Let's admit it.
We are at a point in our history where graft, corruption and deceit are prevailant in our midst. We see, hear, and listen about it in the news- people pointing fingers, accusing each other with this and that, all going towards irregularities on governance.
++++++++++Jonel Dignadisi, an Overseas Filipino Worker has been given appreciation by the Philippine Embassy in Dubai when he returned 470,000 dirhams (P6.2 million) left by a tourist passenger on a public bus that Dignadisi was driving.According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Jonel Dignadisi personally returned the money to the owner. Dignadisi discovered the money inside a bag, together with the owner's passport.source: Philstar.com++++++++++The story might sound like an old tune, considering that we have already heard similar stories before, however, I believe there is a need to give emphasis on this act of heroism especially in these times of dishonesty and distrust in our country.As we wait for change to happen in our government, may we also, as Filipinos, bear in mind that we can also be agents of change.There is hope. And hope is found in each and everyone of us.
++++++++++PINOY SA LIKOD NANG KURTINA
Over a thousand Filipinos arrive in Dubai every month. And why not?
Literally, the sun shines here all year round; prosperity is in the air; and it's a place where people have reasons to dream of waking up in the morning as millionaires or with kilos of gold on their lap!
Yun nga lang, habang hindi pa nangyayari yun, iba ang nakikita ng maraming Pinoy pagdilat nila sa umaga --- KURTINA!
Betcha by golly wow!
Paano ko ie-explain to fascinated Pinoys back home our living condition here!
Noong una akala ko isolated cases. But with the skyrocketing apartment rents in this City of Gold , such conditions are becoming the norm.
Sideways...sidesteps.
Hindi yan dance step. That's the latest move ngayon sa mga sharing flats. Sa sobrang liit ng space, patagilid ang galaw. Kaya minsan, mga ka-flatmates, hindi na magkakitaan.
"Hoy, where have you been, ba? Hindi ka na umuuwi sa flat!"
Kasi nga lagi silang naka-sideview!
Warning: Smoking is dangerous to your room.
Hindi health reasons ang dahilan bakit bawal magyosi, no! Ang styrofoam kuya!
Yes, naunahan ng Pinoy ang IKEA sa innovation na yan --- Yes, styrofoam walls, styrofoam doors, styrofoam room. Di ba nga naman, styrofoam keeps you fresh! Para kang gulay, o kaya ice candy. Pero siguro mas feel mo minsan na 'tuna' ka, o di kaya 'sirena' kung feel mong si Claudine ka.
"Ate, di ba fire hazard yan?"
"Anong fire ka dyan? Rent ang mas nakakamatay dito!"
"Illegal ang partions sa Dubai . At least ang styrofoam, pag nagkahulihan, mabilis sa baklasan. Gets mo?!!!"
"Yes, Ate."
Therefore, 'no smoking': ang sirena baka maging daing!
Burj Al 'Cupboards'
Hindi lang Emaar Properties ang may 'K' na magtayo ng skyscrapers? Haven't we heard, the Philippines is a major supplier of architects in Dubai ? In other words, nasa dugo natin yan! Kaya ba ng Arabong gumawa ng rooms out of cupboards, luggages and shoe boxes? Dati sa airport lang bida ang mga luggages, ngayon multi-purpose na: dividers na rin sila ---
para ang isang kwarto maging lima !
Pampataas sila sa mga cupboards kasama ng mga shoe boxes na pinaka-antenna. Siyempre, the taller the better --- you keep your neighbor's eyes away.
Now Showing
Pagpasok ko ng flat, akala ko sinehan, ang daming kurtina. Mga kuarto pala. Pero ang cute, cinematic!!! Parang barangay, complete with eskinitas. Kada bukas ng telon, parang movie ---sari-saring life. May natutulog, may nag-eemote, may nka-curlers, may nakasimangot. Sa panlimang kurtina, may nag-totong-its, sa pang-anim, may naggugupit. Ang gandang movie, di ba?
