Dear Teacher Sol,
Inggit naman ako sa iyo. You are a teacher! you are able to touch lives, to inspire and to be a part (kahi't konti) of others. What made you choose the US? Is it more rewarding? You know you can do a lot more in the Phil.(mas kailangan ng kabataan natin ang mga tulad mo, 'di ba?)Actually, pag naga-abroad ang mga teachers natin ang tawag ko, ay hindi brain drain kundi heart drain. Mas kailangan ba ng mga batang Amerikano kesa mga Pinoy na special children ang mga teachers like you? o fantasya ko lang ba ang self-sacrifice o pagiging martir ng isang tunay na PINAY? I'm sorry, teacher Sol, pero di ako pwede sa lip service.You know you can do more for the Pinoy youth.
What in the world are you doing in another country?
Salamat sa mensahe mo Bel, naiyak ulit ako at nag-isip na naman. Matindi ang dating ng huling katanungan...arggh! Pero matagal ko nang iniyakan yan, at marami na akong blog entries tungkol dyan. TEACHER'S HAVEN nga tinagurian ang Amerika ng mga pahayagan (Newsbreak/ Kansas City Info Zone). At sana maunawaan ako ng aking mga kababayan.
"What the world are you doing in another country?"...siguro katulad ng sagot ng maraming OCW nating kababayan...DREAMING THE AMERICAN DREAM:
*******************
" Without dreams of hope and pride a man will die. Though his flesh still moves, his heart sleeps in the grave..."- CHUCK MANGIONE
Psychologists believe that the basic necessities of a human being include security, recognition, control over one’s life, and a need for creative expression and new experiences. (M. Scott Peck, 1978.)
In the Philippines one cannot guarantee his own security. I never had peace of mind. Never. My life in the Philippines wasn't much of a bad life because we had food and shelter, but not too much economically. Poverty dominated and took over the lives of many Filipinos. Many had to live as "squatters", living on the sides of the roads in cardboard boxes. Now more than ever, the Philippines is in very poor shape. It breaks my heart that my Mother Country, who brought me up to be globally competitive, cannot compete globally, nor even sustain our needs.
However, I had complete control over my life back there. But I was yearning for my efforts to be recognized too. I was the youngest school administrator (I started when I was 23, remember?) in the Philippines then who was able to work my way up from 4 tutorial students to more than 50 exceptional students in a matter of 4 years. And FUNSHINE was one of the highly recommended schools by professionals in the field because of our good reputation. But I wasn’t given much acknowledgement for it.
I was craving for more ways on how to maximize my potentials; because I know I can do better than what I was able to produce. But my resources limited me. I wanted freedom to do everything there is for my professional development, and for the security of my family. I wanted to reach more stars. I wanted to achieve the biggest star…a better future in life.
I started to dream the American Dream. I was thinking that even though the chances to make money in America were small, chances to do so in the Philippines were almost non-existent. The major reason to migrate to the United States was mainly economic. Ask any Filipino why they decided to come to America, and they will take a step back and answer as if it were quoted directly from a text book, "it is the land of opportunity…a land of promise."
As president Hoover would say, the American dream is "A chicken in every pot, and a car in every garage,” or as others would say, “it’s the hope that everyone can enjoy life and be successful at it.”
Upon learning that my sorority sister, was able to leave the country and work in California as a Special Education Teacher, I immediately got the number of the agency where she applied and grabbed the opportunity.
May 26, 2003, I drove to the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) amidst the strong storm “Chedeng” and the flooded highways. This was the most complicated interview I had in my life. We were interrogated through a video conference; it was awkward seeing yourself in one big screen and the interviewers in another big screen. There were a lot of interruptions because of the typhoon, and there was a two-minute communication delay. I successfully passed the interview to the DC Public Schools. I was going to teach in Washington DC… the world’s capital…the seat of power!
Is the American Dream what modern immigrants come to America in search of? If not, what do they come to the United States for?
I still dream THE FILIPINO DREAM, who will make it happen?
P.S. My story THE FILIPINO DREAM was published in PinoyZone.com.
41 comments:
hi Ms. Sol!
i don't know you personally and i know, di mo din po ako kilala. but i just wanted to let you know that i was inspired reading some "chapters" in your blog!promise. thank you ha, you're a blessing. God bles you
Dear teacher Sol,
Habang binabasa ko ang entry mong ito, muntik na rin akong maluha (yes, Virginia, we are indeed the Drama Queens!) Na-realize kong medyo judgmental yung dating ng tanong ko. You are special. Nagawa mo ang naging pangarap ko lang. Ang magtayo ng school para sa urban poor o sa special children (meron akong kapatid na mentally challenged). At sa edad na 23! Ano na ang nangyari sa school mo?
Doon naman sa American dream, I should not expect others to decide the way I did (tanggal-maskara na naman ito). I have lived in California for more than three years.Umuwi ako one and half years ago at wala na akong balak bumalik diyan, Sol. Na-miss ko talaga ang Pilipinas. Hindi naman ako nahirapan sa US. Maybe, masuwerte lang ako. I lived in an upper scale neighborhood sa CA (puro mayayamang puti). Hindi ako nakitira sa kamag-anak o sa kaibigan. Siguro dapat masaya na ako, di ba? Pero, hindi ko nakita 'yung American dream. Pinilit kong maging masaya diyan pero my soul hankered for my Mother land ( and my tummy for Pinoy food). Hindi ko matagalan ang lungkot. Ang dami kong friends diyan. Wala akong ginawa kundi mamasyal kung saan-saan.Kaya ang dami kong obserbasyon tungkol sa difference ng buhay Merika at buhay Pinoy. Maybe abuso ako sa pagiging "lady of leisure". I had too much time in my hands. But no, talagang pusong Pinay lang siguro ako kasi hindi tumalab sa akin ang American Dream.These are my true sentiments. Proof? Bumalik ako dito, 'di ba? Kaya pasensiya na yung mga nasasagasaan ko. Alam kong mali, pero minsan naiisip ko, kung kaya kong bumalik dito, bakit yung iba natatakot? Kaya ganoon 'yung tanong ko. There is no place like home. I know.
