in Maria’s heart she felt sadly than ever, seeing their kids eating and sharing little amount of food. 

Same with Juan’s family, Juan hoping that he can provide more for his children or family to have a good standard of living.  The sleeping through the night Juan and Maria kept thinking of the chance they got in his application, hoping and dreaming that hopefully he will be pick.

Juan and Maria had their day jobs, Juan working as clerk, Maria as a teacher in a private school.  Their salaries are not enough to meet both ends, there are expenses ways beyond their current salaries. As the day passes. they been told that they can apply online “wow hi-tech na” so they  both go to the nearest internet shop together with the floppies, they search agencies by agency sending the application. 

Alas , finally one recruitment office replied,  that they can come for an interview so they did.  They went for training, medical exam, and other required by the agency and by our government.  The worst part of it is looking for the money for the placement fees or processing fees.  So were will Juan and Maria will go for the money?  There are many ways to get a loan back home.  First asking their relatives, if they have one that can spare them for a loan. Secondly is the 5-6 loan sharks, thirdly as you can see in streets that are peddling and giving pamphlets for financing, a bit higher interest rate based on the prevailing interest rates.  Fourth source of money will be through the legitimate commercial banks that will require them a ton of document for a loan. 

Finally, they both got their fees and ready to hand it over to the agency.  They are not both got their visas and the air ticket.  Waiting for their departure.  Maria bound for Hongkong, and Juan bound for Saudi Arabia.

Too many questions  remain on their minds. Are my salaries will be enough to provide welfare for my family? How will I live far apart from my family?  I will not see my kids grow? How we can communicate to the love ones at home? The dearly beloved that will stay back home to look for the kids?  But the worst is remember the joke “ Pinagbilin mo na ba kay Pare si Mare” or “ Si Mare na bahala kay Pare”? 

So, where does our educated citizen are going?  Our fellow countrymen that let themselves to be slave for the sake of money so that they can provide a good welfare for their love ones.

To be continued…..

Are we(OFW) really the unsung heroes of our times?

During my college days I remember, when we are taking our economics class our professor explained to us, what are the benefits of our fellow Filipinos who are working abroad in our economy. Then I wonder? How our remittances did affecting our economy? First thing, let me compare the so called develop country (first world) what are they exporting? They are exporting their technologies, consumer products, industrial machineries and other hi-technology, (they only tend to export their labour only if needed by their multi-national corporation), especially movies or music were most of western ideas are coming from to influence most of us. Secondly, first world they are only tend to leave their home country if they wanted to relax, vacations or cruises. Thirdly, most of the developed nation’s citizen has their high value for their “NATIONALISM” or they had their “NATIONAL IDENTITY”. Are we Filipinos having that kind of level of value?

So, what are the primary exports of the Philippines during the Spanish Period? We established the Manila Acapulco Galleon Trade route. Exchanging agricultural produce from the South America and Vice Versa. During the American regime after the Mock Battle of Manila Bay between our heroes and the Spanish Forces, but without their knowledge it’s just an epic drama between Spain and the United States. How much our country’s worth? Is that amount is enough for the blood that are spilled and wasted in the name of courage and the love of our Mother Land?

Yup, during the American Regime what are we exporting? As far as my history forbids me to remember, our country is exporting sugar, Manila hemp, and other minerals. Exploiting our natural resources in order to feed their industrial might. In apropos, but thanks to the Americans that they introduce to us the free education system or commonly known as public schools system. Americans did provide us a great chance for us to be educated. As my Lolo told us that they were hunted down to just for them to attend school. Believe me, my Lolo is a great English speaker and even Spanish, as well as my parents I remember that if they are arguing they are using Spanish so that we will not understand what they are saying.

So, How about during the Japanese occupation? Well this will be based on my Lola’s stories. Young filipinas used to make themselves dirty, covering their body with the help of charcoals and anything that can emmit a pungent stench. So that they will not be prone to be raped and be killed. “ yan na mga hapon tago na” Remember those issues with comport women during the Japanese occupation that break out in the newspaper during the early 90’s that they are claiming for damages. During those year, a war torned Philippines we lost 3 of our Lolo in the infamous “Death March” two were not found (MIA) and the other one died manila was liberated. I’d only saw them in picture in old black and white photos. So during that time what are we exporting? We’ll we did not export anything but lives were spent. The promise of the American Military to use our local soldiers to join their forces and will be compensated fairly. Are they compensated? Better to ask you Lolo who are the veterans of World War 2 Pacific Assault. Ask your Lola who are the wives of our veterans, Are they compensated fairly? So what do we export on that period? The answer could be the lives of our forefather who did fight for our mother land’s freedom.