"Ang Pinoy sa Likod ng Kurtina!" Paraisong Kurtina
Ayyy! Our Paraisong Kurtina. It can make you laugh, it can make you cry. Be proud of our Paraisong Kurtina. It exists because we'd rather send our money home than spend more for our comfort. Within its walls, lies our desire for a little privacy, our groans, our tears, our dreams, our struggle for some little savings.
My curtain says a lot. It says, "I have saved again, inay; I'll be able to send money next month."
Dream mo pa bang pumunta ng Dubai ????
Mag isip-isip....
++++++++++
This came as a surprise for me for the reason that a lot of my colleagues have time and again asked me to go with them and try out seeking employment in Dubai.I know at least 10 people who have left the Philippines and are currently working in Dubai. So I hope that my friends are not experiencing this very same sentiment that the author of this article have tasted.Kudos para sa mga Pinoy na nagpapatuloy sa kanilang mga trabaho sa ibang bansa despite of all these pressures and problems that they are facing from being away in their native land.Mabuhay kayo!
FORK IN THE ROADMy blog title today is inspired by a well-known documentarist and famous blogger (whose posts I don't fail to read), Mr. Howie Severino of GMA News and Current Affairs.Howie Severino's Sidetrip attempts to find relevance in the exotic and the commonplace, value the undervalued, and satisfy Howie's personal curiosity about all things that have anything to do with being Filipino.One of his posts last January 08 is a personal invitation to watch Sine Totoo, featuring Raffy Tima's The Doctor Is Out Of Town- a documentary featuring Dr. Julius Cidro, a Barrio Doctor who endures the long and tedious boat ride to the community, lack of facilities and medical supply, low wages and uncomfortable lodgings at the municipal clinic – in order to serve the people.Well, the blog, and of course the documentary, seeks to tell all of us that there still are Filipinos who choose not to go abroad, but stay and serve the country and the people.++++++++++Parang bigla ko tuloy naalala yung political ad ng gma na "sa isa kong boto".It's a pity really that pinoys (professional if i must emphasize) should go to other lands because there goes the greener pastures that they couldn't find here in the Philippines.Nakakalungkot pero totoo.
hector olympus on 2008-08-28 17:59 ()
Hector, In our lives we come to a fork in the road -- do we go to greener pastures... or do we try to nourish and water the pasture where we were born so it one day turns green?
howie on 2008-08-28 19:08 ()
agree with you, howie.the topmost important is to be where God has placed you to be. I, for one, as an accountant, had been through that "fork in the road", because our country does not offer much opportunities in our field.However, I never regret staying in the Philippines because I know deep in my heart that this is my place. God has placed me here and this is where He will bless me.Kayong mga nasa media nawa ang syang patuloy na magmulat sa aming mga mamamayan sa mga kakulangan ng bansa na dapat nating pagtulung-tulungang diligan at alagaan para maging maunlad ang bayan.
hector olympus on 2008-08-29 09:39 () ++++++++++Fork in the Road. Indeed it is a pity why most Filipinos should choose to leave and work in a foreign land in search for better opportunities which our country could not provide.Yes, there are opportunities-however, the pay are always undervalued. Or maybe because our government is taking much percentage of taxes from our income?There are those who commend OFWs and even call them "Mga Bagong Bayani" for their dollar remittances.But there are some who condemn and accuse the OFWs of leaving the country, and being self-seeking, never thinking of giving service to our nation.But the truth is seen by the naked eye. Scarcity of good opportunities in our nation compel us to be on the "FORK IN THE ROAD" and decide whether to stay in the Philippines, or to go to other country where the pastures are greener.Can't blame the OFWs. And in reality, I salute them for taking the courage to leave the comfort of being in our own land. It is hard being in a foreign territory. But the most hard part is leaving your beloved family and abstain from seeing them from say, 1 or 2 years.For us who choose to stay, I will leave Howie's response with emphasis on his last phrase:"In our lives we come to a fork in the road -- do we go to greener pastures... or do we try to nourish and water the pasture where we were born so it one day turns green?"The choice is ours.