Hi Sol. I must admit that I ws very affected by this entry. It was one of the longest post that I have read in months but still, its the one post that i was glued on. Clearly, being an OFW or a Filipino professional in another country does not merely becomes beneficial, but it has a huge psychological and emotional price to it, that dilemma that holds down any forward step these workers make, like even if they become too successful in every way, there would always be that nagging question : "Have I left my country for selfish reasons?".
I understand your predicament SOL and it was so smart of you just to be straight and honoest about it. We love our country but working in America is one opportunity that no sane person would pass up. Not that we don't love our country, but it just that we may just become more of a burden to our country if we stay.
Many like you Sol leave our country to earn and be successful in their fields and aside from making our country proud, you are also helping our economy by the walth you have earned there by your honest sweat and sometimes, tears.
If it were up to me, I prefer that from now on, nobody shall question anymore the motives of those who leave the country and work. For me, the reasons are clearer than the sun in the sky and they all should be hailed as heroes.
my comment to ur article di dapat mainggit ang isang tao coz this helps a lot naman for the sake of our family and our country di naman siguro forver youll stay there at least you will learn a lot more experiences and someday you can share it to our kababayans. In short your just EXPLORING YOUR KNOWLEDGE and to have a better destiny. thanks for your mesgs again and hope to hear from you soon. Take care always and god bless.....
Sol,
What a strong SLAP but sometimes slap means positive wherein it will wake you up when you are not supposed to sleep,seeing you once again reaction not able to utter a word,or to warn you for your own sake.
With your response to Isabel,most of OFW are forced to go abroad becoz they have no chances backhome but with your above average or excellent capabilities,you can have the peak haven backhome (minus the x50 u.s.$).As well as your dreams of hope and pride(minus u.s. additional on resume).On the other hand,even you are there challenging yourself,im sure you can make way to at least contribute some of your bright ideas backhome.At least,letter of Isabel slap you,reminding you are a filipina and from the Philippines who help you to be who you are now.
A very hard debate ha,just correct me where i am wrong,instant reaction after reading the letter.Sisiw yan sa iyo to handle for sure,I remember you mentioned,you don't want to be a teacher forever,i guess you are getting ready to serve much more on our country and kababayans,like to be the president of the Phil. but you said you hate politics,ano ba yan,,,,,,,
More Power and God Bless
Hi Marisol,
Nice to receive a new message from you again, been a while, but I am sure your messages leaves a wonderful messages to my mind!
For me personally, its not actually the 'American Dream' or the 'Canadian Dream' or wherever else dream it is, its actually is our personal struggle to make our own way of living better, and probably and/or hopefully for our family as well to become better that what we can achieve in our homeland. If you cry because you feel you abandon our homeland and the possible help that you can give to few students backhome,,, I believe its not enough reason to cry for our country,,, I cried a countless tears because of the Filipino People themselves, me included... we have all the opportunity to become a great nation,,, but we always choose otherwise, look at the recent news, and happening in the Phils., I am so frustrated and angry to the trashy/dirty/garbage of Politcs and Politicians ways to make themselves gains for themselves,,, to be honest with you, I prayed to God that I hope that those Old Politicians die sooner (hoep God forgive me for thinking this way!), so that the country could go on with the new ways of governing and managing the country, I strongly believe that this way the country can be better, I know that Pres. GMA is trying to sacrifice a great deal of her life to try to help the country, but with all the dirty politicians around doing the trashy ways of their politics, I don't think the Phils. is in for a longer ride to better their lives... just tell me if this thinking can be justified, most of the Phils. Politicians are idiots and ignorant, and self serving, the people who vote for them, and the media who worship them and their wrong doings... haaah,,, I can whine for the whole day for the way the Phils, choose their lives to be ruined by idiotic ways of politics...
How I wish you, me, and all of the people who does'nt live in the Phils., will be able to help our motherland???
Wish you and your family a wonderful years ahead!!! Take care!!!
ANGELA, sana maging magkaibigan tayo kahit di tayo magkakilala. Thanks for letting me know that I inspire you.The mediocre teacher tells, the good one explains, the superior one shows, the great one inspires. Thanks for letting me know that I belong to the latter category.
as usual, you made me think again. kaya don't be surprised if one of this days special mention ka ulit sa blog ko. sana ok lang sa'yo. :-)
basta continue reaching for your dreams!
ISABELA, parang ayaw kong sagutin ang mga comments dito sa entry na ito, hayan na naman naluluha na naman ako. Ikaw kasi eh...hahaha...pasensya na paninindigan ko na ang pagiging Drama Queen natin ha, girl!