After World War II, Philippines did endure enough. Our economy begin to flourish again , that time our economy is the envy of our Asian neighbour, we have our education system, our well established banking system. Remember that we are the first third world country to manufacture a television and export it to our neighbouring countries. The dollar exchange was what? 3 pesos to a dollar? Please correct me if iam wrong. During those days you would see a 6 or 8 cylinder engines (full size sedan) flying in our roads. We have used to own one, a Buick Electra we often called it bat mobile due to the fins on its back. This era can be considered as our “Golden Age” were Filipinos have a great purchasing power. Life is much simpler then, people used to plant their backyards with produce and can be bartered to your neighbours.

After Marcos Regime, I think this era was the epitome of the export of Filipinos worldwide. The flight of workers to the middle east that badly needs engineers, skilled workers for their abrupt development of infrastructures. Recruitment Agency begun to spout like mushroom especially in the greater Manila Areas. Soon having a family member abroad is the envy of our neighbours. Remember the Japan hey days, Filipina were being exported as entertainers, artist, and some turned to be as sex slaves. One time I’ve overheard a conversation while travelling with our jeepney (a military surplus after WWII transformed by to carry more passenger) two mothers a talking about their daugther, one mother murmur that her daughter is currently working in Japan and she brags that her daughter gets a lot of money from Japanese customer and advice that you should encourage your daughter to audition in the promotion agency. Then I remember my Lola stories during the war, she said “ Yan na hapon, anak tago na” but that was her time but now its “ Yan na hapon, anak tihaya na, malaki datung”.

I am a product of an OFW, my father was one of the first batches of engineers bound for the middle east. I used to have imported shoes, cloths and we are all enrolled in the private schools. Our lives abruptly change, well my mother is a public school teacher. My mother will not think anymore what will be our food tomorrow. Is our family budget were will be enough to meet both ends. Well as my father is continuously working abroad, we had enjoyed the financial change.

But when I’ve learned what my parents they are facing with living far from each other, I’ve read my father’s letter to my mother believe me. I pity my parents then that in order for us to have a good life they need to endure those empty years that passed. Growing without seeing my development only my mother does. How about my father working abroad? During those times technology is not as good as now. We have to get a cassette tape and records our experiences, our school activities and others. It’s hard to talk to a voice recorder to express your feeling, most of it ended crying.

Labour forces aged, so did my father. He retires due his age and a medical issues, we are faced a dilemma of sending my father back and forth to the hospital for treatment, our properties were sold in order for my father to get a good treatment. During those days do our government has the facility to aide our failing father? I’ve guess not. My mother tried to get a medical claims to the government institution that claims they can provide medical benefits for Overseas Worker but unfortunately they are asking for many documents, so where we will get those documents or requirement? They’ve said that my father does not anymore contributing to the common fund. So do I need to blame my father? I’ve guess not, ask me why? Why because before you leave the country as a worker you are insured and your dependent are as well. But my father is not an OFW anymore so, in short he is not qualified for a health benefit, yes? They’ve said that the coverage expires. Luckily my mother was employed in the government as a public school teacher so she will be entitled for loans and other medical benefits. Well, do our social services can handle this kind of situations? I think not.

Iam am a second generation of OFW, I hope my children will not end like me. We are the slaves of the modern times, I hope that there will be a better chance for them not in a foreign country but in our mother land. I hope to see our country develop a sense of pride, bragging rights that once we are a third world and now we are change a self sufficient nation. A country that can provide their citizens a good social services, a strong purchasing power. I believe we can achieve this. “Yes WE CAN, We should UNITE for a better future” leave those regionalism, sectarian division. We are Filipinos, We should stand together and strive for a better Philippines.

Am I an unsung hero? I think iam not, my contribution to our economy is just a by product of my endeavour to provide food for the table for my family, in order for me to provide whatever their need is, and in order to meet both ends. I am not a hero and I intended to be one, as long as I have a pinoy heart, and a pinoy identity I thinks it enough. Love our country!! Unsung Hero? Well it’s just propaganda.

Teachers are heroes of our modern times, The true heroes are, our veterans, our soldier, our guerrillas, our poets, artisans, our intellectuals, and the heroes of our nation who fought for our freedom. Heroes I’ve known has its vision for the country, not a personal purpose but with a nation’s purpose.

To be continued…..