A Bigger Job

Before I went out of the office this afternoon, I bid goodbye to my American superior, he just arrived from a month long vacation. I have just been regularized; so he asked me how my job was. I said it was fine. I said that I was getting along very well with the job and been learning a lot as each day progresses. Sounds good? Hmm, but you know what? Lately I have been trying hard to hold my head together as I dealt with the overwhelming responsibilities as the company's new accountant. Not that I feel incapable of doing what’s assigned to me, it’s only that sometimes I would want to tell them that true I am just a paid employee but I also do get tired dutifully unlike a restless robot.

This is not my way of complaining what I couldn’t tell my boss straight to his face. Pardon my silent rally; I am just yet again in one of those rare moments when the circumstances drown me in little irreverence. My tolerance towards challenging and taxing accountabilities has seemed to have gradually diminished with time or is it just the fact that I have never really liked "positions" from the very beginning? Contrary to what you might think, I have a self downsized personality. Oftentimes I fear representing a group, leading a pack, managing a task or simply in charge of a concerted effort.

I have worked for San Miguel Corporation as a Senior Financial Analyst for more than six years. Had I not resigned to pursue my Dubai dreams, I would have been a manager by now. Well, actually I was told about it when I decided to leave the company. My boss revealed their plans for me as if knowing them would entice me to stay. Had they've informed me ahead of my decision, I would have declined either. I know my own strengths, but at times that I feel that I am not ready yet, I don’t take risk, even if that represent a once in a lifetime shot.

Now, I kinda feel the same, too overworked and the responsibilities coming too big to handle. Am I waiting for someone else to tell me that I can do this? Nope. But certainly it will be appreciated. They trusted me for this job and I don’t need another thing to happen so I could realize that. I just couldn't tweet "if I could only transfer to another job by tomorrow". I should be thankful that I got a job after the long wait. I have learned my lessons well. I have grown up and ready for the challenge.

Not all are given the chance that I have let slipped through my fingers simply out of convenience and silliness. I am not letting go of this one. I am not made to break. I know my own strengths.

The Doctor is Out

We live in a world where a lot of medical misconceptions are already construed as facts: eating at night makes you gain weight, you should take eight glasses of water each day, touching frogs or toads gives you warts, sugar makes kid hyper, reading in dim light ruins your eyesight, doctors live a glamorous profession. These are the things that people have just accepted as true without question simply because they are told and heard repeatedly of the same thing. Sometimes even people with medical degree falls prey into these daunting task of sorting facts from fiction. But when it comes to the glam and prestige of their own profession, they know better and they'd tell you it's not.

I now work for an insurance related company here in Dubai. It's an organization that employs almost 300 people, 70% of which are Filipinos who are health-related practitioners. Just last week, I had an induction/orientation program together with the other newbie's in the company, three of them were Filipino physicians who came to Dubai on tourist visa to look for work. At first, I couldn’t believe that they were doctors, well, not part that they were licensed, but what prompted them to leave the country and gamble here. Of all the people that I'd expect to be fellow OFW, doctors, together with lawyers and politicians, are the least I thought to join the search for greener pasture. I thought they are on top of the society, important people who saves lives. I was wrong. They are important people indeed, but just like many of us, their service back home is more of nobility than livelihood.

What brought me here to Dubai was the same reasons these doctors have left the country, better pay and better living opportunities for their loved ones. My respect, admiration and high regards for doctors have averted me from pursuing my intrigues directly from them. The fact they were here should end all of my questions and instead direct my misconceptions back home.

There must be something wrong there that even doctors are leaving the country at its deplorable state. P19,618 monthly salary for a resident physician in a government hospital, job insecurity and curtailment of basic rights, political instability, poor working conditions, threat of the malpractice law, high taxes, decreased stature of doctors and inadequate resources to perform functions, indeed, more than the economic reasons, a slew of other push factors are what sending our doctors to seek employment abroad..

It is a sad reality, that in times that we exactly need doctors to mitigate the lamenting healthcare situation in the country, more and more medical professionals are leaving and lending their gifts, skills, their brainpower, tenacity and work ethics at the service of other people. Because of the ongoing medical Diaspora, a lot of rural towns in the country are without doctors to serve the medical needs of the people, hospitals are closing down due to lack of nurses and doctors and from what I've read in a related blog, 7 out 10 people are dying without being seen by health personnel. At the rate things are going, surely it wouldn’t be a surprise if there will come a day when there are no more doctors or nurses to cure our illnesses and we will just die helplessly in unmanned big hospitals built from the dollar remittances of these doctors who have chosen to be OFWs.

