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MAGAZINE

ONLINE Edition Volume 01 Issue 06

OFWs around the World Celebrate

Kalayaan 2012

June 2012June 2012

Cover Photo Credit: BALAY OFW

Anita’s Kitchen

Makata si Juan at si Maria

OFW ako dahil Mahal ko Pamilya ko.

* Caregiver sa Israel

* Ako si OFW Mayaman

* Homesick vs Dollar

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Ako si OFW MAYAMAN by Raquel Padilla (Canada)

ng dollars, yen, euro, dirhams, dinar at kung ano pang klaseng currency. Nakakapasyal sila sa iba’t ibang lugar ng bansang pinagtatrabahuan nila. Nakakapagsalita ng foreign languages at nakikipag-usap sa mga foreigners halos araw-araw. Nakakapagshopping gamit ang foreign currencies na hawak nila. Nakakakita ng disyerto o snow o nakakaranas ng tinatawag na four seasons climate. Pagkagaling abroad, may mga mamahaling gamit si OFW at nakakapagpasyal sila ng kanyang mga kaanak sa ibang lugar. Gumagastos sila ng malaki para dito.

Ang mga nabanggit sa itaas ay mayayaman at OFW lamang ang gumagawa o nakakaranas. Kaya kapag tinawag akong “mayaman” ng mga kakilala ko ay di ko na sila itinatama pa. Marahil, di lang naiisip ng ibang tao na ang OFW ay pumunta sa ibang bansa upang magtrabaho,

S t a f f B o x

OFW ako Magazine ONLINE Edition is published by

OFW ako61 Kamagong Road, Pilar Village, Las Pinas City, Philippines

+63 949 776 9282 * [email protected]

Editor-in-chief: Dennis de Guzman * Country Editor(s): Mae Cayir (Austria); Emmanuel C. Roldan (Philippines); Eden R. Manabat (Russia); Dev Guintab (Israel) * Contributors: USA Eddie AAA Calderón, Ph.D., Anita Schon; Canada Raquel Padilla; UAE Rein Eviota; * Layout & Design: Dennis de Guzman

Articles, opinions, letters to the editor should be sent to [email protected]

Pag sinabi mong OFW, nakakabit na ang salitang MAYAMAN. Kaya ngayon, gusto ko, tawagin mo akong OFW Mayaman. Mayaman ang apelyido ko at kapatid ko ang ilang milyong OFW sa buong mundo. Katulad ko, Mayaman din ang apelyido nila. Ilang beses na ako nakabasa ng mga sulatin at sinasabing “Hindi Mayaman ang OFW” ngunit hindi nagbago ang paniniwala ng ilan. Sabagay, tama sila.. Mayaman naman tayong OFW di ba?

Lahat ng OFW ay sumakay ng “eyrpleyn” upang makarating sa bansang kinaroroonan nila ngayon. Ang OFW, afford gumastos ng malaki makarating lamang sa ibang bansa. Nakakakain sila ng iba’t ibang “cuisine” ng bansang kinaroroonan nila at hindi lang laging Filipino food ang laman ng kanilang sikmura. Nakakahawak sila

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hindi para magliwaliw. Na sumakay sila ng eroplano bitbit ang pangarap na makaahon sa kahirapan ang pamilya. Na lahat ng ginagawa ng OFW ay pagtitiis. Na di katulad ng tunay na mayayaman, ang OFW ay uuwi lamang pagkatapos ng dalawang taong kontrata. Minsan pa, inaabot pa ng limang taon bago masilayan ang Pilipinas at mayakap ang mga mahal sa buhay. Na kaya lamang nakakabili ang ilan ng mamahaling gamit at gadgets dahil binibigyan ng “reward” ang sarili. Yung iba, di na nga nakakabili

dahil inuuna yung pamilya at mga pangangailangan. Ikaw kaya magkudkod ng inidoro tapos di mo mapapakinabangan ang pera mo, di ba nakakapagod? Kaya kahit papaano, bibili ka rin ng “regalo” para sa sarili mo. Pera mo naman yan at wala silang pakialam kahit bumili ka ng iphone4s. Ang masama nyan ay kung hindi mo pinaghirapan ang iyong ibinibili ng luho.

Kung nagbakasyon at namamasyal man ang ilang OFW kasama ang pamilya sa ibang lugar, yun ay dahil doon lamang nila napupunan ang mga panahong nawalay sila sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay. At kung isa kang kamag-anak o

kaibigan na di napagbigyan noong nanghihiram ka o nanghihingi ka, wag mo sabihin na “Mayaman na kasi yan, kaya di na mareach. Hindi naman ganyan yan dati. Nag-abroad lang, yumabang na”. Bago ka magsalita,

subukan mo muna mag-abroad at pag-uwi mo sa Pilipinas ay

ipamigay mo ang pera mo. Porke’t di pinagbigyan, mayabang na? Di ba pwedeng isipin mo rin na dugo at pawis ang pinuhunan para lang kumita ng dollar sa ibang bansa?

continued to next page ...

About The Author

Raquel Padilla is a native of Capiz. She was a high school math teacher and college instructor. She went abroad as a tutor in the Middle East when she was 22. She is now in British Columbia Canada in her 2nd year as a caregiver. She’s a contributor of The Filipino Post in Taiwan and her book entitled “Tiis, Sipag and Tiyaga” (OFW Stories) was released last April 28th of this year.

OFW ako Dahil Mahal Ko Pamilya Ko.A

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At kung pwede lang e, bago ka magsalita na “di ako mareach”, isipin mo muna kung noong nasa Pilipinas ako ay kilala mo ako at kaibigan mo ako. Baka isa ka rin sa nagsabing “Sus, di na aasenso yan. Hanggang dyan lang yan. Masyadong ambisyosa”.

Kapatid kong OFW lang din ang makakaunawa sa mga hinaing ko dahil sila lang din ang nakakaranas tulad ng pinagdadaanan ko. Nakakalungkot lamang na masyado na yata kaming inaabuso. Mula sa GOBYERNO na kung makasingil ay sobra sobra. OWWA, Phil Health at kung anu-ano pa na di naman napapakinabangan ng ilan sa amin. Hanggang sa ilang KAIBIGAN, KAPAMILYA o KAMAG-ANAK na hindi nauunawaan ang aming sitwasyon.

