Hindi Mayaman ang OFW

I took this Article shared from my Facebook Friend, I read it once in one of the Filipino Magazine in Israel and I just want to share to everybody too.

HINDI MAYAMAN ANG MGA OFWs

Big size MGA KABABAYAN PLS READ, LALO SA MGA OFW...

Sa may asawa, kapatid, anak, kaibigan, at kamag-anak na OFW.
At lalo na sa mga gustong mangibang-bansa...
Nais ko rin ibahagi sa inyo, ang natanggap kong email na ito.
Maaaring makatulong ito upang lalong maintindihan ng bawa't isa ang tunay na ibig sabihin ng pagiging isang OFW (Isa ako sa milyun-milyong kababayan natin). Tiyak na may mapupulot tayong aral dito.

Hindi mayaman ang OFW - We have this notion na 'pag OFW o nasa abroad ay mayaman na. Hindi totoo yun. A regular OFW might earn from P20K-P30K per month depende sa lokasyon. Yung mga taga-Saudi or US siguro ay mas malaki ang sweldo, but to say that they're rich is a fallacy (Amen!).
Malaki ang pangangailangan kaya karamihan sa amin ay nag-a-abroad. Maraming bunganga ang kailangang pakainin kaya umaalis kami sa Pinas. Madalas, 3/4 o kalahati ng sweldo ay napupunta sa tuition ng anak at gastusin ng pamilya.

Mahirap maging OFW - Kailangan namin magtipid hangga't kaya. Oo, masarap ang pagkain sa abroad pero madalas na paksiw o adobo (hindi kc agad nasisira ito) at itlog lang tinitira para makaipon. Pagdating ng kinsenas o katapusan, ang unang tinitingnan eh ang conversion ng peso sa dollar o rial o euro. Mas okay na kami na lang ang magutom kaysa gutumin ang pamilya.

Kapag umuuwi kami, kailangan may baon/pasalubong kahit konti, kasi maraming kamag-anak ang sumusundo sa airport o naghihintay sa probinsya. Alam nyo naman 'pag Pinoy, yung tsismis na OFW ka eh surely attracts a lot of kin. Kapag hindi mo nabigyan ng pasalubong eh magtatampo na yun at sisiraan ka na.

Well, hindi naman lahat pero I'm sure sa mga OFW dito eh may mga pangyayaring ganun.

Magtatrabaho ka sa bansang iba ang tingin at trato sa gaya nating mga Pinoy, kahit na masipag at mas may utak tayo kaysa sa kanila. Malamang marami ang naka-experience na nang pang-gugulang o discrimination to their various workplaces. Sige lang, tiis lang, iiiyak na lang namin kasi kawawa naman pamilya 'pag umuwi kami sa pinas.

Besides, wala ka naman talagang maasahang trabaho sa Philippines ngayon. Mahal ang bigas, ang gatas, ang sardinas, ang upa sa apartment. Tiis lang kahit maraming pasaway sa trabaho, kahit may sakit at walang nag-aalaga, kahit hindi masarap ang tsibog, kahit pangit ang working conditions, kahit delikado, kahit mahirap. Kapag nakapag-padala na kami, okay na yun, tawag lang, "hello! kumusta na kayo?".

Hindi bato kaming mga OFW - Tao rin ang OFW, hindi kami money o cash machine. Napapagod rin, nalulungkot (madalas), nagkakasakit (na-endoscopy ako), nag-iisip (nakapag-adjust na) at nagugutom (palagi). Kailangan din ang suporta, kundi man physically, emotionally o spiritually (especially ito) man lang.

Tumatanda rin kaming mga OFW - Sa mga nakausap at nakita ko, marami ang panot at kalbo na. Most of them have signs and symptoms of hypertension, coronary artery disease and arthritis. Yet, they continue to work thinking about the family they left behind.

Marami ang nasa abroad, 20-30 years na, pero wala pa ring ipon. Kahit anong pagpapakahirap, sablay pa rin. Masakit pa kung olats rin ang sinusuportahang pamilya sa Pinas - ang anak adik o nabuntis/nakabuntis; ang asawa/gf/bf may kinakasamang iba; ang kapatid nakuntento na lang na umasa at tumambay. Naalala ko tuloy ang sikat na kanta dati, "NAPAKASAKIT KUYA EDDIE!"