For its part, the government has remained callous and unmindful of the sad twist of events. It has never been really worried of the exodus of doctors and other professional to work abroad, it even encourages it. And why not? The Philippines earned 16.4B in OFW remittances in 2008. If not for the remittances of the OFWs, the Philippine economy had collapsed long ago. Consequently, the people back home pay the same price.

Regular na Ako!

Yahoo! Regular na Ako!......

Regular na ako sa work, so dapat wala na ang chismis na may STD daw ako! Kasi dito sa Dubai, pag nalaman kang may ganung sakit after nun pre employment medical test, DEPORT ang bagsak mo!

Regular na ako sa work, so ibig sabihin, namit ko yung mga expectations ng mga amo ko kaya napaaga ang pagiging opisyal na pagiging empleyado ko. In short,magaling talaga ako.Yabang!

Regular na ako sa work, so malamang, regular na rin yung makakarinig ako galing sa amo ko nang : " you did a great job, Sherwin!". Hahaha, yabang pa rin!

Regular na ako sa work, so regular na rin ang overtime na walang bayad.

Regular na ako sa work, pero hindi ibig sabihin non eh manlilibre na ako ng regular yum sa Jollibee.

Regular na ko sa work, so regular na rin sa mga susunod na taon (unless mag resign ako kaagad!? Ang pagsusuot ko ng pormal clothes. Hindi pa rin ako ganung sanay kasi sa Pinas, civilian ang palagi kong suot pagpasok sa opisina.

Regular na ako sa work, so regular na rin ang paglalakad ko pagpasok sa umaga at pag uwi sa gabi. Tamang ehersisyo lang para iwas taba, iwas high blood at iwas gastos sa pamasahe.

Regular na ko sa work, so regular na rin ang pagsahod at siyempre pagpapadala ng pera buwan buwan sa mga mahal sa buhay sa Pinas.

Regular na ako sa work, so regular na rin ang pag gising nang maaga kahit pa puyat para maghanda ng almusal, baon sa tanghalian at mamlantsa ng damit na susuotin.

Regular na ko sa work, regular na rin ang pagluluto ko sa gabi ng pagkaing makakain. Mas masarap kaya ang lutong bahay kaysa sa regular flavor ng KFC, kasawa fried chicken!

Regular na ko sa work, so regular ko na rin makakasalamuha sa opisina yung mga ibat ibang lahi na minsan eh nakaka init ng dugo lalo na yung kanilang amoy.

Regular na ko sa work, ganun pa man, hindi dapat pabayaan ang regular na ritwal na pagblobloging.

Regular na ko sa work, at sa bawat araw na daraan, tiyak na dadami pa ang mga Pinoy na aking makikilala at makakausap, at masasabi kong parang hindi rin ako lumisan ng Pinas!

Regular na ko sa work, sa kasamaang palad, meron iba jan ang lalong maiinis sa akin kasi may regular na trabaho na ko. Mamatay kayo sa inggit, pag nagkagayun, ipapalibing ko naman kayo sa regular na casket!

Regular na ko sa work, so ilang buwan pa bago ako makauwi ng Pinas para magbakasyon. Regular pa rin ang pagkamiss ko sa pamilya ko, sa mga kaibigan ko. Hayyyy.

Regular na ako sa work, ayos na. Sana next time, love life ko naman ang dumating...

Regular na ko work, maraming salamat sa Diyos! At sana patuloy Niya pa akong biyayaan ng kalusugan at kaayusan maging lahat na mga Pilipinong nagtratrabaho sa ibang parte pa ng mundo.

At the End of the Long Day

I have once been asked during my job interviews here in Dubai about what was the best thing about the Philippines. In a stunning declaration, I said that aside from the spectacular and majestic natural beauty that God has endowed the Philippines, one incredible piece of heaven that you could ever find here on earth the Filipino people. That amidst the hardest blowing wind, we are probably the most positively oriented humans in the world. That though we maybe lacking in riches and what you call economic prosperity, we still take it easy and never forget to celebrate.