Gusto kong kumanta ng

“Bagong bayani na ang sandata ay luha

Bigyan naman ninyo kami kahit Kaunting awa”

Oo. Mayaman ako. Mayaman ako at ang mga kapwa ko OFW. Mayaman kami sa lakas ng loob dahil nakaya namin na mapalayo sa pamilya namin nang mahabang panahon. Mayaman kami sa kaalaman sa buhay abroad kaya nauunawaan namin ang bawat isa. Mayaman ako sa tyaga, sipag at pasensya. Mayaman kami sa karanasan bilang OFW.

Ako ay si OFW Mayaman!

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Ako si OFW MAYAMAN ... continued from page 3

A d v e r t i s e m e n t

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ang damit ng mga Bagong Bayani.

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Contact us today. Email: [email protected]. no.: +639497769282

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Enjoy life.Enjoy the beach.Enjoy the sun.Have lots of fun at Balay OFW

Vacation with my Family

PHILIPPINESis more fun in the

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Homesickness o ang pagka homsik ang pangunahing sakit ng mga expatriates o dayuhan sa ibang bayan lalo na ng mga kapwa ko Overseas Filipino Workers. Karamdamang mahirap lunasan at sa tuwina’y nararamdaman. Sadyang napakahirap paglabanan at tanging ang sarili mo lamang ang makakapagbigay ng karampatang lunas at kagalingan. Bunga ng nostalhiyang tinatawag,tayong mga nandarayuhan sa ibang bayan ang karaniwan nitong biktima. Katulad na lamang ngayon, kasalukuyang dis oras ng gabi subalit ang aking mga mata’y ayaw pang pumikit at magsara upang makatulog na at makapagpahinga. Bigla biglang umaatake at napakahirap iligaw ang sariling diwa at pag iisip sa labis na pagka homesick. Nais mong mapaluha na hindi mo mawari, mabigat ang kalooban, masikip sa dibdib at magulo ang pag iisip.Tanging nasa isipan ay kailan muling mayayakap at mahahagkan ang mahal mong pamilya na takip mata mong pansamantalang iniwanan. Ngunit ang tanong,pansamantala nga lang ba o pangmatagalan na? Nasasabik na akong muli silang

Homesick Vs. Dollar --- Mga Paraan Upang HOMESICK ay Mapaglabanan by Eden R. Manabat (Moscow, Russia)

makasama. Sa sobrang tapang kong mangibang bayan, sila’y aking iniwan. Kapakanan at magandang kinabukasan lamang ang tanging nasa isipan. Sa lumang kasabihang kung maikli ang kumot ay matutong mamaluktot, ito ngayon ay hindi na pinaiiral at kinokontra na lamang ng kasabihang mahirap mamatay ng dilat. Bakit magtitiis sa hirap kung mayroon naming paraan? At lalo ding mahirap yung sama sama kayong ina alipusta ng kahirapan at hindi maitawid ang pang araw araw na buhay at mga pangangailangan. Homesick versus dollar nga ba? Ito ang labanan. Kapag pagkahomsik ang pinairal, dolyar ay hindi mo makakamtan. Magiging malala lamang ang pakiramdam kung iisipin lagi ang kalungkutan ng ating paglisan at dito nag uumpisa ang pagkabalisa ng isang tao, mapa expatriates man o foreigner sa ibang bayan o kaming mga tinatawag na OFW’s. Ang depresyon o pagka depress ay homesickness naman ang pinagmulan. Kung mahina ang iyong pinagkukunan ng tapang, lakas ng kalooban at talas ng isipan,

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magiging kawawa ka lamang bilang isang dayuhan. Sapagkat kailangan ng bawat isa sa atin ang lumaban sa kalungkutan at depresyon na nararamdan. Ayon sa iba, dolyar din ang pananggalang. Kung walang kang kikitaing dolyar, paano na ang kahirapan. Ngunit paano nga ba ang homesick ay ito mapaglalabanan sa pamamagitan ng ibang kaparaanan?

Ang ilan sa mga payong ito ay base lamang sa aking karanasan at maari ding makatulong sa kapwa ko OFW’s sa ibat ibang panig ng mundo lalo na sa mga baguhan pa lamang.

1. Isipin ang dahilan ng paglisan. Bakit ka umalis para mangibang bayan o mag abroad ika nga? Ano ang iyong dahilan? Isipin mong mabuti kung ano ang iyong motibo sa pag alis mo lalong lalo na ang iyong mga plano para makamtan ang mga pangarap mo. Ano ang goal mo? Kumbaga, may tinatarget ka bang binuong plano para sa kapakanan ng pamilya mo? Kapag nasagot mo ang katanungan

na ito, lalakas ang kalooban mo at magkakaroon ka ng tapang na harapin ang landas na tinatahak mo.

2. Pakikipag komunikasyon sa Pamilya. Natatandaan ko nung kabataan ko na nasa Al- Khobar ang Papa ko,naninirahan kami noon sa Batangas sa bayan ng Lobo. Nasa ika- tatlong baitang pa lamang ako ng aking pag aaral.Taong isang libo siyam na daan at walumpo’t walo (1988 ). Mababalitaan lang naming ang kalagayan ng Papa kapag natanggap na naming ang sulat nya na halos isang buwan bago dumating at maiabot ng mensahero sa amin. Ang aking punto dito, mas maswerte tayo ngayon sa kapanahunang ito na nauso na ang makabagong teknolohiya sa komunikasyon. Isang txt messaging lamang mula sayo at sa kanila, nagkabalitaan na. Mura na lamang sa panahon ngayon ang mga laptop at personal computers. Mapaglalaanan mo sa iyong sweldo ang pagbili nito para sa sarili mo, at maging para sa pamilya mo. Para ka na ding namuhunan kumbaga

About The Author

Eden R. Manabat is a student of Professional Fashion Styling and Image Consultant Course. She is currently attending at Elite Pro Make Up Fashion School in Madrid & Barcelona. She loves sharing her experience by writing a topic on an article, a member of OFW AKO Community of Distributors in Russia and an experienced OFW working in Moscow.

OFW ako Dahil Mahal Ko Pamilya Ko.

OFW ako. Miss ko na Pamilya ko...T-shirts


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para sa ikaayos ng komunikasyon ng pamilya mo. Dahil nauso na ang mga Skype at kung anu anong Instant Messenger at Social Networking Sites, makakatulong ito sa iyo upang ikaw ay malibang at homesick ay maiwasan.