Bayani kaming mga OFW - Totoo yun! Ngayon ko lang na-realize na bayani ang OFW sa maraming bagay. Hindi bayani na tulad ni Nora Aunor o Flor Contemplacion. Bayani in the truest sense of the word. Hindi katulad ni Rizal o Bonifacio na kalayaan ang ipinaglaban. Mas higit pa dun, mas maraming giyera at gulo ang pinapasok ng OFW para lang mabuhay.

Mas maraming pulitika ang kailangang suungin para lang tumagal sa trabaho lalo na't parang mga ahas at parang mga amag ang mga kasama sa trabaho. Mas mahaba ang pasensya namin kaysa sa mga ordinaryong kongresista o senador sa Philippines dahil sa takot namin na mawalan ng trabaho at sweldo.

Matindi kaming mga OFW - Matindi ang pinoy. Matindi pa sa daga, o cockroaches which survived the cataclysmic evolution.

Maraming sakripisyo pero walang makitang tangible solutions or consequences.

Malas naming mga OFW, swerte ng mga buwayang pulitiko - Hindi umuupo ang OFW para magbigay ng autograph o interbyuhin ng media (unless nakidnap o na-maltrato). Madalas nasa sidelines lang ang OFW.

Kapag lilisan ng bansa, malungkot and on the verge of tears; Kapag dumadating, swerte 'pag may sundo (madalas naman meron); Kapag naubos na ang ipon at wala nang maibigay, wala na rin ang kamag-anak. Sana sikat kaming mga OFW para may boses kami sa Kamara.

Ang swerte ng mga buwayang pulitiko nakaupo lang sila at ginagastusan ng pera ng Filipino. Hindi nga sila naiinitan ng matinding araw o napapaso ng langis; napagagalitan at nasasampal ng amo; kumakain ng paksiw para makatipid; nakatira sa compound with conditions less than favorable; nakikisama sa ibang lahi para mabuhay. Ang swerte ninyong mga buwayang pulitiko kayo, sobrang swerte ninyo.

Matatag kaming mga OFW - Matatag ang OFW, mas matatag pa sa sundalo o kung ano pang grupo na alam nyo. Magaling sa reverse psychology, negotiations at counter-attacks.

Tatagal ba ang OFW? - Tatagal at dadami pa kami hangga't hindi pa natin alam kung kailan magbabago ang Philippines , kailan nga kaya?... o may tsansa pa ba?

Masarap isipin na kasama mo ang pamilya mo araw-araw. Nakikita mo mga anak mong lumalaki at naaalagaan ng maayos na kasama ka.

Masarap kumain ng sitaw, ng bagoong, lechon, inihaw na isda, taba ng talangka.

Masarap manood ng pelikulang Pinoy, luma man o bago.

Iba pa rin ang pakiramdam kung kilala mo at nakakakuwenttuhan mo ang kapitbahay mo. Iba pa rin sa Philippines; iba pa rin kapag Pinoy ang kasama mo except ('pag hambog at utak-talangka); Iba pa rin 'pag nagkukwento ka at naiintindihan ng iba ang sinasabi mo; Iba pa rin ang tunog ng "mahal kita!", "day, ginahigugma tika"," "Mingaw na ko nimo ba, kalagot!", " Inday, diin ka na subong haw? ganahan guid ko simo ba".

Iba pa rin talaga.

Sige lang, tiis lang, saan ba't darating din ang pag-asa.

Kung may kamag-anak kang OFW mapalad ka at wala ka d2 sa kinalalagyan namin at anjan ka kasama mo ang mga mahal mo sa buhay.

Kung OFW ka at binabasa mo ito, mabuhay ka dahil ikaw ang tunay na BAYANI ng lahing PILIPINO!!!

Loan Sharks prey for OFW

Most Filipinos  go abroad for their aspiration and dreams that they could help their parents, give their children a proper education and a better life. And to realized those dreams some borrowed money from the bank with a property collateral and some borrowed money from a money lender just to pay the huge amount of placement fee to go abroad.