It would definitely makes someone proud to hear those words but it feels better when you are in a place where you can exactly compare our race with the others. Here in Dubai where I work, it is inevitable that in one way or another, I have to deal with persons from other nationalities, either directly like having them for officemates or indirectly like seeing them in public places. It’s the true test of who we are in comparison with the rest. Blatantly, you can see how our attitudes differ in contrast with the Germans, the British, Indians, Chinese and Arab people.

At the end of the long day, I feel lucky to be Filipino. We maybe generally be short in height , brown in color and not as physically defined as the others but we are jolly and mighty in the real sense of the word. We are not known for having foul odors. We take good care of our hygiene religiously. We are not like Arabs in character, dominant, sadistic, abusive and lukewarm. We are mildly mannered, hospitable and generous. We are happy to be of help. We may not be as totally liberating as the West, but we are open to embracing changes for the better.

We are likeable and loved. We can bond with almost nationalities with ease and without fear of rejection. We can communicate well enough to be understood by all. We learn things fast and willingly whether it is a technical job or something that require some specialized education or skills. We find so much fascination in other culture that sometimes we try to imitate everything we see in them, even the way they speak, the way they act and the way they dress up. But at the end of the long day, we love ours and we patronage ours. We take pride in our world class talents and products.

That what makes us truly unique and distinct. That kind of uniqueness that doesn’t isolate us but rather put us in a level where we are respected and admired in so many fields. Yes, we are just a small and scattered pieces on the map, but our hearts and mind is as solid and big enough to make a difference in this world. We are democratic and many times we have taken the course of our fate into our own hands ( How many more Edsa Revolt will follow?). We are religious and our history is as colorful as the kaleidoscope of colors of the setting sun. So many times, we were conquered, so many times we were divided, but at the end of the long day, we return home and act as one.

It’s not all good though, as nobody is perfect. We are also humans and hence we are bound to make mistakes. Inevitably, we experience injustice, inequality, discrimination and abuse in the hands of our fellowmen. Indirectly, we are being punished by the effects of corruption in the government, our people’s diminishing moral and our disgusting crab mentality. Poverty is rampant just as the rich becomes richer. The means for survival is becoming less affordable. This is evidenced by hundreds of us leaving our family behind and wanting to work abroad. But at the end of the long day, no amount of money can equate to the joys and pains of sharing your every moment with your loved ones back home. That we’d rather have bad times with them than to have good times somewhere else across the globe without our loved ones.

So many things and events can happen in a day’s journey. Some are good, some are not so good. The best part of it? Well, knowing exactly that you have done you part in the best way you could. If it failed, there’s always another day to make it better. At the end of the day, the important thing is knowing how to get up and pick up the pieces.

Attack on OFW (Part 1)

Looks like the world is getting darker and ruder. The light that was there in the beginning was so powerful that some were blinded and shunned away from it. Slowly, the world is being hostaged by people who, in their desire to profit the easiest way, have already traded cards with the devil to live the lives they have been desperately wanting to have, money from trusting and hard working people, instant spotlight by degrading the OFWs and even bad mouthing others to outlive their bitterness and anger. Everyday we witness the birth of someone conceived innocent and clean and now have manifested their alliance with the evil, not just in real life but in the blogosphere as well, not just in the Philippines, but in places like Dubai, where some Filipinos tricked fellow kabayans for money, for attention and self loath revenge.

OFWs are now called as our nation's new heroes. Just as we work hard to send money so that our loved ones back home could live in a decent house, eat a delicious meal, wear some nice clothes, go to decent school and enjoys some life beyond just surviving, some parties seemed to be not happy and please with that tag. Either by jealousy, bitterness, angst, own experience or plain insecurity why others can do this and they can only do that, it doesn’t really matter at all, for any heartless and hurtful opinions, false bearing against someone else and taking things that don’t belong to you shouldn’t at any time be tolerated and left at will.

Opinions can never be wrong or right because it's an opinion, plain and simple. When someone gives an opinion on something, he's expressing his thought however misguided, unintelligent or unfounded it is. To him and him alone, that's his view and we can never say he's wrong or right. But we can opine on their opinion to defend what their saying is in contrast with what we believe in. Especially if what they're talking down was about us, about the "profession" that we all try to endure and perfect despite the hard fact that it could never be, we can do more that just say a counter opinion, but share our lives and experiences to belie and disproof this opportunist's claims and hurtful atrocity against the image of Filipinos working overseas.