Marami talaga tayong pagkakapareho 'no? I have a brother who has Down's Syndrome. My mother didn't know that she was pregnant then and took medications for her migraine. But I guess isa ito sa mga rason kung bakit biglang nabago ang dream ko of becoming a doctor. Nasa med school ako under full scholarship nang biglang maramdaman ko na hindi pala ako masaya sa medicine, parang may kulang. My restless soul found rest in being a teacher of special children. It's a very challenging job, the returns are not tangible, but I feel great satisfaction with the rewards and miracles I see everyday in my classroom.
Tama ka rin sa mga obserbasyon mo sa mga ibang Pinoy na pumupunta dito, na porke nakatungtong ng America, ikinahihiya na ang kulay ng balat nila. Sino ang mas nakakahiya, di ba sila? Marami akong kilalang ganyan, yung iba nga mga kasamahan ko pa at wala pang two years dito. Kawawa naman sila, nalilito sila sa totoong identity nila.
Hindi ako natatakot bumalik (sa ngayon oo, dahil ang daming patayan dyan), but I will come home to give back to the country that shaped me (mala-Patricia Evangelista). Unahin ko muna ang pamilya ko dahil hindi naman ako mayaman, pinilit ko lang matulungan ang mga kabataang Pilipino with my P300.00 noong 23 years old ako. Di ko aakalain na lalaki ang school na dati ay hamak na tutorial center lang na may apat na estudyante. Nasaan na ang school ko? Nag-branch out na sa Lagro. Tag-isa ang dalawang sorority sisters ko na pinangangalagaan nila yon (hopefully). Sana naman hindi ako mabigo sa legacy na iniwan ko sa mga kabataang Pilipino.
MAJOR TOM, you're right, the guilt hasn't left me yet. Especially since I know that the Phippine Educational System now is in very poor shape. Although we have a lot of very good teachers and excellent students back home, the Phil Educational System doesn't have the means of maximizing their potentials, or even give them some accolades for their achievements.
I really love Patricia Evangelista's award-winning piece "BLONDE AND BLUE EYES" because I can very much relate to each and every word in her essay. Sana ako nalang ang sumulat non...hahaha
I want to let all my fellow Filipinos know that I will make my country proud of every little and great things I do here. I will always be a Pinay, no doubt about that. With the modern day globalization, i guess it would be easier for us great Filipinos to prove to the world that we are indeed a great race.
I am taking back what I said in my entry, that my home country who brought me up globally cannot even compete globally. WRONG! I represent my country as a Filipina, and with me (and with us great Filipinos) we can [prove to the world that our home country can also be globally competitive. We have to be optimistic. With all the negativity surrounding the country I know it's hard to think positive. But I believe we can!
Letse! tumutulo na naman ang luha ko dito. Drama Queen nga eh!
STEVE, we have our individual reasons for leaving the country or staying there. Whatever path we choose, I guess it would be for the benefit of the majority. Our country needs OCWs like us, our dollar remittances are a big help to the country's economy. We also need good people (like Isabela) to stay there, especially the idealists, so there would be people to check on the wrong doings of those running the country and to remind them where our country should be heading.
But I am sure, you and I and many other OCWs will come home, more skilled, more prepared, to help our country be more globally competitive. Right Steve?
VIOLY, ikaw ang isa sa mga kinikilala kong bagong Bayani. Dapat kang sabitan ng medalya sa pagiging martir mo sa buhay. Napakatalino mong tao, Violy, biktima ka nga lang ng kahirapan sa Pilipinas. pero ganunpaman, hindi naging balakid ang kahirapan para matulungan mo ang pamilya mo at mga kapwa nating Pilipino saan ka man magtrabaho. Saludo ako sayo, YAN ANG PINAY!
Upon learning the situation of the Public Schools especially in the far flung areas, my co-Filipino teachers here and I decided to take a move. We also watched the award-winning "Munting Tinig" at the Philippine Embassy here in Washington DC, the story of a great idealist teacher, fighting to maximize the potentials of the students in a Mindanao public elementary school. In the end she had to leave to work abroad to grab the opportunity given to her, very much my story huh. Yep, again I cried while watching this, not minding the diplomats of the different countries who were watching with me. That was my story, somebody might have written it for me...hahaha
Nope, I am not for politics, I got a failing grade (as in 5.0) in Pol Sci in College, re-took it several times still failing it. When I finally passed, it wasn't still a good grade at all...hahaha. It's just sad, that those people who know how to run the country are busy teaching in their classrooms.
Sol, this the best entry I have read so far. Everyone wants a piece of the American Dream, who wouldn't..just depends on how you define the American Dream. My mom told me that after she had me in 1974, she and my aunt applied for immigrant visa. She was working as a nurse at the time –our family had a steady income..but my mom was so persistent in trying to get our family out of the philippines and move to the US to better our lives, dahil nga sa situation in the country economic-wise
Your right sol, you can’t gurantee a life in the Philippines..the government will not take care of you..and that’s the very reason my mom decided that we move here in the US..My mom didn’t lose hope though..after years of waiting for her visa to be granted..she left in 1990 and I came here a year after she did…My mom did everything she could para lang makaalis sa country..even if it meant waiting for years...
EDWIN, what you said here was sad but true. The reason why our country is in bad shape as what it is now, is because the people running the government decided that is how our country should be. Only very few of them really worked hard for our country to excel.Very few of them are really committed to our country's improvement. many of them have just resigned and given up. Many of them choose that our country be average or lowlier (a third world country). This is what average means. We won't know our limits if we don't keep on trying. Success is a journey. It is not a quick fix. Let us not depend on our leaders anymore, they have more problems than we have like how to run the country, they were put in position without really knowing their job. Let's start within ourselves. Lt's think of success not as a peak to be climbed but a high plateau to be walked. Our country is a great country with brilliant citizens whose minds are clouded by all the negativity surrounding the country.