3. Makihalubilo sa karamihan at makipagkaibigan. Kung

nalulungkot ka at pakiramdam mo’y nag iisa, bakit hindi mo subukang makipagkaibigan sa iyong mga kasama, mga ka opisina, kabahay o maging kapitbahay. Ganun talaga ang buhay, hindi maaring nag iisa ka lamang,napakahirap ng ganung kalagayan,kaya’t lumikha ng paraan ng pakikipagkaibigan. Ngunit piliin mo rin naman ang kaibigan na iyong sasamahan at mapagkakatiwalaan.

4. Bigyan ng sapat na atensyon ang iyong sarili. Matuto kang magbigay ng sapat na atensyon para sa iyong sarili. Hindi naman masama kung paminsan minsan o isang beses man lamang sa isang buwan ay mailibre mo ang sarili mo ng isang bagong kasuotan, sapatos, bag o kahit anong

bagay na makakapagbigay sa iyo ng kasiyahan. Normal lang na

gumastos ka para sa sarili mo ng minsanan. Ikaw naman

ang nagta trabaho, kaya palibre ka naman sa sarili mo sa tuwing ikaw ay tatanggap ng sahod mo o sweldo.

5. Mag isip ka ng ibang mapaglilibangan.

Maraming bagay na maaring mapaglibangan depende sa

hilig mong gawin o depende na rin sa iyong kaalaman. Tulad ko, madalas na pagkahomsik ang

nararamdaman ko. Idinadaan

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ko na lamang ito kung minsan sa pamamagitan ng pagsusulat at pagba blog. Sa kasalukuyan, ako ay nag aaral din online at kumukuha ng dalawang magkaibang kurso. Nakakatulong ito sa akin upang maging abala ang aking sarili sa tuwing may bakante pang oras sa trabaho.

6. Huwag kaawaan ang iyong sarili. Sa aking karanasan bilang isang Ofw,kailanman ay hindi ko kinaawaan ang aking sarili kung bakit nasa ganito akong estado. Bukas ang aking pag iisip na isa ako sa maswerteng nabigyan ng oportunidad na makaalis at kumita ng dolyar sa ibang bayan bilang isang Pilipinong Manggagawang Dayuhan. Sa tuwing ako ay uuwi at kukuha ng aking OEC bilang balik manggagawa, saksi ako sa daan daang kumpulan ng tao sa POEA na naghahanap ng trabaho. Naka abang sa mga nakapaskil na Job Order, kung mayroon bang bakanteng naaayon sa kanilang kakayahan o kapasidad at kaalaman. Doon pa lamang mapapaisip na akong sadyang kay swerte ko naman.

Ilan lamang ito sa natatanging solusyon upang ang homesick ay mapaglaban, kung ano man ang iba pang paraan, ikaw na lamang ang tumuklas at gumawa ng paraan.

-end-



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OFW ako. Tao lang hindi banko!T-shirts

It seems the new promo tagline of the Department of Tourism “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” is doing fine. DOT officials announced about 1.5 million visitors came in the first quarter of this year and more would be coming from Australia, America, UK, Japan and Korea, among other nations. I think among the most visited places are the Palawan underground cave which won the prestigious Seven New Wonders of the World tilt and the little town of Bunawan, Agusan del Sur for their super crocodile “Lolong”. However, this projection may be clouded unless the raging territorial dispute between the Philippines and China will be solved amicably.

At least 10 contingents of Chinese tourists have allegedly cancelled their trip to the country within the first week of May and travel agencies have feared for the worse scenario. Meanwhile, the Davao-based Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (Pbgea) is complaining that its banana has been refused entry into mainland China. It becomes more evident the

dispute of the two countries over ownership of Scarborough Shoal is a serious national issue that needs international intervention. China made claim to the contested group of islets as part of their territory including the whole of the Philippine archipelago, if we are to believe the assertion of one Chinese media commentator.

But whatever happened in the national scene, life grinds as usual locally. Dr. Jean Lindo, a prominent environmentalist posted a message in my Facebook wall saying “It is fun to live in Davao.” Her declaration stems from the city’s announcement of implementing by June of this year City Ordinance 0361, Series of 2010, otherwise known as the Davao City Ecological Solid Waste Management Ordinance of 2009. City Councilor Melchor Quitain, one of the sponsors delivered a privilege speech during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod calling for the implementation of the said ordinance after almost

It’s more fun without plastic by Emmanuel Roldan (Philippines)

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three years of hibernation. The ordinance disallowed the use of non-biodegradable plastic materials and polysterene foam or commonly known as styro-foam as food and food item packaging in the city.

The City Environment and Natural Resources suggested that instead of using plastics bags and containers, Dabawenyos would make do with the old-fashioned “bayong” or “buyot”, banana leaves, abaca and paper bags, or the new “biodegradable plastic

bags and containers.” Old folks would agree that plastic bags were unheard of before. During my childhood days stores and market stalls used paper bags for our rice and “tahup” for our hogs. This move of the city council is in line with the government’s commitment to reduce carbon footprints and to avert the ill effects of climate change.

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It’s more fun in the PhilippinesAbout The Author

Emmanuel Roldan is a Filipino, development worker, human rights defender, researcher and journalist. He worked with various non-government organizations helping the poor, deprived and oppressed Filipinos in the homeland in the field of organizational development, projects management, advocacy and communications. He is a columnist of two daily newspapers in Mindanao and vice president of Pangdaigdigang Alyansa ng Pilipino, Inc. (PAPI)-an affiliate of the Worldwide Filipino Alliance (WFA).

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Hindi madali ang work ng isang caregiver o tagapag-alaga ng old person na bedriiden,ang pagpapalit ng diaper sa kalaliman ng gabi sa pagtulog at madaling araw na pilit imumulat ang mata sa routine na sisitema ng pag-aalaga ay nakakawindang naman talaga subalit iyan ay responsibilidad na nakaatang na hindi mapapasubalian,no way magreklamo,bawal sumimangot kung sunod-sunod na ang pagtawag ng alaga dahil sa hinihingi nitong comport sa kundisyon. Andiyang bago pa lang kukuhanin ang tulog sa gabi dahil late ng naihiga ang katawan ay magugulantang ng pagkalembang na pantawag o gadget na tunog ng music na konektado sa sariling kwarto.

