I have been following a thread in a forum about OFWs. The title has something like that OFWs and immigrants are stupid and failures. The good thing about having my own blog is I can put what I feel. I’m really passionate when it comes to the Philippines and if I hold this deep inside I might not be able to contain it. So I’m gonna rant a little bit.
Lets start of by stating what OFWs had sacrificed and endured just to earn money for their family. (Bullshit) They endured hardship and homesickness and be far away from their family. Bullshit. They endured being in an unknown country and making your name there. What else? What’s in it for me? Tumatakas lang sila sa hirap dito sa Pinas.
Lets not be hypocrite and lets state the main reason ofw left the Philippines… To make money. Being practical is always a lot better and are more accepted way of thinking than being patriotic and ideal. Enduring hardships and homesickness is the consequences of your actions… Let’s not include that sissy whinning as every decision you choose has an equal consequences. I am not saying I’m an idealist and i will still choose free vs paid. I’m just saying that when it comes to a more bigger problem like a poor country needing the help of its citizens. Leaving the country to work abroad is something that is just plain selfish. “Tumatakas lang sila sa hirap” - quote from a friend. There’s nothing “Heroic” about going to another country and make your family rich. Then when got kidnapped by terrorists goes whine to the government to save his ass. The same corrupt government that he tried to escape.
I have a friend that is an immigrant and I understand how he feels. I know not everybody is the general OFW - “I WANNA WORK ABROAD TO EARN MONIES”. Both me and my friend studied in the same school. The same upbringing that taught us how to love our country. If given the chance to comeback here I know he would.
Social Responsibility is one of those virtues of an engineer that is embeded into our hearts. No matter how much salary we get here. We must not leave the Philippines, because our country needs us. I still remember my professor who got an award in Japan. His thesis got an award. His works got an award. Offered a job abroad with millions of pesos per month as salary. But still choose to stay here with merely 20k salary. He always tells us that story and he always answer calmly, “Mahal ko Pilipinas, nandito ang laban naten. Responsibilidad ko kayo na susunod na magtataguyod ng bansa.” You might say that that person is stupid. That nowadays you can’t eat virtues and feed your family with it. That being practical is the most important thing to survive. Yeah maybe. But maybe that is what this country needs. The kind of change that ofws and all Filipino want and need.
After that subject with our bald professor is a subject about Engineering Materials Science… It is a tough subject and I might have not learned anything from it but one thing I’m sure of, is that our professor wants us to take care of this country. After each exam, most of us gets low grades. When the time of questioning why do we get such low grades, the funny part comes in. I still remember clearly this conversation:
Prof:”Ikaw, bakit ka nagengineer?”.
Student: “Para po malaki ang kita.”
Prof: “Akin na lang tuition fee mo dito at ieenroll kita as domestic helper. Mas malaki kita don. Or nurse. Wala ka mapapala sa engineering 6k lang kita mo per month.”
Then the student having his pride hurt started to ask:
Student: “Eh kayo sir, bat kayo nagengineer… Bakit di na lang kayo nag domestic helper?”
Prof: “Hindi ako nag-aral ng 5 taon ng engineering para maghugas ng pwet ng ibang tao.”
Then he will tell us the story of planet biyo. A Dr. Josette Biyo, Filipino teacher whose ability in teaching won her an award. Offered to teach in different countries around the world but still choose to teach his own countrymen. Because of this, one planet was named after her.
Social responsibility is your sense of responsibility to your society. What composes as society is a family. So is that social responsibility? I admire your lack of understanding. But no. Society is a collection of families. And family is just a small part of it. If you’re working for just your own family its just a plain selfish motive.
I have a sister who just passed the board exam this June. It is a popular culture for these new nurses to want to get out of the country. Having studied in an engineering school and dated some nurses during my college days, its a pretty popular goal it makes me sick. Are all nurses like this? Nasan na yung sagot ng mga bata pag tinanong mo sila bat gusto nila magnurse? “Eh para po makatulong ako sa mga may sakeeeet… Para po matulungan ko yung mga mahihiraaaaap…” Sana hindi na lang lumaki ang mga munting nurse.
If you’re still reading this and you are outraged by it because you know a friend, a relative, your father or mother or you yourself is an OFW or immigrant, I tell you this, I am not against you or your decision to leave the Philippines. Go work abroad if you really want to. No one really care nor gonna judge you.