I learned from the movie BATMAN which I watched last night, "we fall so that we have a reason to pick ourselve up again"...
Where do I begin? It is on a post like this that it is very hard to put into words what your thoughts contain because they all want to all tumble out all at the same time. Lalabas na naman ang isa pang Drama Queen dito. Haha!
But like you Sol, I am not rich. I was fortunate enough to have come to America because of my husband and it is because of this why like the American Dream promises, I wish to make my family's life easier in my own little way. True, life here is much more easier than back home. I do not like to think that we are considered to be wanting and uncontented for considering to settle here. But such is life, family comes first and the thought of not being able to provide the best is something we consider a shortcoming on our part.
Bel: Friend, may revelation ka nanaman dito! Hehe :P I do not blame you for feeling that way. Maybe that was the problem. You had too much time on your hands and was bored to death. I know, you had all your friends, probably partied all the time and toured as much as you like but in the short span of time I have known you in blogging (dahil na rin sa revelations mo, haha) but all these were superficial to you thus you found no enjoyment in them. Unlike us, we are not here for enjoyment but for the need to provide what we cannot in the Philippines. I know you will understand these sentiments. I am however, happy that inspite of the distance, I was able to form a bond of friendship with you (and of course fellow drama queen Sol and all other bloggers). It is a kinship that helps me get through the bouts of homesickness. Thank you :)
Si Bel talaga oh, nakakahawa. Yan tuloy..ang haba na din ng comment ko. Hehe :P
JAYRED, as I told you before, you seem to know the right words to say in response to my every post. Great minds think alike? Need I say more with what you said here...hehehe...
I agree, a lot of our countrymen have noble dreams for our country, but do they have the resources or the support from the government to back them up? No.
I agree, we have individual reasons for leaving or staying in the country. Whatever our reasons are, maybe that's our means of satisfying our primary needs.
I agree, it is a sacrifice for us, OCWs, to leave our family behind just to be a foreign employee. I was lucky to be able to get my family after two months, but our two months of being separated then seemed like forever. I could imagine how excruciating (and expensive) it is being an OCW for several years and not having your family with you.
I agree, we need someone like Isabela to stay home to remind our government leaders where our country is heading right now, where it should be heading, and how our countrymen are reacting to it. I just hope they still have the heart to listen to the voice of the people, and to open their eyes to see the reality.
I am not the one who still dreams the Filipino Dream. I believe, the Philippines is still very young compared to the powerful countries in the worl. I am sure these big countries had their periods of depression too. I am optimistic that with people like us, who are doing things in our little ways for the betterment of our country, Philippines will be one great nation in the future. We've seen this happen to other small countries, I believe we can too.
NIKKI, no problem as long as it's good (hehehe), feel free to mention me in your entries. it feels good also to know that I inspire young people like you. Don't get disappointed with all the negativity around you, focus on your goal, and follow your dream. Again, i reiterate, TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO.
HONEYPOOH, you share my sentiments and I share yours too. But we have our individual reasons for leaving the country or staying there. Whatever path we choose, I guess it would be for the benefit of the majority. We also need good people (like Isabela) to stay there, especially the idealists, so there would be people to check on the wrong doings of those running the country and to remind them where our country should be heading, right?
I would like to share nga pala. My hubby's brother is an immigrant. He and his mom waiting for 20 years to had the petition by mom's brother approved. They got their immigrant visa 2 years ago. So right after graduation from college, my brother-in-law immediately left for the US. He lived a lonely life in Milwaukee, alone, with a lowly job (he was a UP grad). He wasn't happy here too. He went home last year, much to the disappointment of many relatives, he got married to his girlfriend not to come back again here in the US. He's happier now (I guess) back home in the Philippines with his wife.
Well, I guess we all have our stories to tell.
PATRICE, during my childhood, i used to diapprove of people leaving for the US just to experience the Great American Dream. But I guess I was too young to understand the reality then, I was too young and too idealistic. Now, I don't think anybody can judge us negatively for our decision to come to America. For one, we are helping the Philippine economy with our dollar remittances. I am in a better position to help my country and my family back home now that I am here. For this I am thankful to my school distict for petitioning me, I will always be grateful to them. But I guess it is a symbiotic relationship. I am helping the school district solve the retention problem in this profession too. With modern globalization, I think there are no more barriers that divide every country in the world, it's only the geographic partitions that divide us all.
I understand you . everybody wants the best for their family and am sure if its not hard to get a visa to pursue eveybody's dream without a doubt no one will be left in PI in the near future. anyway Goodluck to you n to ur family.! wish u more success too.
God bless!
I cant blame your brother inlaw for going back home for good and not wanting to stay here after his brief stay.
Its really hard to start a life in another country..let alone if your all by yourself with no support from your friends and families. (im not sayiong he didnt get no support from his family, but its more realistic if they have their presence here :-)
IT wasnt easy for us to start out a life here either. My mom held a high position at a hopstial in the phils came here and started work as a nurse assistant -and that until she passed the nclex exam. I started working my butt off 3 mos after I got here..didnt expect that..hehe.
