Over the weekend the Pinoy blogosphere was abuzz with reactions from the People Asia article that was written by a certain socialite wannabee and pachyderm. Many blogs and even many more comments came out since and are still being written. One just has to type her now famous … err… infamous name on Google search and you’ll find her story there. I will not anymore waste my precious blog space to such an obnoxious person and give her the fame she desperately seeks no matter who she maligns in achieving it.
However, her “acerbic” article and proclaimed disgust of OFWs in general, reminded me the way other Filipinos look at their fellow countrymen who chose to leave family and familiar environment to work in a strange country with even stranger customs just to be able to give their loved ones a bright future. The Government hails them as the “Modern-day Heroes” (Makabagong Bayani) while the same people are treated pitifully by Government agencies that are supposed to serve and protect them.
My first taste of this treatment of OFWs was when I was preparing for my trip. It started with the medical examination in which an “authorized” medical testing center will find something that makes you unfit to work when a more established medical institution doesn’t find anything medically wrong with you. To clear this medical examination, one has to cough up a lot of money to pay the retests and seek consultation and clearance only from their authorized specialists who give receipts without tax numbers.
Then came the POEA, for a 'named hire' worker (someone who found a job without the help of an agency), I had to be there more than an hour before the office opened. When it did open, I had to elbow my way to write my name on the list of people they will process for the day. I was wondering with all the fees they were collecting, why don’t they buy a simple queuing machine which gives numbers on a first-come, first-served basis? After that came the OWWA fees. Again, with all the fees they are collecting why are they having a hard time repatriating OFWs each time there is a need to do it. Remember the war in Lebanon?
On the day I was leaving for Qatar, I was at the check-in counter of Emirates Airline. I was 5 kilos over the limit of 20 kilos. I had an e-ticket which is actually an email which did not show my baggage weight limit. Instead of telling me nicely that I was over the luggage weight-limit, the airline employee blurted out disrespectfully: “Next time learn to read your ticket!” in the vernacular so others will hear. Patience got the better of me and I did my best to follow the luggage weight requirement. While I was removing some of my clothes from the luggage, I was thinking to myself: “I am now living the life of an OFW and I have to face and accept such things.”
Even former officemates or acquaintances think I was so desperate in life that I chose to work as an OFW. Yes, to many Filipinos you only think of becoming an OFW when you are desperate. That is how they think about it and I cannot change how they think. There is dignity in what we OFWs do and I am saddened by the fact that it takes people of other nationalities to appreciate and recognize the work we do while my countrymen denigrate us who contribute a lot to our country collectively. Despite their comments, I am content on the fact that now I am paid for what I know and not for whom I know.
Moreover, I know I chose this life for a higher purpose. I want to give my family and myself a future that is brighter and more secure. I have given up career, a work that I love in a prestigious company and left behind friends because I chose family over career. After all, for me the security and happiness of my family is more important than career and prestige.
However, her “acerbic” article and proclaimed disgust of OFWs in general, reminded me the way other Filipinos look at their fellow countrymen who chose to leave family and familiar environment to work in a strange country with even stranger customs just to be able to give their loved ones a bright future. The Government hails them as the “Modern-day Heroes” (Makabagong Bayani) while the same people are treated pitifully by Government agencies that are supposed to serve and protect them.
My first taste of this treatment of OFWs was when I was preparing for my trip. It started with the medical examination in which an “authorized” medical testing center will find something that makes you unfit to work when a more established medical institution doesn’t find anything medically wrong with you. To clear this medical examination, one has to cough up a lot of money to pay the retests and seek consultation and clearance only from their authorized specialists who give receipts without tax numbers.
Then came the POEA, for a 'named hire' worker (someone who found a job without the help of an agency), I had to be there more than an hour before the office opened. When it did open, I had to elbow my way to write my name on the list of people they will process for the day. I was wondering with all the fees they were collecting, why don’t they buy a simple queuing machine which gives numbers on a first-come, first-served basis? After that came the OWWA fees. Again, with all the fees they are collecting why are they having a hard time repatriating OFWs each time there is a need to do it. Remember the war in Lebanon?
On the day I was leaving for Qatar, I was at the check-in counter of Emirates Airline. I was 5 kilos over the limit of 20 kilos. I had an e-ticket which is actually an email which did not show my baggage weight limit. Instead of telling me nicely that I was over the luggage weight-limit, the airline employee blurted out disrespectfully: “Next time learn to read your ticket!” in the vernacular so others will hear. Patience got the better of me and I did my best to follow the luggage weight requirement. While I was removing some of my clothes from the luggage, I was thinking to myself: “I am now living the life of an OFW and I have to face and accept such things.”
Even former officemates or acquaintances think I was so desperate in life that I chose to work as an OFW. Yes, to many Filipinos you only think of becoming an OFW when you are desperate. That is how they think about it and I cannot change how they think. There is dignity in what we OFWs do and I am saddened by the fact that it takes people of other nationalities to appreciate and recognize the work we do while my countrymen denigrate us who contribute a lot to our country collectively. Despite their comments, I am content on the fact that now I am paid for what I know and not for whom I know.
Moreover, I know I chose this life for a higher purpose. I want to give my family and myself a future that is brighter and more secure. I have given up career, a work that I love in a prestigious company and left behind friends because I chose family over career. After all, for me the security and happiness of my family is more important than career and prestige.
It is for them I am here.
2 comments:
Mabuhay ka Al...
Thanks for your comment and taking time to read my blog.
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