Maswerte naman kung ang matandang alaga ay may isip pa at hindi pa ito nakadepende sa caregiver,kalimitang sakit kasi ng mga old dito kung hindi parkinson ay alzheimer,at kung hindi bedridden ay susubaysabayan sa kanilang pamamasyal sa loob ng

Buhay CAREGIVER sa Israel by Dev Guintab (Israel)

kabahayan at alalayan dahil baka madulas o mabagok ang ulo sa pagbagsak. Ubos-oras at saka lang makakapahinga o makakaligo kung tulog na ito sanhi ng pinainom na sleeping pills na sadyang ibinilin ng anak na ibigay upang makarelax si caregiver at makarecover sa hectic na schedule. Para kasing mga bata o higit pa sa isip-bata ang may sakit na alzheimer na bigla na lang magsisisigaw at magwawala sa hindi maintindihang pakiramdam kung ano ang gusto.

Hind nalalayo ang hirap at sakripisyo naming caregiver sa sitwasyon ng isang kasambahay,sapagkat sa amin ay lubusang pasensya,tiis at pang-unawa sa trabahong pinili. Iisang alaga nga lang ang aming pinagtutuunan ng pansin subalit ang katumbas nito ay 5 bata na umuubos ng oras at minuto bawat araw sa pag-aasikaso kapalit ng malaking sahod. Oo,tunay ngang may kalakihan ang sinasahod namin monthly at mga benepisyong natatanggap bawat taon,ito lamang din ang konswelo sa


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amin at kasiyahan kapalit ng hirap sa work at dahilan kung bakit maraming nais magpunta at magtrabaho sa bansang ito na maliit man ngunit tila kaylaki dahil hindi kayang lupigin ng mga karatig-kaaway na bansang nakalaban sa ilang digmaan nang ngdaan tulad ng lebanon,syria at ilang arab country ngunit nanatili pa rin itong nakatayo. Sa paniniwala ng maraming kristyanong kababayan,marahil sapagkat ito ang bansa kung saan isinilang si Hesus kung kaya maraming bansa din dito ang kaalyado kabilang ang US na pumoprotekta.

Masaya,masarap at malungkot ang buhay nating OFW....Masaya dahil ang mga pangarap sa buhay at layunin ay unti-unting natutupad at ang katuparan ng ginhawang naibibigay sa pamilya ay nagagampanan...Masarap na pakiramdam na kahit maghapong pagod at puyat ay alam nating lahat naman ng ipinagtitiis ay katumbas lang ng bawat dollar na sasahurin...Malungkot dahil sina amang at inang ay nagkakaedad ngunit wala sa kanilang tabi upang sila’y alagaan at sa halip ay ibang lahi at hindi kadugo ang nabibigyan ng atensyon at pag-aaruga. Nakapanlulumong isipin na ang mga natitirang panahon nila dito

sa mundo na makasama tayo ay tila naipagkait sa kanila...pero walang nagawa si OFW sapagkat kaysa tumunganga sa pinas at tumunghay sa pamilyang sama-samang nagdidildil ng asin sa kanin at pikit-matang tanggapin ang pagpanaw ng magulang na hindi nalunasan ang dumapong sakit na hindi naipagamot dahil sa kakapusan ng pera ay lubhang nakakalungkot.

Salamat na lang na dahil sa tiyaga,tapang at tatag ng loob ng mga OFW na hindi na umalis ng bansa dahil walang trabahong maibigay ang gobyerno kaya napilitang lumayo at hanapin ang kapalaran sa ibang bansa. Ang salitang bayani ng bansa na binitiwan ng pamahalaan sa atin ay pakonswelo de bobo lamang dahil sa pakinabang sa ating mga padalang pera sa pinas,hungkag na papuring walang saysay na hindi dapat asahan. Dahil sa tiyaga at pagtitiis ng mga OFW,ay nagampananang mapagtapos ang mga anak sa pag-aaral at naibangon ang buhay mula sa karukhaan. Sa puntong iyan ay tunay na bayani tayong matatawag sa sariling gawa at sa puso’t isipan ng ating itinataguyod na pamilya.

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About The Author

Dev Guintab is an OFW based in Israel working as caregiver. Before Israel she worked in Hongkong for 8 years.

OFW ako Dahil Mahal Ko Pamilya Ko.

BABALA: Tsismis, nakakasama sa kalusugan.T-shirts

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The VICCF, Vienna International Center Club Filipino, was established to bring together Filipino and Filipina International Civil Servants of various international organizations housed within the Vienna International Center, Vienna, Austria. These compatriots, from all regions of the Philippines, have successfully organized fund-raising activities for charities supporting children back home in the Philippines. And, when called upon to organize a collection for the victims of natural disasters of our home country, they don’t waste a second to get moving. They gather together, thinking as one, their network of communication electrified like synapses of brain activity. The root of all this is one common bond - hearts filled with families back home, who share the same or similar lives like the victims. Their efforts in these activities, always with a smile and commitment, as well as cultural activities they hold annually, are infused with their natural carriage of the Filipino heritage that draws respect and support from both the International and Austrian communities of all ranks.

OTHER Events to celebrate KALAYAAN 2012 in Vienna, Austria * An art exhibit at the Museum of Young Art (MOYA) in Vienna, Austria, featuring 3 contemporary Filipino visual artists: Rafael Cusi, Master Water-Colorist of the Philippines; Rene Robles, internationally-known visual artist; and Aris Bagtas, considered as a genius of his generation.

* The other exhibition is at the UN Rotunda from 25 to 29 June featuring Mr. Manuel Baldemor. Manuel Baldemor’s “IMPRESSIONS” is a revisit to his mural at the VIC Rotunda entitled “Pasasalamat” depicting the cultural and religious traditions of the Filipinos. The mural is one of the few international artworks in the entrance hall of the VIC and was unveiled by former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos in 1999.

continued to page 18 ...

VIC CLUB FILIPINO Celebrates “KALAYAAN” by Mae Cayir (Austria)

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VIC Club Filipino celebrates Kalayaan 2012 ... continued from page 18

For this year’s celebration of the 114th Philippine Independence Day, this is the invitation that has been circulated.

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PRORAMMEVIC CLUB FILIPINO CELEBRATES “KALAYAAN” on June 12, 2012

* Kuratsa - a lively courtship dance from the Visayan region imitating a couple attempting to attract each other’s attention in a playful manner.