You are a failure in a sense that you failed to see the opportunities this country brings. Why Americans go here to do business and Filipinos goes to America to work is not really that much of a mystery if you put a little thought into it. And you are stupid. Stupid enough to escape your responsibility. I am not commenting on the person itself as a whole, of being a failure and stupid… But the mindset of having no hope and opportunity in this country that made you end up working on another country. For all we know you might be a good person, a good son/daughter, a good husband or wife. Change your thinking and you will see the opportunities in this country. Just like others who made it successful here. You are still a Filipino.
“It is a useless life that is not consecrated to a great ideal. It is like a stone wasted on the field without becoming a part of any edifice.”
- José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda
August 12th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
May mga kaibigan akong nagsipag-abroad upang magtrabaho. Ang dahilan nila ay ‘para kumita ng pera’ at ‘wala nang pag-asa sa Pilipinas’.
Ngumingiti na lang ako tuwing kausap ko sila dahil mga kaibigan ko sila. Pero naisip ko, kung wala nang pag-asa sa ‘Pinas (dahil maliit ang sweldo, matrapik, puro corruption, etc.) eh bakit mo sya iiwan? Hindi ba mas tama na manatili ka at sa kahit munti mong kakayanan, makatulong ka sa pag-asenso ng bansa?
Ang pagpapadala ng pera sa Pilipinas, bagamat malaki ang naidadagdag sa kabang yaman, para sa akin ay hindi tamang paraan upang makatulong sa bansa.
Sa panahon ngayon, na lumalaganap na ang internet sa bansa, dumadami na ang paraan upang makapag-trabaho at kumita ng hindi naman kailangang lumayo pa.
Ang sa akin lang naman, kung pangit ang bansang sinilangan mo, huwag mo syang iwan. Madaming paraan upang umasenso ng hindi kailangang lumayo.
August 15th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
You’re right mj ces. this country needs more people like you. but still we can’t blame them for their reason for a better life. as they say, “the grass is greener on the other side”. Only to realize that it is greener here when they arrive there. Its only a matter of attitude and point of view.
Mabuhay ka kabayan.
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:57 am
tama ka kbayan, kaya ako ay lumulunok ng pait kasi papunta ako ng inglatera para magtrabaho. pero hindi ibig sabihin na iiwan ko na ang Pilipinas.May mga plano ako na magtayo ng negosyo dito at may pananagutan ako sa mahal kong bansa na tulungan ang kapwa ko, at paunlarin ito saabot ng aki8ng makakaya.
Laban lang tayo!!
October 31st, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Naalala ko tuloy yung yung isang post na nabasa ko dati sa multiply, merong isang koreano na inggit na inggit sa Pilipinas, around 1960’s ata un. Panahon na poging-pogi pa ang Pilipinas sa Asya, nakwento nya dun na nung panahon na yun, hirap na hirap ang South dahil kakagailng lang nila sa gyera sa North, yung sitwasyon nila mas malala pa sa sitwasyon natin ngayon. Minsan pumunta ung presidente ng South Korea sa Germany para makahiram ng pera para maayos ulit ung mga nasirang infrastructures nila, pero mejo tagilid pa yung sagot ng mga aleman, kaya malungkot ung presidente nun. Nagkaron rin sya ng chance na makausap ung mga OFW nila dun at natanong nila: kelan sila aasenso? Napaiyak ung presidente dun sa tanong na yun. Pero hindi sya nawalan ng loob at sinabi nya, makakabangon rin sila.
Nakita sila ng isang diplomat ng Germany at nalaman to, so ayun, napahiram sila ng pera, dun nakapagpatayo sila ng 3 factory. At the same time dun na rin nakakuha ng chance ung presidente na i-recall ung mga tao na nagttrabaho sa ibang bansa. Sinabi nya na sa mga tao na wala silang gaanong maaasahan in monetary terms pero alam nya magiging maayos rin sila pagdating ng panahon. Umuwi yung mga skilled workers ng bansa nila at dun na nagsimula yung pag-asenso nila.
Ngayon asan na ang South Korea? Asensado na.
Sa tingin ko ang mga tao ngayon dito sa Pilipinas kuntento na sarili lang nila yung maayos ang kalagayan, kaya nga bilib ako dun sa mga taong nasabi mo kanina, lalo na kay Dr. Biyo, sya rin ung nagbigay ng speech samen nung graduation namin nung college. Nakakalula nga ung offer sa ibang bansa, pero diba parang mas ok kung hindi lang bilang ung mga taong kilala mong masasabi mong mejo bawas ang problema sa buhay partikular ang problema sa pera?
