Aking Handog sa mga OCWs

Wednesday, April 6 '05, I blogged about an AMBUSH INTERVIEW by Michael Vincent, programming director of Metro Plus AM 1044 radio in Hong Kong. This interview was in mixed Tagalog and English which took place at 11:30 pm. Here's the link to access the video of the phone interview.

-----> CLICK the PICTURE to play the video HERE (2 minutes to load or go to www.winamp.com)


To end this entry, I would like to share this video which makes me cry everytime I would watch it... PILIPINAS, BYAHE TAYO (click here)

*************************************

AMBUSH INTERVIEW...

April 6, 2005. Kakatapos lang ng National Writing Project interview ko, nagulat ako nang may nag-email sa akin na Radio Newscaster ng mga OFW from Hong Kong. Exchange messages kami at na-tense ako nang sinabi na tatawag na sya in 10 minutes. Pasado alas dose, na-interview ulit ako, twice in a row!

1. How long have you been an OFW?

We came here in Washington DC in October 2003, so around 1 year and 5 months na kami dito.

.

2. What are your experiences?

Kung sa experiences din lang marami. As a new comer ba? Nagdaan ako sa butas ng karayom ditto. Mahirap magsimula. I was hired by my district directly from the Philippines, when I got here I got the position but I couldn't start without my Social Security number. Di ko alam kung paano ko napagkasya ang $200 sa dalawang buwan. Minsan din a ako kumakain para makabili ng phone cards para makausap ko ang asawa ko at anak ko na naiwan ko sa Pilipinas. After two months na-retro naman sweldo ko, pinambili ko ng plane tike tang unang sweldo ko, ngayon nandito na ang pamilya ko.

As a teacher, ang daming hirap. Ilang beses ako na nakita ng mga co-teachers ko na umiiyak sa labas ng classroom ko. Emotionally Disturbed Junior Highschool ang mga estudyante ko so bukod sa dami ng issues nila as a teenager, may behavioral problems din sila, diagnosed with ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Sa Pilipinas sobrang nirerespeto ako ng mga estudyante ko, ditto araw-araw nila akong minumura.

.

3. What is biggest contribution to date in making your stay aborad worthwhile?

Pero despite all these things, very supportive sa akin ang school district ko. Nabigyan ako ng $3,500 scholarship grant sa Graduate School Of Education sa Howard University in less than a year ng pagtratrabaho ko ditto. After that, ginawa akong Teacher Consultant sa DC Area Writing Project which is a nationwide organization of very professional teachers supporting each other. Sunod-sunod ang blessings ko ditto. I was nominated to the DisneyHand Teacher Awards, and I was sent to several National and international conventions all expenses paid. Inter-state na ang professional development conventions na pinupuntahan ko. I was also appointed as the new Technology Liaison of the DC Area Writing Project. My writing have been published and quoted in newspaper articles. Naiisip ko, ito ang mga kapalit ng mga dinanas kong paghihirap sa mga estudyante ko ditto. Hindi madaling magturo ng special ed Emotionally Disturbed cases, nagging manhid na ako sa mga pagmumura nila. Normal na yata ang ganong lengwahe sa kanila. Nasa kultura na nila yon. May mga estudyante rin naman na nagpapakita na importante rin ako sa kanila, nagiging parang barkada ko na sila at nakikipag-biruan na sila sa akin. Mahirap at masarap ang mga karanasan ko dito.

.

4. And finally your inspirational message to our kababayan.

My guiding principle in life: “TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO”. Believe me, that is what keeps me going. Natutuwa ako dahil ditto sa Amerika, mas maraming Pinoy ang nasa professional jobs na talagang pinupuri ng mga Amerikano. May pag-asa pa, pero nasa inyo yan mga kababayan. Pilipino tayo, kaya natin ito!!