MUKHANG PERA, that is what he's saying about US. That money is the only thing that motivates people to work abroad. NO MORE NO LESS. That we are "makakapal ang mukha katulad ng sa dinosaur" because we are willing to do things we don’t normally do back home such as washing somebody else's ass so we could earn a living. That OFW deserved to be abandoned and fooled by their wives/husbands back home because we ourselves are more inclined to get involved with that kind of affairs with other people. That it is undue and unsolicited for politicians and people back home to sympathize when an OFW falls victims of their employers especially the maid and caretakers. That because OFW are paid to serve their sirs and maams, torture and inhuman acts come part of its package and that it should not stir anyone to complain or react. What a heartfelt opinion, really. I felt it in my heart because I am an OFW myself. I felt so offended, hurt and enraged.

Now here's my opinion on his blasphemous opinion he said he initially wrote down in pages of yellow paper. Hindi kami mukhang pera, rather MUKHA KAMING PAMILYA. Love for the family is the reason why we left them and we hope to provide them better future though it means sacrificing ours. It's not kakapalan ng mukha when we wash someone else's ass to earn money, it's TATAG NG KALOOBAN to do everything so that no one on our family will feel hunger, get sick, and everyone will feel happy and well provided. We didn’t decide to work abroad to find another wife or husband, we came for a noble cause of helping our family and country. When our loved ones traded us for another, we don’t deserve that gratitude in any way. When one of us gets maltreated and harassed by the people that we work for, we don’t deserve that either. Yes, we are paid, but that is to take care of their children and manage their homes, but not to serve as punching bags or sex slaves. When one of us suffers beyond measure and death, we are not asking to be objects of late commendations, political manipulations and kababayans' pity and sympathy. Just the same, we don’t want to get lambasted by our own fellowmen. With had enough pain and we don’t want to feel some more when people condemned our sad fate, we never had it coming.

This blogger's opinion on OFW was based on his experiences as an OFW himself. How ironic! He was there yet he never realized the real meaning of how it was to be there. He never looked beyond the window outside of his probably fruitless experience as a factory worker in Taiwan and a welder in Saudi. Maybe his opinion was for his experience alone, cause majority of us OFW are happy and happy being of help to our loved ones back home. Maybe he's just frustrated. Maybe he's just sour graping. Maybe he' just wanting more attention to his blog, if you may call it one. OR MAYBE HE"S JUST DRUNK.

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"A crusade against OFW is a crusade against HOPE, FAITH, SACRIFICE and LOVE."

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Never Say No

My sister texted me yesterday. How sweet noh?! But wait, she didn’t text to say hi or how I am, or to thank me for my last padala. Text from the Philippines is quite expensive so she cut it off, she needed three thousand pesos for a project she's doing in school. "Fine" I said, I'd send right away. So I did. After, I called her to give the reference number and she thanked me. I smiled and I said to myself, I don’t need to be thanked. As an OFW, I am believed to have lots of money, though the inside of my wallet, the place where I live, the roads that I walk, the food that I eat and the way I spend my weekend would say something else.

Never say no. that’s probably the motto OFWs like me have come to breathe and live in as far as family back home is concerned. Whatever they need, whenever they ask, however they want, we try hard to provide and fulfill every promises and every hope in as much as we can. When sometimes it requires going beyond our capacities, we still make up ways not to frustrate and upset our beloved. Though it means we need to swipe that card, borrow from friends, avail of company loans, sell personal properties or engage in extra sidelines, we are more willing to do that so we could be that ever dependable anak, kuya, tito, kaibigan at kapitbahay.

It hurts sometimes when we are too misconceived. They think that when someone left the country to work abroad, success is a guarantee. It may or may not be, but whatever happens, we cling on to our missions and sanguine that the next time will be better. Yeah, we are heroes, but not super ones. Hence, we have limitations and inabilities that oftentimes we conceal beneath our tears and under the pillows when we sleep at night.

I counted the change in my wallet when I arrived home, it's enough to last till the next payday, only I just have to take meals twice a day and spend nothing else for other things, not even for a piece of toblerone that I terribly love to grind. But I am not saying these to make someone feel guilty or to solicit any form of pity. I love to be of help to my family, and that’s basically the reason why I am here working far from them, away from friends and bare of a comfortable life that I want my loved ones to have.