Mawala lang yung crab mentality sa Pinas, ok tayo. Andito na lahat saten eh.
November 1st, 2009 at 3:30 am
pareng bob nadale mo. alam kong pareho tayo ng school kaya pareho pananaw naten tungkol sa topic na toh.
Kumusta na ba ang buhay.
June 3rd, 2010 at 6:29 pm
Hi.i like ur blog. my papa is an ofw too.i think they don’t understand the sacrifices families make para lang kumita ng pera.lets face the reality na hindi kayang kumita ng malaki sa pilipinas.period
June 13th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
e2 n nmn un mga comments n walang kmuwang muwang s mundo…hindi ibig sabhin umalis k ng pilipinas ay bullshit kn..or mangmang ka or wala kng pgmmhal s pamilya mo or s bansang sinilangan mo.
Isipin nyo nlng n mapalad ang pilipino kc kinukuha p cla ng ibang bansa pra mgtrabho dun…un mga ibang lahi nga halos mgmakaawa n n mkpgtrabaho din gaya ng mga pilipino pero d cla nbbgyan ng pgkktaon…baket? kc d cla mggling gaya ng pinoy…ibig sbhin nun maabilidad ang pilipino at kelngan tau ng mundo…hindi lng ng pinas kundi ng MUNDOOOO….hindi ibig sbhin ngtrbaho k ng ibang bansa e kinalimutan mo n ang pinas…ANG TANONG…kelangan bng bumalik s pinas ang 11 milyong pilipino n ngttrbaho s ibang bansA pra umasenso ang pinas??? hAYYY NAKU khit bumalik p s pinas ang mtatalinong pilipino s bansa ntin kung ang mga nkaupo s gobyerno ay mga putik p rin…putik walang pgbbgo p rin…BAKET TINUTURING N BAYANI ANG OFW? KC PO MAS HIGIT CLA NKKTULONG S PINAS KESA S MGA TAMBAY N ADIK S KANTO NG KALYE NYO…ANG TANONG ULI…KAPAG NGTRBAHO KB S IBANG BANSA E SAYANG N UN KAKAYAHAN M N SANA NGAMIT MO S PGUNLAD NG PINAS?? HAYYY NAKU ULI…nakinig n nmn kayo s guro nyo n mkabayan KUNO….MAS MSASAYANG KUNG NSA PINAS K N HALOS WALA KNG MHNAP N TRABHO…MG RESEARCH KAYO KNG ILANG GRADUATE ANG WALANG TRBAHO S PINAS..MAS SAYANG UN…GRADUATE K P NMN PERO TAMBAY K S KANTO KC WALA KNG MHANAP N TRBAHO…ang iba ngbbyad p s kumpanya pra kunin cla..biruin mo ngbigay k ng pera s kumpanya pra kunin k mgtrbaho…hayyyy….RESEARCH KAU KNG ILANG TAO ANG PGKGRADUATE WALANG MHANAP N TRBAHO..SUSMARYA D K ATA MBILANG…MAS SAYANG ANG KAKAYAHAN KNG HAWAK MO ALAK KC PROBLEMADO KNG WALANG MHNAP N MTINONG TRABHO s pinas..
mtitinong lider ang kelangan s pag asenso ng pinas…hndi un pgbalik s pinas ng ofw pra kuno gamitin ang talent kuno s pinas…lider n matino, malinis n hangarin at my takot s dyos ang kelngan ntin…
alisin mo kc s isip mo n kpg lumabas k ng bansa e tgahugas kn lng ng puwet…hindi lahat ng lumalabas ng bansa ay tgahugas ng puwet…mdaming mggaling n pinoy n enhinyero, arkitekto, guro at iba iba pa…ang mga mggling n pinoy n to ang ngdadala s ngalan ng pinas n mkilala tau s ibang bansa s larangan ng literatura, matematika, syensya at kung anuano png etsapuwera…
June 14th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
@geo,
Sa dami ng sinabi mo, sisisihin mo lang pala ang gobyerno. Don’t get me wrong. I do commend and look up to people that contribute to any field. I am also aware that there are lots of people that don’t have jobs. I am proud of people who contribute to society or rise with the stars and fame. Manny Pacquiao is not an OFW he is a sportsman. Lets not add them to conversation. OFW means a worker. The government’s job is not to make you rich or to find you a job. Its job is to create jobs. If you also go to job sites, there are literally millions of jobs for many fields hindi ko na rin mabilang. Bakit po madami pa ding walang trabaho? Dahil ung mga capable sa mga skills na iyon ay nasa labas na ng bansa. Wala na po dito. Kung iisipin mo, madami talagang jobs, its the people that don’t have the skills for the job dahil nasa ibang bansa na.