* Pandanggo-Wasiwas - a popular dance medley originating from Mindoro where oil lamps are gracefully balanced on the head and the back of each hand of the dancers, then swayed in brightly colored scarves.

* “Piliin ang Pilipinas” - Choose Philippines - a dance number showcasing the different ethnic groups and a call to action for every Filipino to proudly share the beauty of the Philippines to the world.

* “Tara na, Biyahe Tayo” - a slide show featuring some undiscovered destinations in the Philippines, its flora and fauna, regional cuisine and a warm invitation to come visit the Philippines!

IV. Dance - Dance - Dance

I. Welcome message by VIC Club Filipino President, Mr. Wilson Tan-Ho

II. Message by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Philippines to the Republic of Austria, H.E. MS. LOURDES O. YPARRAGUIRRE*.

III. Cultural Program by VIC Club Filipino Folklorico chaired by Ana Maria Langer

* Opening song “Ako ay Pilipino”

* Film documentary on a “Canao Ritual” in La Trinidad, Benguet by Steve Flor and sponsored by Outlooke Pointe Foundation Philippines

* Bendian - a ceremonial dance performed by the Ibaloi and Kankana-ey tribal communities in Benguet. In the past, it was done to celebrate a war victory and successful headhunt. Now, Bendian is performed during special festivities by the community and still ends with the loudest “Ooowaay! Ooowaay. Ooooh! Ooooh!” or war cry!

* Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Philippines to the Republic of Austria with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Croatia, Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic.

Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)

(Source: http://www.philippine-embassy.at/the-ambassador/40-about-the-ambassador/46-the-ambassadors-cv.html)

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The VICCF, Vienna International Center Club Filipino. These compatriots, from all regions of the Philippines, have successfully organized fund-raising activities for charities supporting children back home in the Philippines.

Anne Marzan-Tenorio and Cerlon Bacal performing Salip

L-R Nica and Mary Ann Sevilla, Ana Maria Langer and Wilson Tan-Ho representing Mindanao

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Vickie Mader and Jiggs Ablog representing the Visayan region

B-T Ana Maria Langer, Thess Waitzbauer, Marizel Rojas, Mary Anne Sevilla, Miriam de la Cruz and Vickie Mader representing the Cordillera region

Wilson Tan Ho, Irene Semana and Elpie Morales

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Warsaw, Poland

Inaanyayahan ang Filipino Community sa Poland sa pagdiriwang ng ika-114 Anibersaryo ng Proklamasyon ng Kalayaan ng Pilipinas na may temang “Kalayaan: Pananagutan ng Bayan para sa Tuwid na Daan”. Gaganapin ang ating pagdiriwang sa Linggo, ika-17 ng Hunyo 2012. Sumusunod ang ating Programa:

Pagdiriwang kasama ang Filipino Community sa Poland Linggo, 17 Hunyo 2012 Pasuguan ng Pilipinas Ulica Lentza 11, Warsaw

Programa11:00 AM Misa 12:00 PM Tanghalian 14:00 PM Pelikulang “Himala” 16:00 PM Pagtatapos ng programa

Sa selebrasyong ito, malugod pong tatanggapin ang anumang putaheng babagay sa kanin at barbeque na ipapaunlak ng Embahada. Maari pong putaheng gulay o panghimagas ang inyong ipaunlak.

Madrid, Spain

This year we celebrate the 114th Philippine Independence Day Celebration here in Madrid.

Come on June 24, 2012 Sundayat 11:00am to 17:00 pmMetro Santiago Bernabeu-Calle Padre Damian 18Colegio San Agustin

There will be food, fair and entertainment,Artist from the Philippines

Thanks,

Neil dela Cruz Vice President ExternalKNP Madrid (Kapisanan ng Nagkakaisang Pinoy sa Madrid)

KALAYAAN 2012OFWs around the world celebrate

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Xiamen, China

Sa aming mga minamahal na kababayan sa mga lalawigan ng Fujian at Jiangxi:Malugod kayong inaanyayahan ng Konsulado Panlahat ng Pilipinas sa Xiamen na makibahagi sa pagdiriwang para sa ika-114 na Anibersaryo ng Araw ng Kalayaan ng Pilipinas na may temang, Kalayaan: Pananagutan ng Bayan para sa Tuwid na Daan.Gaganapin ito sa Konsulado Panlahat sa Linggo, ika-10 ng Hunyo 2012, at magsisimula sa ganap na 10:00 ng umaga.Sumusunod ang programa sa naturang araw:

10:00 a.m. Pambansang Awit at Pagtataas ng Watawat ng Pilipinas10:10 a.m. Pagbasa ng mga Mensahe para sa Kalayaan 201211:00 a.m. Banal na Misa12:00 nn Tanghalian1:00 p.m. Kasiyahan at Palaro

Upang kumpirmahin ang inyong pagdalo at para sa iba pang katanungan, makipag-ugnayan lamang sa mga sumusunod na taong nakatalaga sa inyong lugar:

Lungsod ng Xiamen G. ANGELO AUSTRIA Filipino Association in Xiamen Email: [email protected] CP: 13799846129Lungsod ng Quanzhou BB. EMMA PLATERO Filipino Association in Quanzhou, China Email: [email protected] CP: 15659098312Lungsod ng Fuzhou G. IRENEO ENDAYA Filipino Association in Fuzhou Email: [email protected] CP: 13306927325Lalawigan ng Jiangxi BB. ANALIZA LABUAC Jiangxi Agriculture University Email: [email protected] CP: 13767471930

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia An Invitation to the114TH Philippine Independence Day Celebration highlighting HIMIG NG KALAYAAN 2012Date: June 14 & 15, 2012 Venue: JEDDAH-SAUDI ARABIA (at the BEACH)Organiser: PESOS

KALAYAAN 2012

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Anita’s Kitchen is a metaphor of ideas intended in the beginning as a book of Filipino recipes in their true original forms. It evolved

into an adaptation of the Filipino cuisine in the author’s home State of Washington where ingredients usually are not available.

ALUGBATI SALADI can’t believe the Alugbati is foreign to the Batangueno’s. I was looking for Alugbati at the wet markets, at the malls grocery stores, we were not able to find any.