Actually I can say no. But I have chosen never to say it. More than a motto, I have come to love and live with it, like a destiny, a bitter sweet destiny.

mtv featured was Jim Paredes "Sa Aking Padala" for Western Union.

A World Without Filipinos

we are much better than these.......

Have you ever wonder what's gonna happen to the world and to the Philippines if all the OFWs around the globe will just suddenly disappear? Take a look:

Think of the homes that are dependent on Filipino housekeepers, nannies, caregivers. The homes would be chaotic as kids cry out for their nannies. Hongkong, Singaporean and Taiwanese yuppie couple are now forced to stay home and realizing, goodness, ther's so much of house work that has to be handled and how demanding their kids can be and hey, what's this strange language the'are babbling in.

It’s not just the children that are affected. The problems are even more serious with the elderly in homes and nursing institutions, because Filipino caregivers have provided so much of the critical services they need. When temporary contractual workers are brought in from among non-Filipinos, the elderly complain. They want their Filipino caregivers back because they have that special touch, that extra patience and willingness to stay an hour more when needed.

Hospitals, too, are adversely affected because so many of the disappeared Filipinos were physicians, nurses and other health professionals. All appointments for rehabilitation services, from children with speech problems to stroke survivors, are indefinitely postponed because of disappeared speech pathologists, occupational and physical therapists!

Eventually, the hospital administrators announce they won’t take in any more patients unless the conditions are serious. Patients are told to follow their doctors’ written orders and, if they have questions, to seek advice on several Internet medical sites. But within two days, the hospitals are swamped with new complaints. The web sites aren’t working because of missing Filipino web designers and web site managers.

Service establishments throughout the world — restaurants, supermarkets, hotels — all close down because of their missing key staff involved in management and maintenance. In Asia , hotels complain about the missing bands and singers.

In the United States , many commercial establishments have to close shop, not just because of the missing Filipino sales staff but because their suppliers have all been sending in notices about delays in shipments. Yup, the shipping industry has gone into a crisis because of missing Filipino seafarers.

The shipping firms begin to look into the emergency recruitment of non-Filipino seafarers but then declare another crisis: They’re running out of supplies of oil for their ships because the Middle Eastern countries have come to a standstill without their Filipino workers, including quite a few working for the oil industry.

Frantic presidents and prime ministers call on the United Nations to convene a special session of the Security Council but Mr. Ban Ki-Moon. says he can’t do that because the UN system itself is on the edge, with so many of their secretarial and clerical staff, as well as translators, having disappeared from their main headquarters in New York and Geneva, as well as their regional offices throughout the world. Quite a number of UN services, especially refugee camps, are also in danger of closing down because of missing Filipino health professionals and teachers.

Mr. Ban Ki-Moon. also explains that he can’t convene UN meetings because the airports in New York , Washington and other major US cities have been shut down. The reason? The disappeared Filipinos included quite a few airport security personnel who used to check passengers and their baggage.

Mr. Ban Ki-Moon. calls on the World Bank and international private foundations for assistance but they’re crippled, too, because their Filipino consultants and staff are nowhere to be seen. Funds can’t be remitted and projects can’t run without the technical assistance provided for by Filipinos.

An exasperated Mr. Ban Ki-Moon. calls on religious leaders to pray, and pray hard. But when he phones the Pope, he is told the Catholic Church, too, is in crisis because the disappeared include the many Filipino priests and nuns in Rome who help run day-to-day activities, as well as missionaries in the front lines of remote posts, often the only ones providing basic social services.

As they converse, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon. and the Pope agree on one thing: the world has become a quieter place since the Filipinos disappeared. It isn’t just the silencing of work and office equipment formerly handled by Filipinos; no, it seems there’s much less laughter now that the Filipinos aren’t around, both the laughter of the Filipinos and those they served.

A phone ring at the White House early in the morning from Malacanang, Obama could not answer the phone, he could not get-up in bed suffering from diarrhea because his Mexican chef stuffed his burritos with marijuana guacamole,because the Philippine Congress extradite Pareng Barak’s lady chef back to the Phillippines.

Gloria Arroyo wants to complain to Pareng Barak and asking for stimulus package and bailout regarding Henry Sy on his plan to lay-off close to million casual employees. His huge shops like SM, the Robinsons chain and the Glorietta and Greenbelt malls in Makati, the country’s financial district, have been plagued with diminished sales as people no longer go to enjoy their penchant for shopping and dining. The disappearance of their beloved OFW relatives have cut their spending at all and remittance agencies and bank and automated teller machines eager to serve,are likewise closing businesses because no remittances are coming from abroad. Gloria Arroyo declared a nationwide State of Emergency.