When I came to Israel, I owed a huge amount of money from a relative, At first, they took me from the Philippines with an additional 10% from the whole amount of money. As I understood, the 10% was only charge one time.  And that was all, but when I arrived here and got my first monthly salary they asked me to sign an agreement that the money I lent from them was 10% interest monthly. I was so shocked and cried, the fact that almost the whole amount of my salary goes only to the interest I have to pay. I complained however every word that I said wasn't good for them. I didn't have a choice but to pay the amount written in the agreement. I worked, cried and blamed my parents why they wanted me to come here. Almost three years of sacrificing I managed to finish my placement fee.

There are a lot of stories like me here in Israel. Some of them are threatened for deportation. And there are moneylenders also approach employers, who know nothing about their workers black market loans, is one means of pressuring debtors, that's the reason why there are workers release form their jobs. However, some of them helped their worker to pay the money they owed so that they can get out from that stupid interest.

I heard a story from a friend, a girl need to send money home because her father died. Because she didn't have a sufficient funds, she borrowed money from a money lender with an interest of 10% monthly. It's time to pay back the interest and capital and she failed to give the said amount. The money lender, told her to borrow another amount of money to cover the amount she failed to pay. One loan led to another. That 10% became 20% until it became 75%. This poor girl has a salary only of 800$ monthly and owed more than she earned How can she pay it back?

The law in Israel allows non-bank lenders to charge up to 2.25 times the Bank of Israel interest rate for loans up to 1 million NIS. The maximum allowable rates per year is only 15.5 percent. Because workers here, cannot loaned money straight to the Bank her so they are force to approach money lenders who take advantage the rate of interest they charge per client.

If you will be in a hand of money lenders, you cannot get out from the problems you started to create. And if you don't know how to fight with them, they will give you a deep trouble that could ruin your job as well as your life. 

Welcome and Join BC-Bloggers 3

I received an email from pretty Paula today, and I am happy that BC-Blogger Part 3 is open. I am very glad that I became part of BC-Blogger. I met and know wonderful people who shared their random thoughts, everyday routine of their life, parenting, friend, wife, mother and shared making money online too. Unlike people in the chatroom, mostly are hypocrite and liars. This is only my point of view. 

So, I'm here presenting my Pinoy Life Abroad blog, which I thought need a traffic of friends.  I am inviting everybody to welcome and join BC-Blogger 3.

So, I am calling all bloggers who want to gain friends in the blogosphere and build links at the same time – BC Bloggers 3 is now open. To join just visit Mommy Diary, read the requirements, and fill out the Application Form.

Sisterhood Award

I was really surprised and happy to  received a Sisterhood Award from Kasai.Thank you so much sis for considering me as one of your friends here in blogging world. It is really amazing that these people inspired me to write more.



For the Rules :

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate up to 10 blogs which show great attitude and gratitude.
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

I want to share this award to these people who inspire me to write more and learned from them through reading their blogs.

The Living Grace by Carmen Araneta

lizee's Secret Garden by Lizee Wong

Girl's Rule  by Niko 

Mommy Diary  by Paula

My Life & My Journey Online by Kayce

My Life Story  by ME

Ferry'zWILL by Ferryjhoi

Life is Good and Beautiful by Cecile

Pinay in States by Pinaymama

The Mommy Journey by Chriss

Blog and Me by Tatess

Living With Purpose by Cathy

TNT Life in Israel

We all know, the moment we left our home country we are taking the risk, especially to those who have children. We go to the foreign land that we don't even know how to speak the language. However we learned and we adopt the culture and tradition.

Israel is one of the beautiful destination of OFW in terms of work  situation.  They are open only for Filipinos  in nursing specifically Caregivers who look after disabled children and elderly people.

What's good in Israel are? Caregivers have freedom to chose their own patient. If you don't like the person you look after, you can complain to the agency. Whatever complains you can report to your manpower agency. But on the other hand, you should minimize your complains because some agency  didn't believe you. Secondly, we can get all our Philippine holiday's and benefits. If the employer ask you to stay then they have to pay you extra. And that happens more often because they don't have patient to look after their old mother and father. You can get good salary most especially if your patient live in an old age home. Most people lives in that certain home are rich people who employ private carer. But I assure you, choosing job is all a matter of luck as well. All I can say , being a carer is not an easy job. Looking after elderly person for almost 18 hours a day, 7 days a week, if you are lucky to have a day off then you can have only 6 days a week. Some old people don't want anybody to be with them and  that is very difficult for a carer.
 

