I’M writing this piece as a dedication to my beloved country, the Philippines. It has endured long years of hardships and challenges. The hardships were of no equal. Beyond imagination. It endured tumultuous years, Martial law, coup d’etat, political noise and countless revolutions. I have seen how this country has fought hard like a fighter. Despite the barrage of punches it held on long enough to see another opportunity to get back on its feet.
I love the Philippines, that’s why I chose to stay. I love it because I have a country that I can call my own. I have my identity. Now I’m happy. I’m happy to see the Philippines slowly getting back on its feet. Crawling like a downed fighter but with so much confidence and courage. Amid the chaos it transforms this once lagging economy to a new workhorse of Asia. The Philippines may not be remembered as a rich nation in Asia, but it will be remembered as a country that endured and emerged a winner.
Forget the skeptics. They do us no good. They are like poisons who desire nothing but to see us fail. To see us suffer.
I have endured just like my country. Yes, but I did not leave in exchange for dollars and yens because I know I will soon rise up to my feet to help my beloved county. This is the country which I can call my own. Like my family that I’m always proud of. I’m proud of my country. I chose to stay, for good. I’m not in despair or in lack but because this country has given so much.
I have my job, a decent job. A job that others can only envy. I have my family that I get to see everyday. And not sacrificing my relationship in exchange for the good life. I have a good life, because this country has given me the opportunity to enjoy it. Family. Church. Car. House. Good relationship. Friendship. And, I’m here in the Philippines.
I chose to stay because that’s the only way I can help my beloved country. But was I deprived of a good life? I don’t think so.
Others don’t want hardships. They even cursed me because I stayed. Others say the good life can only be found when they earn “big bucks.” Only to realize that they are wrong. Soon they realize that living in a country not their own is much harder than it seems. Relationships have failed. Families have broken up. Kids have changed. College fees are close to impossible. Yes, you may earn big bucks. You do spend big bucks as well.
Others are clever enough to send the dollars back home, Thank you. But then again they cannot experience the good life they’ve been longing for. And, being a minority to say the least, you’re treated unfairly and sometimes unjustly. But, they have no choice. They have to live with it. Raise the kids without the yaya. Work two or three jobs a week. Parents take turn watching the kids. Even Sundays are spent working instead of resting. And the list is endless. They have no choice.
Who are they? You can hear them. You can see them. They are the ones who envy the Philippines. They are envious because the Philippines is already progressing. They are envious because the economy is booming. How they wish they could go back. I doubt it. They have no more face to show off after turning their back on this country.
I have nothing to brag about. I’m just an engineer who is enjoying life to the fullest. I’m just thankful that I stayed in my beautiful country, the Philippines.
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August 8th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
filipino people should think that its not the government’s obligation to put every filipino into college & feed them up from birth until they grow old. is it the government’s fault if we are poor? we should blame our parents if we are poor not the government. if only our parents work hard for us we will not be poor & miserable. my boyhood friend is now an engineer becoz his father worked hard for him. me? a GINgineer! why? becoz my father left us when i was just 14 yrs. old. that’s why i did not reach college. now, who’s to blame? my parents or the government?
August 6th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
How could you explain to your kids, if they ask you or demanded that they wanted to go to college and pursue their dreams? Which you can’t afford it while working in our country with an average income only… that even working double time, which almost burning up your quality moment away from your family, but still not enough to grant their demands…
How could you say to your small kids to refrain from demanding delicious foods and good clothes when they wanted to? Or even asking for some electronic toys? Which most kids nowadays has…
How could you response to their polite and charming request to go at the mall for a shopping, eat and dine to their favorite restaurant? Or go for summer vacation on the beach or cold places at the north?… While you can’t afford it, and having some loans needed to pay on…
You are one of the lucky engineers who are financially healthy… staying with the family… who owns a house and car… can afford to give them whatever they want…
But how about if you’re not financially capable to handle such question above? What would you do?… and how are going to handle their courteous and charming demands?…
Or how about if, suddenly, the company which you have been employed for several years had closed and declared for bankruptcy… or was sold to other company… and you’re not one of the lucky guys to be absorbed or have no offer for employment extension…
Or your own business has went down due to competitions or lack of demands… and no other opportunities waiting for you out there… and most of your so called friends has turned you down when you ask for help…
What would you do?… how are going to handle the demands of the family?… which they are enjoying previously…
Sabi nga ni erap… “weather - weather lang yan eh…”
We love our country too… and we love our family too, very very much… but we have no choice at this time, but to sacrifice our quality time with them… because we know that in the end… we will be together again, as one happy family… emotionally, spiritually and financially happy too…
July 2nd, 2007 at 2:06 pm
well enjoy it while you can and good for you. i think the fundamental flaw of your piece is that you have failed to understand while many Filipinos seek their fortunes abroad. its simply because of lack of opportunity sa Pilipinas. iilan lang ba ang nabibigyan ng pagkakataon dyan. and NOT everyone going abroad is being discriminated like you have written. many filipinos are employed abroad as professionals too. they enjoy first world way of life they have nice cars, nice homes, good healthcare and first world amenities and recreation. you’ve never been in their situation so why then do you generalize that Pinoys are miserable abroad? you must be refering to those employed taking menial jobs in radical countries. That’s rather a narrow minded comparison, unless you see in yourself that going abroad will make you an engineer-come-yaya person. I have been an engineer in the philippines for 7 years with a very good salary on Philippine terms but I could not grow at my fullest potential. Now I accepted the offer here abroad as an engineer and I’m earning great that I am able to save, invest and at the same time support my siblings… and guess what we are a happy family. just look at our nurses, while they have been neglected in the philippines the are instead being embraced in first world countries. adding insult to injury our doctors are studying to become nurses abroad…the philippines also has its own discrimination stories, many of our country men prefer foreigners over equally deserving Filipinos. a foreigner in the philippines can easily enter establishments even he/she is shabilly dressed..while a Filipino will be denied entry. i agree that the philippines is a beautiful country, but its beauty is predominantly God-given and yet we have not been good stewards that we are destroying the very thing we take pride in. In first world countries beauty is two fold that it is both God-given and man-made. Ganoon ang ganda dito. How I wish lit were the same for the Philippines. I make this comparison becase I have seen and experience both worlds….have you?
April 26th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Ang galing. Hanggang dito hindi magkasundo. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
April 25th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
To grace,
I’m not quite aware if that particular remark is sarcastic in nature. That’s your opinion. I did it good faith.
You’re always entitled to your opinion and thank you to your opinion.
As I’ve said remittances alone doesn’t compromises the economy. Based on the NEDA statistics, last 2006, around 10% of the GDP is due to foreign remittances. Which then comprises the GNP. So please do your own research first before you keep on telling about the money you are sending. With or without you remittances, we can still make the economy grow, sad to say to your own expense, where owners of malls and all the capitalists are always smiling right now. Don’t you think the remittance you have provided the money to these companies? Oh think again. Don’t be narrow minded.
Well good for you if you have plans to go back. By then, we will be more crowded as ever. And we have no other place to accommodate you.
As I’ve said the posting about “from the eyes of the engineers” reflects the experience of a typical engineer who can still enjoy life in the Philippines without living, and the better way to exhort the young people is to CLEARLY tell them what’s the real situation outside. Don’t you think you know how it is to live in Japan before you went there?