In short without OFW, Filipinos in the Philippines will die in famine. And a world without Filipinos may seem unimaginable to those nations whose lives have been greatly enriched by their presence. But, impossible as it may be, a world that allows every Filipino to take his loved ones along wherever he may choose to work would be a far richer world. Better still, a Philippine society that affords every Filipino the chance to grow and to use his talents without having to leave his country would be a far richer society.

-this essay was originally written by Father Jess Briones and had appeared, re-published, quoted in various newspaper, blogsites and internet forums.

Dead Heroes

I am setting aside my self nepotism to devote a piece of my time and blog space to honor the Filipino Overseas Workers who have lost their lives while trying to make a difference in the lives of their loved ones and our beloved nation in general. I am feel sorry for their ill fated journey and tragic loss and now I am raising a hundred and one reasons why they deserved to be called heroes, but not when they are dead.

"pinoy care, handog natin sa mundo.."

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING….
Leaving loved ones behind is a painful thing to do – but they did.
Abandoning their jobs back home is a silly idea – but they did.
Facing a new culture is a wall difficult to infiltrate – but they did.
Searching for a job without assurance is a costly gamble – but they did.
Heading for a future so vague and blurry – But they did.

ALL FOR THE LOVE OF FAMILY – THEY DID, SO THAT ….
New house can be built ….
Bills can be paid…..
School can be pursued…..
Occasions can be celebrated…..
Illness can be cured…..
Life can be saved…..
Dreams can be achieved…
Economy can be revived….
Progress can be fueled….

BUT SOMETIMES LIFE CAN BE SO CRUEL…..
He who works is bothered…..
He who cares is ignored….
He who sees is overlooked…..
He who sacrifices is redeemed….
He who loves is taken away…..

AND BRUTALLY UNKIND….
He who only hope for the welfare of his loved ones….
He who only wish for the best for his kids…..
He who only think about the safety of his parents….
He who doesn’t think only about himself…..
Is murdered, terminated, evicted and gone…..
Without warning, without sign, without goodbye...

----)0(----

Same month last year, a road mishap in Dubai has claimed the lives of three Filipinas working for a coffee shop. The freak accident, whose cause was attributed mainly to reckless driving, has ranked among the most tragic in Dubai. Recently, ten Filipinos were among the civilians killed in a helicopter crash in a NATO base in Afghanistan. Their unwanted death came at a time when there's an imposed labor ban on that country. As such, they would not be entitled to full benefits from the government for being undocumented workers. Their hard works as an OFW have long benefited the country, but now it has ended up in a tragic loss, their suffering was theirs and theirs alone.

But why? Simply because they sneaked out of the country illegally to work on these places makes them less of an "OFW"? Aren't we all out here sacrificing basically for the same reason? When we send money back home, it is received without even care if it is coming from someone documented or not. We all help in our own capacities. The government benefits from the risk that these people have taken into themselves so that a better future awaits their family. The same risk that's helping the economy up is now the same risk that putting their names and bereaved down. That oversight is just not fair.

When someone left home to work abroad, that’s already a huge sacrifice, not being able to see your loved ones for some time. When you accept a job which is quite different from what you professionally can do, your sacrificing your pride and honor. When you try to fight the homesickness and boredom every time you lay yourself in bed, that’s a sacrifice. When you get our salary, you try to limit your personal spending so that you can send more to your loved ones back home., that’s sacrifice. All for the sake of our families and our nations.

When accidents that claim lives of OFW happen, the sacrifices end, together with the prospects of a brighter future for their family. There would be some media coverage and some financial assistance from the government. After that, the sacrifices of the people who once left their homeland to fulfill an unselfish dreams in the most noble way they can will be forgotten. The modern heroism of the people who left their country alive and with high hopes will be forsaken just as their lifeless body is buried six feet below the ground, silently and forever.

That’s the tale of our present day heroes. Heroes only when they are dead. Never accorded the respect, honor and benefits they deserve when they living and sending billions in annual remittance. Currently, there are over 12 million Overseas Filipino Workers around the globe mostly setting aside their lives to fulfill a greater good for their respective families and country.

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