In the other way, working here also have limitation. Your work or visa status will depend only the life of your patient. The maximum stay in only 52 month's equivalent to 4 years and 3 months. However, if your patient are still alive even after that, your visa is, continues until she died then you can decide to stay or be a TNT(illegal worker, TAGI NG TAGO)

 This is why there are a lot of TNT in Israel. Carer chose to stay for many reasons. Mostly came here with a huge amount of placement fee and they haven't, finish to pay it back, some  have children, brother or sister who go to school, some are breadwinners and some are afraid to go back home because they  can't find a job to  their home country
 

Definitely, these people are not criminals but they felts that they are like thieves, killer because that's the way they treated by the people here. They don't work the way they used too. In fact, they work like a horse, cleaning from house to another. Some work as domestic, looking after 2,3 or even 5 children. Clean the house, does the cooking, gardening etc.. Some work as a freelancer, if somebody want a day off or want a vacation for a month and they need a reliever, this person are willing to replace you whenever you call them. And  TNT who have children are in the most worse  situation. Their children are traumatized because of what they been through. They treated badly also in school because their parents are foreign worker.
 

I felt sorry for themselves and I pitied them but we have to obey ruling of the government. We are only workers in their country.  If you think its enough then you don't need to suffer all this. A lesson to be learned, while you still got a visa then save for yourself. At least a 100$ a month, then when time comes, you always ready to go home.

on my unforgettable experience

As I mentioned before, life abroad is not easy. Sad thing about, living a career, very from your family, friends and love ones. We have also moments to think about what if I didn't go abroad? What will be my life in the Philippines?What happen to my family? On the other side of the coin, you might also think, I can leave there without going abroad. I have a career. But the fact its only good for my self, not enough to help my family. I guess this is the reality to those people who's working abroad.

Five years ago, I had a funny experience here. I considered this as my unforgettable experience. When I shared it to my friends they started laughing at me and can't believe I did it.

After 2 years working with my alzhiemer patient, I left her because they didn't have a sufficient funds to pay all my required benefits including my basic salary. Was so sad for me because I was so attached with her, and so she was. But I thought of my self , I'm not here to look for a family I'm here for work and to earn and save money. At that time , I'm not finish my placement fee loan. So I decided to move out and find an employer who can pay give me a good pay. They were very angry with me, and they don't even give me a release paper which required by my prospect employer. I don't have any money and all I got was the bounced check my patient's son issued to me. I went to that lawyer, I showed the bounced check and he gave me a letter of release. Imagine I didn't pay the lawyer, I just told him that I was connected of the agency, I gave the name of my agency and said I'll pay you later if I can find a new job.

It was time to meet my prospected employer, 2 rides and 2 hours travel by bus from where I was. I got 14 shekels penny in my pocket, and that money was only good for one ride. I was sitting in the middle of the stairs of my flat and think of a solution. All my friends are in  their prospective work,and my Aunt was in the Philippines. I was alone and keep looking my watch and the 14 NIS I got in my wallet. After an hour of thinking, I was walking back and forth til the fourth times, I just went straight to the station of mini bus. I arrived in tel-aviv and I don't know where to go. I don't have money at all. While walking in the street I remember my friend who recommended me the job. I called and told her I don't have money. I was so very lucky to have a friend like her, since I don't know the place (nursing home) she told me to take a taxi and she'll pay when I get there. So I did, I came at that place and met my employer though it was late and they understand that it was traffic.. LOL they didn't know the reason why I was late. Fortunately I was hired.

When I look back that experience, it made me laugh. Neither my self cannot believe how I did it. I was hopeless then but still believe that GOD was with me. I was determined to get that job and he guided me all along. I was so happy working with my English lady patient until the day she died at the age of 101 years old. And I was so blessed again to have a lovely lady who kept me though there are problems regarding my situation here. I hope I am always lucky with jobs.