Hindi rin po trabaho ng gobyerno payamanin ka. Trabaho ng bawat isa sa atin na kumita, at dumiskarte. Kung walang trabaho, eh di gumawa ng trabaho. Paano? Magbusiness ka. Sa halagang P1,000 pede ka na magbusiness. Kahit mga magbabalot or bbq stand jan saludo ako dahil hindi sila nawawalan ng pagasa. Kahit wala silang trabho. Business parin iyon at wala silang boss. O gusto mo ung may title ka na maipagmamalaki Chief Managing Senior Technical Agent kuno at malaking sweldo para makabili ng bahay at kotse? Karamihan po ay obsession lamang.
I am not against ofws. Nor hate them. Its just that, I hope Filipinos learn and try to stay behind and make a living here. Kaya naman eh. Pero the grass is always greener on the other side eka nga. Not knowing that their only trading one rat race to another.
June 15th, 2010 at 12:04 am
paulit ulit tlg un one thousand pesos oh….as in 1000 pesos….teka lng ha bili muna ako ng sapatos….ayyy kulang…d pla kasya.. ibusiness k nlng ng taho…ay kulang p rin pla…teka bili ako ng gatas…ay wala ng sukli…teka bk pwd ko business ng celfon…ay nokia 5110 lng pla kaya ko ibenta…hahahaha…kain n nga lng ako s jolibbee…buti p….1000 n business hahahaha….okie cge…goodluck…apply ako sau…nyahhaha.. peace…..
June 16th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Sir,
If you look you will find. Magkano po ba puhunan sa mga ihaw ihaw, isaw, kwek kwek at pasaload. Sa tingin nyo po ba eh milyon ang puhunan doon? Or nahihiya lang kayo sa ganung business kaya ayaw nyo patulan? Maliit ang kita pero kung tumagal eh lalago din. Kadalasan naman ay nasa atin ang problema. Nahihiya, pride, takot, takot mag-fail, takot mapahiya, kadalasan ang pumipigil saten. Hindi naman gobyerno ang may kasalanan non.
Ang mga bloggers at internet marketers na kumikita ng higit $5000 a month ay nagpuhunan lang ng higit Php1000 pesos pambili ng hosting at domain.
Sir, iba na po ang panahon ngayon, kung sa tingin nyo po ay walang magagawa ang pera nyo na maliit na halaga, oras na po para magbasa basa sa site na ito at matuto.
Wala po akong magagawa sa mentality nyo kung pano nyo nakikita ang status ng bansa or ang status ng pamumuhay dito sa Pilipinas. Pero ang pede ko lang po ibahagi sa inyo ay ang idea na iba na po ang panahon ngayon. Mas madali na po ang pera kesa sa inaakala nyo.
By the way, I started my freelance business for Php999, 3 years ago. That’s the cost of paying smartbro for my internet connection.
June 18th, 2010 at 3:48 am
By the way stop calling me sir plz. Im still student and i know we are just on the same age. You dont need to explain “iba n ang buhay ngaun”.. baket hndi n po b ako buhay ngaun..lol..
If your a graduate of accountancy, engineering, architecture, education, nursing, and other 4 or 5 year course, mghihila kb ng kariton pra mgtinda ng kwek kwek, fishbol or isaw….d kn lng sna ngklase ng pgkhaba haba kng mgkakariton k lng pla…hindi ako nhihiya..kundi sobrang nkakahiya tlg…hahahhaha…pinagtapos ng mgulang pra mgtinda ng kwek kwek..haayyy…nway cge turuan m n nga lng po ako pano b mgbusiness s maliit n halaga nyan…
June 18th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Magabroad ka na lang po para tapos na problema mo.
Like I said, if people try to do business. They’ll be actually using their brains instead of being swayed by large salary.
Hint: You pay other people to sell kwek kwek, isaw isaw or kariton.
If you’re just gonna blame someone, the goverment or give excuse to every possible idea to earn money I wish you good luck when you are out in the field.
It’s kind of disrespectful to comment like that on a blog that teaches self improvement. So, if you don’t have anything better to comment, I might delete your next comments.