Anyway..I have come through many challenges in life being here in the US (some you know..) ..but never in my life had I regret those challenges..I have met my wonderful hubby through all these..oopss..sorry getting off topic here..hehe
It is just human instinct to want to survive. Dito sa Amerika, maski na minimum wage lang ang suweldo ng tao, ay kayang bumili ng McDo meal or a latte at Starbucks.
People come to Amerika for various opportunities that sometimes would only be available to the elite in the Philippines. My relatives do not want to migrate to other countries, not because they're nationalistic, but because they do not want to leave the comforts of their well-paying jobs, huge houses, maids, etc...
Kung may pera ka ay masarap mabuhay sa Pilipinas. Unfortunately, most of the Philippine government officials right now do not have the common citizens' welfare high on their lists. Maraming nagugutom - maraming nagtatrabaho pero kulang ang pera --- minimum wage is not even enough. The ridiculous gas prices in the Philippines is just as much or sometimes higher than here in the U.S.
This is why there is a prolifiration of activists groups in the Philippines who are trying to get equal rights to the masang bayan.
These are not enough reasons to turn your back against your country of origin, but can you blame the Filipinos who just want to survive and have the freedom to determine their own future?
ROSE, That is a funny but realistic thought, "kung di lang mahirap kumuha ng visa, halos lahat siguro ng Pilipino nag-migrate na dito"...hahaha
HONEYPOOH, I was also surprised and against his decision at first, but eventually dawned to me how difficult his life there in Milwaukee. Di pa naman nya lifestyle yung provincial life. Siguro kung napunta sya ng CA or NY, baka di na umalis yun at kinuha nalang ang GF on fiancee visa. Malungkot ang naging buhay nya dun, lalo na dahil winter time sya dumating, newly grad tapos sa isang bakery lang nakapasok, below minimum wage, no friends, no family with him. para syang exiled dun. Hay! Masaya na sya ngayon dun sa Pilipinas.
MILKPHISH, akala ng marami, kapag pumunta ka ng Amerika, instant millionaire ka. Parang akala nila pinupulot lang o pinipitas ang pera dito. Di nila alam kayod kabayo rin tayo dito. Pero ang maganda, kapag kumayod tayo, equal naman ang returns. Tama ka, ang minimum wage dito nakakabili ng mga bagay na nabibili lang ng mga mayayaman sa Pilipinas. Kahit nga naghihikahos kami dito (grabe, lalo na nung bagong dating ako dito!), may nakakain naman kami na maaayos na pagkain; may mga prutas sa mesa.
Ang isang buwang sweldo ng public school teachers dito ay equivalent to one year salary there in the Philippines. Marami pa kaya sa aming mga guro ang may planong bumalik sa Pilipinas?
Sa mga professional development trainings dito, conventions and seminars, binabayaran ang attendance namin per hour, unlike sa Pilipinas sa sarili naming bulsa galing ang pinambabayad dyan sa professional developments na pinupuntahan namin. Marami pa kaya sa aming mga guro ang may planong umuwi sa Pilipinas?
Marami namang masaya sa Pilipinas sa pagtuturo, idolo ko si Dr. Jocelyn Biyo, bihira ang mga katulad nya, huwaran sya. Pero di ko kaya ang ginagawa nya dahil may pamilya akong dapat suportahan at ako ang inaasahan, di naman kami mayaman.
Sana naman wala nang sisihan. Sinubukan kong tumulong sa mga kabataang Pilipino, nag-iwan ako ng legacy dyan para sa kanila. Marami rin akong nagawa para sa kanila. Pero kailangan ko rin tulungan ang sariling pamilya ko. Alam ko naiintindihan ako ng aking mga kababayan.
Yes that affirmative some of our kababayans do sacrifices to work abroad for the sake of their family as we know life in pinas is so hard, poverty and lack of employment, im proud of Isabela... and of course you im glad that you've been in US to teach im proud of you so keep it up.... may god bless and guide you from time to time... Hoping also that our counrty will have the progress to uplift to economic crisis.Hope to hear from you agen...Take care alwyas and god bless you always...
Very honest post Teacher Sol. Those who left had reasons of their own to do so. Many had to start all over again and conquered the challenge. If there is just ONE thing I can say, and I am not in the US of A but the Great White North, - living in this part of the world doesn’t guarantee riches but stability hence consistency. There is NO NEED to amass wealth when you can have enough to live a life of relative comfort. NO need to be greedy when as you pointed out, you can have chicken in the pot and a car in the garage. Most of us who are here are passionate in their desire to see changes in our motherland and hope that someday it can be as prosperous as the first world countries.
T Sol,
i can feel how u feel receiving Isabel's letter,follow your heart together with your mind,.these two always fight/debate and you are the referree/judge at the end.you may be wrong,and maybe right but don't worry,for now let be it.No one can tell the next morning you wake up,you are leading the way the best for you and the world. Sometimes our directions is not our choice but the ONE UP THERE drives us all with HIS PURPOSE for each and everyone of us.Tears are really made for us to help in cases like yours,and no limit-just cry,o di ba!You are too young yet,dami pang adventures,let's wait and see,forgive me but i want to watch your episodes,suspense e,,,,,,smile...
Violy
Dear Teacher Sol,
We’re really proud of you, and we admire you for achieving such commendations in your career. But the same stories as what other balikbayan’s revealed to us, there is no fulfillment on serving others while we have neglected serving our own countrymen.
The fact is, all of us (OFW’s) working in different places with common interest to fulfill our dreams and build a high career, as we thought that those dreams might not be achievable back home, but we are all dreaming that someday we’ll be back and serve them.
