“For one to survive,
he must start his career nowhere in the Philippines”
The OFW story isn’t
categorized under romanticized modern heroism rather
encapsulated above ‘great authentic sacrifice’. It highlights a very
important Filipino family value – united love amidst physical distance.
Their plights are often seen under blurry magnifications; under
which lay unheard stories of tormented physiques and well-beings, constant
roundabouts of homesickness and depressions, and a perpetual cycle of
longingness for one’s families. The concept of attaining greener pastures
abroad isn’t foreign in the Philippines; rather perpetrated, it is extensively
promoted by both Philippine society and its’ government. A general rule
embedded to mind, for one to survive, he must start his career nowhere
in the Philippines. Nonetheless.
With such statements greatly partaken the figure of Philippine
workforce, Filipinos seeking for better tomorrows were forced to step out and
embrace the vast unknown; all for a secured future, no matter what it could
had taken.
Compromises were settled for monetary advancements.
A reality unmasked.
8th of March when I stood at the competing
ground nakedly; unworn from representations, titles, and expectations. A blank
canvass to be defined. Under blinding screens, impairing screams, and intimidating
competitors, there stood a child empty-handed narrated a story.
A story written inside crumbled papers by smudged markings
Executed by the nervous yet the persevering
Inspired by the driven
Microphones amplified social revolutions.
Lights were emblazoned in full bloom.
Speakers echoed.
Walls reckoned.
At the end of the speech writing, I found myself stabbed too
many times by the realizations the piece handed out in tables during knife
fights. I digested that I was too abusive by the privilege of getting
everything I wanted without foreknowing how difficult it was to reify – most specially
how both agonizing and impractical it was for my father, working light rays in distance from us, to make purchase. Everything
was as rapid as a snap. Quick monetary decisions to satisfy the cravings of the
selfish. With every swipe he made, laid momentarily intervals of repeating the
same gesture all over again – in exchange for an unwilling gratified remark. Years
have circled, still the same occurred.
The utterances of aching for something materialistic burden our
Juan’s and Juana’s abroad. Our instant gratification led them into investing
additional workloads during the ungodly hours of the night, sacrificing their
free times for more rakets, and
incorporating the mentality of bibilhin
para sa pamilya – though it is not actually needed.
“An iPhone XR for ulcer, a MacBook Pro for anemia,
a flat screen for health insurance”
We must contemplate all sides of a square before indulging the gusto-ko-nito to our OFWs. They did not
rest their feet into foreign lands to act as milking cows nor ATM machines. As
hypocritical in my case, I learned this by swallowing hard-to-swallow pills.
One request takes months of hard work to accomplish. Of course,
they would not tell how strenuous it was to get. Our selfish smiles on our faces
is enough for their compensation.
A toxic exchange.
The selfless keeps
doing so for the benefit and joy of the selfish.
And they would endure it until they could breathe no more.
In the most Filipino way of delineating, gagawin lahat para sa pamilya.
As one family enjoys the perimeter with one another inhabits an
OFW member watching them via Skype. The video chat windows both parties share
act like bridges in connecting the near to the distant. Graduation ceremonies,
recognition rights, birthday parties, family reunions, Christmases, and New
Years, all mentioned were celebrated made possible by a computer and a camera.
I realized that in regardless of how advanced technology is, there
is still no replacement to actual human touch. The actual hug and kiss of a
distant family member will never become equivalent to day-to-day FaceTime’s,
voice-chats via Viber, and sending stickers with Messenger.
The more time they spend working abroad = the lesser time we have
for family bonding including them. OFW’s are still family. We are connected BY
blood NOT BY distance.
Maaari bang ipagpalit
ang yaman para sa isang araw na makasama ulit ang taong hindi mo nakasama nang
matagal na panahon?
Discourses featured intellectual stirs had these students
already secured their spots upon culmination. Topics ranging from
equalized job opportunities for both sexes to the advanced propelling of
sciences to the modern world, some featured democratic journalism rights and
some to the fun, should we put pineapples on pizzas?
Each speaker offered diverse angles on certain topics, making the event both educating to watch and stiff to compete.
Am I still competing?
Not really.
At this moment, everything turned into gleaming dusts. It
was my turn.
I needed to be there not to compete.
But, to convey a message.
But, to convey a message.
Unforgettable.
&
Liberating.
After I bowed,
I knew
they heard my father’s story,
an OFW story.
Ang aking pinakamataas na pagsaludo ay iginagawad para sa ating mga
kababayan na nagtratrabaho sa ibang bansa upang makapagbigay ng magandang buhay
sa mga minamahal nila rito. Ang paglisan ay kahit kailan hindi madaling gawi
ngunit dahil sa hirap ng buhay, ang mga kababayan natin ay napipilitang iwan
ang nakagisnan at tumatalon sa hindi pamilyar. Sa bawat patak ng pawis, daloy
ng dugo, at kalam ng sikmura, ay isang umagang naghihintay. Umagang kahit
kailan ay hindi matutumbasan ng kahit anong karangyaan o salapi. Umagang sa
pag-uwi ng Juan ay makakasama ang mga pamilyang naghihikahos sa yakap at halik
ng lumisang kapamilya.
Kayo ay minamahal.
Kayo ay pinagdarasal.
Kayo ang bayani.
Ngunit, ating tanungin ang mga sarili. Hanggang kailan ba tayo lilisanin ng ating mga kapamilya para makapagbigay ng disenteng buhay para sa atin?
Ang reyalidad na ito ay patuloy na uusbong.
May magagawa ba tayo?
Herold
Health Allied Representative
Pecha Kucha Public
Speaking Competition 2019