Fortunately there was a Visayan neighbor who let us have some of his Alugbati plant. Well, Alugbati Salad has been introduced to Batangas, at least at Damuklay and Cuenca, Batangas.

Blanch the Alugbati in boiling water for 30 seconds, transfer into a bowl of cold water preferably iced water for one minute. Drain

Mixed the chopped onions and tomatoes to the Alugbati, add the choice fillings and the citrus wedges.

Season with the mixture of bagoong and kalamansi juice for dressing. Decorate with boiled egg.

*if no alugbati, kamote tops can substitute.

From Anita’s Kitchen.

Ingredients:

A bundle of stalks of Alugbati good for 4 peoplel/2 cup suha or dalanghita wedgesChopped onionsChopped ripe tomatoesChopped cilantro (optional)Choice of Lego sardines, tinapa flakes, can of tuna, left over braised chickenThree tablespoons boneless bagoongl/4 cup kalamansi or lemon juiceOne boiled egg

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Balut, Penoy, Mani kayo dyan. by Anita Schon (USA)

Bio Suyat is from Eastern Samar. He is married and has 8 children, the youngest is two years old and the oldest is 32 years old. 5 of the children still live at home. One of the five children works as an Ice delivery person and the second one works in a fabric store. The two working children help provide for the family.Bio worked as a Security Guard before he became a “balut vendor.” As a security guard and because he was lacking in height, he was being assigned to far places, commute time and transportation fares were eating into what he was earning. He decided then it would be better to sell “balut.”In his cart are four kilos of boiled peanuts that he buys for P380.00 and when sold will net him P500.00. He buys 50 pieces of baluts for P10.00 each and sells them for P14.00 each.The “penoy”, there is no embryo and normally marked with pencil lines to distinguish them from the “baluts”. He buys 10 pieces only for P8.00 each and sells them for P12.00 each.He sells three times a week, works for 7 hours a day and makes a minimum of P400.00. His daily budget for foods, for 7 people is P150.00.Can any of us live on P150.00 a day? Tough life, but he is making an honest living. What does he do for the rest of the week? Why can’t he work at least 5 days a week?

March 5,2012. Today is Holy Thursday, the Philippines being a predominantly Catholic country observes this day by visiting several churches. The streets are packed with people, so many church goers to St. Francis the Assisi across Cityland Shaw Tower. The guard on duty asked me if I want to buy the rest of the” baluts” from Bio. I bought all 7 of them and also the boiled peanuts, I have company for lunch tomorrow, Friday and there is nothing to serve for snacks. I bought all of the remaining peanuts and ordered another P100.00. Bio was excited, he left his cart at the parking lot and went back to his home to get more peanuts. People will be passing by all night, going to church and there are people also walking to Antipolo.I am glad to be able to help. Yahoo!!! His cart is empty. He already made P100.00 profit and there are more peanuts from the original purchase of peanuts.-end-

Bio Suyat selling Balut, Penoy at Mani.

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Sampaguita is the National Flower of the Philippines. They are made into garlands and normally sold outside the churches. The people buy them to place in their altar as offerings. They are also used to deodorize the cars .I was on my way back to the condominium when I spotted the Sampaguita vendor across the street, in front of St. Francis de Assisi church in Mandaluyong.

Mary A. Enderes, 39 years old has been selling sampaguita garlands since she was in grade 2, so he must have been 8 years old then. She is a single parent, husband left her for another woman. They have 9 children, 8 boys and 1 girl. One child is already married at 22 and is no longer with her. They live in a squatter area, a ” barong barong” (make shift house normally just pieces of plywood or even cardboards or scrap woods) in Binangonan, Rizal, a city in the suburb

of Manila. She sells Sampaguita garlands only on Sundays and in front of the St. Francis church. The flowers are coming from San Pedro, Laguna, quite a ways from Binagonan. She buys P1000.00 worth of Sampaguita and sells 3 garlands for P8.00. When everything is sold, she makes P500.00. She shares rides with two other vendors and together they spend P70.00 for jeepney.She does housecleaning and do laundry for people once in a while during

Sampaguitaby Anita Schon (USA)

Mary A. Enderes, 39 years old with her sampaguita garlands

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Mary showing the Sampaguita inside a freezer bag to keep it fresh.

the weekdays. She tries to feed her family with P150.00, 10 people for P150.00, mostly rice and no viands and sometimes she just cook “lugao” (congee or boiled rice with a little piece of chicken.)Her sampaguita were wilting and they were just in plastic bags. I left and went in my unit and got a freezer bag I brought with me from the USA. Adding ice would keep the food cold or frozen, without ice, will keep the food hot. I added a hanger, put a tray of ice cubes and brought it to her across the street. There, she should be ok with her Sampaguita flowers. More power to our Sampaguita vendor, I know she can sell all those flowers to the church goers. She has been selling in that spot for the last 8 years.-end-

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Why the Spanish Language failed to become the Lingua Franca in the Philippines, unlike its Latin American Counterparts by Eddie AAA Calderón, Ph.D. (USA)

I distinctly remember my Spanish professor at the University of the Philippines (UP), who just received her doctorado en filosofia in Spanish at the Universidad Central de Madrid in 1956, telling her second semester freshman students that she was not too happy about our country not speaking and consequently adopting Spanish as our language like that of its Latin American counterparts. She repeated to us what we already knew that the Philippines was colonized by Spain starting in 1521 following the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan with the Spanish fleet until a successful revolution overthrew the Spanish rule in 1898. She again reminded us, and of course we knew all about it and though our country had been for more than 350 years a Spanish colony much longer than its Latin American

counterparts except Puerto Rico and Cuba, she could not believe how we never adopted the Spanish language like we did for English. Though she acknowledged that Spanish had been a required curriculum for the first two years of college for Bachelor of Arts, Pre-Law, Education, and Business Administration students, she was not still happy and was distinctly unequivocal in voicing her resentment. She appeared to make it her personal crusade to push the adoption of Spanish as the official if not the common spoken language of the Philippines. (Please note that the Philippine Congress enacted a law in 1958 requiring college students majoring in Arts and Science, Law, Education, and Business Students to

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have 4 years of Spanish. But this legal requirement was rescinded in 1987).