I’m watching Correspondents last night, a heart breaking episode featuring the students in the Mountain Province walking almost 4-6 hours muddy trails in the mountains to reach the school. The classroom is packed-full, only one teacher is available to cover all the pupils from 10-12 sitios or barangay, student are staying in the classroom barefooted suffering from extreme cold foggy surroundings in Benguet. During lunch time, students preferred to play to ignore starving, some are having lunch pack, but all they have is “KANIN”, and take note “walang ulam”.
Gigi Grande interviewed one girl and I felt terribly sad to hear that this girl is only dreaming to have money to buy blankets for her brothers & sisters, so the whole family can sleep comfortably in the night. At this point it made me think for a while, what are my dreams? I want to have a Ferrari, a resort house in Maldives, Travel Around the world, Hey!!!! this girl haven’t yet even seen a television, Play Station, Baskin & Robins & Häagen-Dazs ice creams, Disneyland, etc. …. When can we fulfill our dreams ? If your current wealth and belongings are good enough to fulfill the dreams of hundreds or thousands of our countrymen, are you still dreaming to have more than what you have now?
I’m currently contacting Mr. Abner Mercado Executive Producer of the Correspondents, there is one institution here in UAE donating books and school materials & some relief goods, we might not be having a lot of money to directly help them, but we can contact some organizations or group to reach our own people.
Hindi na natin kelangan pumunta pa sa malayo like Benguet or other part of the country na meron ganyan story...
Just recently (a week ago) reported by Kara David in Reporters Notebook (GMA7 - same slot of Correspondents ABS-CBN). I'm not sure if any one of you watched the heart breaking story of malnurist children in Mercedes Camarines Norte... Nakakagulat marami palang ganun sa sariling probinsya natin walang makain at hindi makapag-aral ang mga bata dala ng kahirapan sa buhay.
ramses,
let me know padi how i can contribute once u make contact with the correspondents. as i mentioned before in one of my posts, times like these shows me how selfish i am. like mentioned here, some of this people havent even watched tv ever. what really hit me is this girls dream to be able to have blankets for her brothers and sisters. this really puts everything in perspective. just like u ramses, i got to thinking what are my dreams? i have been in america for 20 yrs now, and i have been blessed to be able to have financial security, have a nice house, car, etc, yet i want more.... all these girl wanted was money to be able to purchase blankets for her brother and sister. i am ashamed of myself. since we live nice comfortable lives abroad, we sometimes forget our fellow countrymen that are not us fortunate like we are. again ramses, do me a big favor padi, let me know how i can contribute.
this is very sad. this shows how fortunate we are for what we have and when we have the oppurtunity to help others less fortunate, lets make sure we do.
Hindi ka namin sinisisi Teacher Sol, naiintindihan ka namin lalo na ako na nasa ibang bansa rin. Medyo mahirap talaga ang sitwasyon sa Pinas at pare-pareho tayong may pamilya na kailangang suportahan.
Actually nanghihinayang ako, kung maayos lang sana ang sitwasyon sa Pilipinas, nandun ka sana at mas pakikinabangan ka nang iba pang mga bata sa atin. Anyway, sana gumanda ang sitwasyon sa atin para lahat tayo ay makabalik na at personal na makatulong sa iba pa nating mga kababayan.
Kung kaya ko lang magpa-suweldo nang magagaling na teacher at magtayo nang School for Special Child sa Daet gagawin ko… kaso hindi kaya nang bulsa ko Teacher Sol… medyo hirap din ako ngayon lalao na’t nagsisimula pa lang ako nang pag-papamilya…….. hayaan mo magsisikap lalo ako para matupad yang pangarap na yan…….
Maalala ko si Clarisse ay nagpala-plano rin nang School for Special Child noon….. ewan ko kung itutuloy niya…. Pwede sigurong makatulong mister nya ngayon para makuha nang Financial Aid / Grants sa mga churches sa US….. dapat nagkaroon nyan sa Daet, para matulungan yung mga bata sa atin….
Meron akong kilala na teacher for special child din na taga Daet .. ang alam ko may nursery at kindergarten school sya dyan sa may Pasig.. malapit sa bahay nila Mam Peneyra…..nalimutan ko na ang pangalan…. Pero dun na sya naka-base sa Daet.
Naiintindihan ka namin Sol. Lahat naman tayo napunta sa kanya-kanya nating trabaho sa ngayon (sa labas ng bansa) for one main reason; to grab the opportunity that comes our way. I was then a teacher too prior to my working abroad. I’ve been a secondary school teacher for 7 years at Rizal High School in Sta. Elena, Cams. Norte. But as we all know teacher’s salary back home is not enough to support a family of 2 how much more to a family of seven. I know this because I came from a family of teachers; elementary school principal ang papa ko at elementary school teacher naman ang mama ko.
I am just one of those Filipinos using their expertise in other countries instead of using it in our own country, but what can we expect back home? Even those already have jobs are still trying to work abroad, if possible. I believe our government has to do some remedies to combat our present economic instability, but how can they think of this if what they're after is only for their own benefit. Our eyes are wide open to see all these things which are happening in the Philippines right now, but even if we want to help still we can not do anything to implement it.
Filipinos are really a different race compared to other nationalities in the world and I believe we have proven it several times. We are God fearing people, family oriented, and more; we usually have the heart and the nerve to extend help to the less fortunate people back home but don't have the resources. How can we extend help to others if our resources are just enough to support our family?
Sometimes I wonder why am here in Saudi Arabia, living alone, miles away from my love ones. But every time I put into my mind that it's because of them why I'm here I felt relieved. Some are lucky to have their family with them while working abroad because they have their peace of mind, pero sa katulad namin na hiwalay sa pamilya . . . . mabigat at masakit sa damdamin.
Hi Sol,
Pareho na kayo ni Patrice, parang forum na rin ang blog. Sumakit na naman ang mata sa kababasa ng mga comments.
To Arvin, Ramses at Cesar T., my mom is from Daet so I consider myself a Bicolana. I go home every so often to check on our "pataniman" in Awitan. No, I,m not a landlord (lady) because I let the farmers till the land for free (kapalit isa o dalawang sako ng bigas). 'Yun na lang ang maitutulong ko sa kanila kahi't konti.I know what you mean kasi tuwing uuwi ako doon, lagi akong nalulungkot. Parang kinalimutan na ng tadhana yung ibang mga bata doon. Meron pa nga akong nakitang pumapasok nang naka-paa, yung iba naka-tsinelas na gomang pudpod.
I will never question the motives of our kababayans who work abroad. Ako ay biktima ng aking mga paa na laging nagpupunta sa aking bibig.
My bf S. ay nagkapagtrabaho rin sa UAE. Hindi niya tinapos ang contract niya (AWOL siya) dahil sa sobrang lungkot. Ngayon nasa US siya para mag-ipon ng pera. Magkahiwalay kami at hindi matuloy-tuloy ang kasal dahil doon. Ang kinatatakot ko, baka makakita na siya ng iba.In short, alam ko ang damdamin ng mga umaalis sa bansa at lalo na ng mga naiiwan.Wala tayong magagawa dahil mahirap ang buhay. Ika nga ni S.,beggars cannot be choosers.
HELLOOOOOOO Marisol!!
I was really intrigued by this post. I have never lived in the Phils, so I feel like and outsider looking into another world...so pardon me for my narrow perspective.
My parents who immigrated in the early 70's made the best choice ever. I was born in New York City, raised here in Los Angeles. I'm so happy they didn't think of moving back to the Phils. When times got very rough and lonely. NYC wasn't embracing them with open arms (It was definitely EVEN HARDER to assimilate into America, back in those times because there was not very much teeth behind the Affirmative Action acts). The Philippines wasn't offering much room for opportunities to satisfy their vision. Where to now??? They moved to LA and things dramatically changed. America is so huge, there are good and bad places. You just have to find your niche. America offers more choices than most other countries. You can re-invent yourself as many times as you wish.
Well, Life started to brighten as a result from moving to LA. They in turn, helped so many others back home. We love our life here in America. It's very busy and can get lonesome, but we made so much progress by living here. We are glad to help others be able to reach for their own opportunities back home.
Also, I have a very deep respect for my parents along with all the others who have gone overseas to "make the most out of hi & low tide". Yes, some may think that they have forsaken their homeland...not me. Because in the case of my parents, they didn't have much of a choice at first but to leave. Then, once they became more stable, they were able to help others back home. They had very high expectations of what was to become of them and their skills, and their fortune, by living here in America. They were able to help many others back home live a more-stable life, because my parents choose to help others. Perserverance, sacrifice, generosity...virtues, I can't imagine living up to for 30+ years!
I can't imagine how it must be to pick up and leave your homeland. It's such a brave thing to do.
Sorry this is sooooo long!!!
Ramses you're very correct... actually, you don't need to look far from our province... specifically, in Capalonga, where my brother is a Teacher In Charge (TIC) for this barangay highschool, students there, same in Mountain Province... they also walk barefoot in mud (when its rainy season) or in super "pudpod na tsinelas" for more than 3 kilometers (km) just to reach the school... actually, that school only started 2 years ago, offering for the meantime first and second year highschool to reach students who are near the barangay so not to walk more than 5km in a day, because the next highschool is more than 5km away...
added that there is only one volunteer teacher and my brother to cater to more than 30students for each year level.. the books that we bought last week was not enough, we only bought 10 books at most for each subject because the budget given by barangay is just Php 20, 000 and each book cost 300below (thanks for some connections to have a 10% discount)...
oh well, i dont have to go on with stating very heart breaking phrases for that school... i just wanted to say that, whenever things go positive with the UAE organization who are helping schools, please please include and make prioritize our own province... that would be a big help...
nweiz, FYI... recently, i had this personal project for GRades 1 and 2 of Pandan Elementary School... there's this member of taas noo who helped me realized this project, THANK YOU VERY MUCH PO!!! (he doesnt want to be named, that's why i can't tell who he is) but I REALLY APPRECIATED HIS HELP... we donated school supplies which also include a raincoat for around 20 kids in Pandan and 10 from other schools, and the remaining school supplies was given to magsaysay highschool... i'll be posting the documentation in my multiply account including the pictures of the grateful kids and parents soon - - - sorry that i'm very busy right now with work to prioritize this...
nweiz, for that, LET ME SAY THAT, I am still looking for grateful friends outthere to help... lots and lots of our kababayan in camarines norte is needing your "gift"... its rainy season already so an umbrella or a raincoat or even a new slipper would be very much appreciated...
just email me privately or whatever... if you want to help... westin union is just around the corner...
thanks so much in advance!!! gratefully waiting for your call/ text or email,
Sa sobrang hi-tech at galing ng blog mo eh maraming nanghihinayang sa iyo. Na sana eh ganoon nga, na sana eh nasa Pilipinas ka at doon ka nagtuturo, para Pinoy ang makinabang. Pero kagaya nga ng sabi mo, we have different reasons why we are here.