When our Spanish professor again aired her resentment regarding the non-adoption of the Spanish language, I finally mustered the courage of standing up to her and providing probable answers hoping that it would discourage if not end her resentment. I informed her that the Philippine culture was by sentiments embued with profound nationalism as well as regionalism --our country had too many spoken indigenous languages and dialects. Those factors prevented the language of Don Miguel de Cervantes from gaining permanent and lasting foothold in our country and into the people’s sentiments. If the Spanish has gained foothold in any part of our country, the language is and has been, what the linguists would call, a pidgin adaptation spoken in Zamboanga, a province in the South, and two towns in the province of Cavite in the north. This language which the linguists alluded to as akin to Creole, the language of Haiti born of the mixture of African and French languages, is called Chabacano/Chavacano. I will deal with this topic in the April, 2012 issue of Somos Primos.

At the present time, the Tagalog language is the lingua franca of the Philippines and it has since been the legal basis for the formation and adaptation of a Philippine national language. To many Filipinos, it is the de facto the national language of the Philippines. According to Ethnologue, a total of 171 native languages are spoken in the Philippines. Except for English, Spanish, Hokkien (Lan-nang), Cantonese, Mandarin, and Chavacano, all of the languages belong to the Malayo-Polynesian language family. There are at least 13 indigenous languages spoken by millions of Filipinos: they are Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilokano, Hiligaynon, Waray-Waray, Kapampangan, Bikol, Albay Bikol [1], Pangasinense, Maranao, Maguindanao, Kinaray-a, and Tausug. One or more of these are spoken by more than 90% of the population. The rest are classified as dialects. The full acceptance of Tagalog as the national language has created a resistance among those who do not speak that language, even though its dominance in the mass media all over the archipelago is very pronounced, many non-Tagalogs are fluent in the Tagalog languages, and more importantly the government officials and politicians including teachers from different indigenous groups


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when interviewed would speak Tagalog in addition to English.

But there are other reason aside from the presence of regionalistic and nationalistic pride that failed to make Spanish the language of the Philippines like that of its Latin American counterparts. The Spanish rule in Latin America, except for Cuba and Puerto Rico in the late 90’s, was very much shorter than its rule in the Philippines. Many of the Latin American countries declared their independence in the early part of the 1900 century and of course the achievement of independence was made possible by the US Monroe Doctrine which prevented Spain from from retaking the former colonies. The success of the Monroe Doctrine was due to the war in Western Europe in the early 1800’s in Europe, the Napoleonic Wars, which involved Spain, made it hard for the latter to come back to Latin America. According to the

famous Yale University historian Samuel Flagg Bemis, a Harvard Ph.D. graduate, Spain, after the end of the Napoleonic Wars, would have no problems retaking its Latin American colonies due to the fact the USA, a very young nation and very much pre-occupied with building a nation at that time, was not strong enough to enforce militarily the Monroe Doctrine. But Spain did not know that and/or it did not that take the situation into serious consideration

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and if it were and did, her being embroiled in and being pre-occupied with the European War prevented her aspiration of reclaiming her lost Latin American colonies. And even when the European war was over, Spain would not have been able to come back because the British would not let her undertake that adventure for political and military reasons. Spain rather concentrated on its remaining colonies and did not want a repeat performance of its short lived rule in Latin America.

In the case of Mexico which became independent from Spain, its land area was huge which included the former territories from the present day Western USA.. Mexico that time was larger than any of the Latin American countries that became independent. The war with the USA from 1846 to 1848 which ended in defeat for Mexico had shrunk the huge size of that country. Under the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe which ended the war in 1848, Mexico ceded California, Nevada, Utah, Northern Arizona, Texas, part of Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Oklahoma and Northern New Mexico. Later the USA purchased

additional territories from Mexico which comprised the present day southern Arizona and Southwestern New Mexico in December, 1853 for the amount of $10,000,000.00. The treaty was called Gadsden purchase in honour of James Gardsden, the American Ambassador to Mexico. The huge tract of land ceded and sold to the USA is more than the size of present day Mexico. Many of the former Mexican inhabitants of the territories now part of the USA have since preserved their Spanish language affinity and heritage. This strong affinity with the Spanish language which made the inhabitants speak that language to these days have not been shared by the peoples of the Philippines and the Pacific territories once colonised by Spain. The US also gained Florida from Spain in 1819 with a purchase price of $5,000.000.00 under the terms of the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819.

The Latin American experience had certainly given Spain a lesson not to lose any more colonies. Spanish then excluded purposely the implementation and teaching of the

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The Author, Eddie AAA Calderón, Ph.D. with his lovely wife

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Spanish language in public schools in the Philippines. The implementation of the Spanish language in Latin America from the start of colonization was a big factor in the ability of the natives as well as those Spaniards and Western people living in those countries who acted as leaders to champion the cause of independence for their respective countries. One very good example was that of Bernardo O’Higgins, a Chilean of Irish parents and the national hero of Chile, who led the Chilean people to a successful revolution against Spain. (When I was in Chile in 1968 my Chilean mother as well as my Chilean brother pointed this fact to me with great pride. My Chilean family’s parents were from Spain.)

It is also noticeable that the revolutionary figures that overthrew the Spanish rule in Latin America were predominantly Spanish (one notable exception was that of Bernardo O’Higgins, who was not a Spaniard) and mestizos (children of Spanish and native parents) who spoke Spanish. In the case of the Philippines there were not much Spaniards in our country and developing nationalistic affinity consequently failed to gain foothold. There was also no effective leadership comparable to

their counterparts in Latin America. When the successful independence movement came about in the Philippines during the latter part of the 19th century, practically our leaders were indigenous Filipinos. If such leadership were present in the same era when Latin America revolted against Spain, then the Philippines would have joined its Latin American brethren in obtaining early independence. In the case of Cuba and Puerto Rico which did not effectively join the rest for independence, the majority of the people in the two islands especially those in leadership status were Spanish descent with natives and African slaves working for them. The leadership, however, in that country was not effectively aimed at independence against Spain. (Cuba move for independence under the leadership of José Marti like that of the Philippines came in the latter part of the 19th century.) Their small size compared to their counterparts may have been also a contributing factor for Spain to be able to contain their serious drive for independence. Learning from this catastrophic Latin American experience, Spain right away learnt a hard lesson and began to tighten its policy so there would be no more repeat performance for



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its remaining colonies. The Spaniards adhered to the concept of “divide and rule” and therefore exploited the nationalistic and regionalist sentiments of the Filipinos to keep them away from aiming effectively at independence starting from the early part of the colonial administration. While the majority if not all of the Cubans and Puerto Ricans spoke Spanish during the colonial rule, the vast majority of the Filipinos spoke their many indigenous languages and dialects. The Spaniards capitalized on this situation knowing fully well that the country was an agrarian society and saw to it that the Filipinos, except the rich during the early part of the 18th century, would never speak or become proficient in Spanish. This is the big difference why Cuba and Puerto Rico, except for the fact that the three countries were agrarian society, have remained Spanish speaking. In the case of Puerto Rico, though it has been part of the USA since 1898, the people there has maintained its nationalistic pride in keeping Spanish as their official language. Spanish has been spoken at home and this is the important factor why Puerto Rico is still officially Spanish speaking despite its being part of the USA. In the Philippines, there have been many spoken as well

as written indigenous languages .