Hangga't ang America ay America at ang Pilipinas ay Pilipinas, more and more Filipinos will get out of the Philippines to seek for a better life na hindi kayang ibigay ng Pilipinas. It's sad to think na nawawala na nga ang mga magagaling na Pinoy sa Pilipinas. At whether we like it or not, kaya maunlad ang America ay dahil nandito ang mga magagaling na tao ng buong mundo. Kung minsan parang masisi mo rin ang America kung bakit nagkaganito ang takbo ng mundo. They set the trend. Kailangan eh makasunod ka, kung hindi eh mapag iiwanan ka. Kung may kakayahan kang sumunod, well and good, pero kung wala ayun ang labas mo third world country ka.
totong may brain drain na sa atin dahil sa takbo ng buhay sa atin ngayon. Pero huwag naman niyang sabihin na may heart drain din dahil kung hindi natin pinaiiral ang puso natin eh baka patay na sa gutom ang iba nating mga kababayan sa Pilipinas. May purpose ang Diyos kung bakit tayo nandito. At saka iba na kasi ang takbo ng panahon ngayon. It's trade war. Hindi na ito ang panahon ni Rizal. Wala nang dayuhang sumusupil sa atin.
Remember the story of Joseph the Dreamer? Na kaya siya pinadpad sa ibang lupain eh para iligtas sa gutom ang kanyang pamilya. This is what is happening now. Kung hindi dahil sa dollar na padala ng mga OCW eh ano ang ipambibili natin ng langis? May langis ba tayo? Kung mayroon man, sapat ba? .
May isa pa nga palang example, yung story noong inventor ng flourescent light. Do you know this story? Filipino ang nagkaimbento nito, taga Pateros, Metro Manila, (kababayan ko pa). Flores ang apelyido niya kaya yung flourescent eh galing sa apelyido niya. Inilapit niya ang imbensyon niya sa Phil govt, pero walang pondo, inilapit niya sa America, hindi pinansin, so inilapit niya sa French govt, ayun pumatok. Kaya kita mo, hindi lang French gov't ang nakinabang sa imbensyon niya kundi buong mundo. Kaya there's always a reason for everything.
Ano nga ba ang dapat gawin ng mga Pilipino para ang Pilipinas eh maging isang parang Singapore o Thailand kaya? Huwag nang maging parang America, sobrang ambisyoso na iyon. Siguro kung walang corruption at sobrang pulitika sa atin maaaring magkaroon ng pag-asa. Pero parang impossible mangyari.
Naturingan pa naman na the only Catholic country in Asia eh sobra sa corruption. I just wish eh kagaya ni Bayani Fernando at Gordon ang mga goverment officials sa atin. Pakitanong sa mister mo kung talagang good boy nga si Fernando at Gordon? Bilib kasi ako kay Fernando dahil nalinis niya ang Marikina .
and don't forget - the US $ is so good to hold, specially if it's andrew jackson in the picture.
you know the song? green, green grass of home only mine is not grass but green bucks.
:0
during the course of my naval career and by being an alpha phi omegan, i have touched so many lives with my generosity and most of the time anonymously, and why not helping in camarines norte? you can count me in your endeavor.
it is by helping others that i manifest how truly bless i am. i have come a long way from being a son of poor parents and who early in his childhood has learned to eek (sp?) a living through selling komiks and magazines and shinning shoes and plowing the fields at pastoling ng kalabaw in the ricefield in contod, vinzons.
its a good cause to help others. but help because you want to not because you are prodded (sp?) to do.
one thing i also do is whenever i help others or extend financial assistance, i never ask for accountability. it suffice for my heart that i know i have extended assistance. but we are all diferrent and to each his own, so kung saan kayo comfortalbe then yong ang dapat gawin ninyo.
Nais kong pagpasalamatan si ISABELA sa kanyang makabagbag damdaming katanungan. Marami akong napulot na aral sa mga comments na ibinigay ninyo lahat. Maraming salamat. Ngayon, hindi na ako masyadong guilty sa desisyon ko na mangibang-bansa dahil alam ko masa makakatulong ako sa aking bansa at aking pamilya ngayong andito ako. Mas maraming tao akong nabibigyan ng inspirasyon sa buhay.
Maraming salamat sa mga aking mga kababayan sa Daet. Sila man ay naantig ang kalooban sa iyong liham ISABELA. Marami kaming nakitang problema sa ating bayan. At di na kailangang asahan pa ang ating mga lider sa gobyerno para lutasin ito, mas marami silang problema kaysa atin, tulad ng kung paano patakbuhin ng tama ang gobyerno. Makakatulong tayo sa ating sariling paraan.
Ang PONDO NG TAASNOO ay naitayo ng aming egroup upang kahit papaano ay makatulong sa mga kabataang kapus-palad sa aming bayan sa Daet, Camarines Norte. Sana ay maging tuloy-tuloy at makatotoo ang planong ito.
Maraming salamat ISABELA, maraming salamat sa inyo lahat.
Dear Lourdes,
Thank you for sharing your experience as an OFW in America. Like you, particularly with what is happening to our motherland, there is a lot of Fil-Ams who still DREAM THE FILIPINO DREAM.
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