Dr. José P. Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, mentioned the non-implementation of Spanish as the language of public schools in his many Philippine writings during the Spanish rule. He said that the Latin language as well as the local languages and dialects were used in public schools instead of Spanish. But the Spanish language as a medium of instruction was used in private schools owned by Spaniards, usually the catholic religious organizations and institutions, where not too many Filipinos could afford such an education. So this situation had created an ilustrado class or”elite group” which had in one way or the other separated the Filipinos into two different social and economic strata of the society. But even with the use of Spanish in private educational institution, many Filipino ilustrados pointed out, and Dr. Rizal brought this issue in particular in one chapter En La Clase de Fisica of his novel entitled Noli Me Tangere, that the education in college, including private colleges run by the Spanish friars and the catholic church was so deficient that many of our people who could afford college had to go to Spain and Europe to get better education. Dr. José P. Rizal, an indigenous Filipino and Asian from a well to do family,


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was one of them. He obtained his M.D. degree or Licienciado en Medicina as well his Doctorado en Filosofia y Letras from the Universidad Central de Madrid in particular, in Austria (and prominently, his being an ophthalmologist), and other European countries. Dr. Rizal’s nationalism as exemplified by his writings had caused him to die as a martyr when the Spanish administration in the Philippines had him executed by firing squad in 1896. His death also had galvanized the Philippine revolution movement which overthrew the Spanish rule in 1898. Of course this short independence did not last long because the Americans took over the Philippines by force following the Treaty of Paris in 1898 signed between Spain and the US and the latter granted the former $20,000,000.00 compensation for acquiring the remaining Spanish colonies. Spain also relinquished Cuba following the signing of the Treaty of Paris and again Puerto Rico has since been part of the USA.

Hence the failure to Spanish to gain a foothold in its being the lingua franca of the Philippines was due not only to the nationalistic and regionalistic fervor exhibited by the Filipinos but Spain’s policy not to adopt Spanish as the language of instruction in public schools because of the experience in losing its Latin American possessions, in addition to the limited presence of Spaniards. Also the American colonization of the Philippines finally sealed off the fate in making the Spanish the language of the Philippines. Please note also that the ilustrados in the Philippines assisted in paving the way for the Philippines to become independent from Spain.

As I indicated in my earlier article, the Filipinos educated in private schools in which Spanish was the language of instruction who were members of the legislative assembly during the American colonization of the Philippines used Spanish in their deliberation. But as years went by and the language of schools both public and private as well as the mass media have since been English and the

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Philippines consequently adopting English as its official language, the Spanish language has virtually seen its official exit from our country’s political scene. There are a handful of Filipinos who are still fighting for the return of Spanish, but it looks like a losing proposition. One very vocal proponent of having Spanish be enacted into the Philippine law as an official language during the constitutional convention in 1970 was systematically booed down by the delegates when he introduced that motion there. The handful pro-Spanish language Filipinos were just left to content themselves with the prevailing compulsory teaching of Spanish in the first two years of college education in the limited fields of study and then expanded the program to four years. They became dismayed, however, when the four year program was rescinded in 1987 by President Corazon Aquino, the mother Benigno Aquino, the current president of the Republic of the Philippines who was elected president in 2011. Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the predecessor of President Benigno Aquino, tried to revive the teaching of the Spanish language when she

told the Spanish government during her visit to that country in late December, 2007 that the Spanish language would once more be obligatory in the Philippine school curriculum. But President Arroyo is no longer the president of the Republic



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of the Philippines and therefore was not able follow up with this idea. And even if she did during the remaining terms of her office, no one would know if her idea would be shared by the majority of the members of the Philippine Congress. Remember that the revival of the Spanish language was unpopular during the Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1970. The return of Spanish in the Philippine educational program is now left to one of its leading advocates and that is the Instituto Cervantes, a private organization in Manila.

The case of having English as the official language of the Philippines is not the same as that of the adoption of Spanish as both the official and national language of Latin America. Even with the American experience and making English as the language of communication in schools and in the mass media, Filipino nationalism including regionalistic values and orientation have safely prevented English, though being legally mandated as the official language, in becoming the language of day to day communication in the Philippines.

Yours truly, the writer, is an example. Though the writer is a polyglot, speaking at least 5 languages, he is proud to tell the world that he still speaks, reads, thinks, and writse fluently the language of his birth --the Tagalog language, the language of Gat Francisco Balagtas, the famous Philippine literary figure and a hero-- especially in its purest or indigenous form. The Tagalog language may have incorporated many foreign words, especially English and Spanish, but the author always strives to write, think, and speak of his language in its purest and indigenous form.

And going back to the Spanish language, if Spanish is still spoken by a handful of Filipinos such as yours truly, it is because we want to be multilingual or polyglots or for others they are there to continue speaking the language of their parents. We still have a few Spanish speakers in the Philippines and they are mostly for the most part teachers of Spanish in High Schools and instructors/professors in colleges and the universities. Also to be multilingual or a polyglot is a symbol of status to any person in the world.

-end-

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Balay OFW is in Baranggay Masaguitsit, Lobo, Batangas that is primarily a fishing village. Before, when a Loboan goes out to sea to fish, his family would be assured that there would food on his table for his family when he comes back and there would be more to sell in the market for their other needs. Gone are those days. There are now more days when a fisherman would go home without any catch. Sometimes he would go home with only enough for the day meals.

Because of environmental concerns, backyard animal raising is no longer allowed. Now, the only possible employment is with the government --- in the publich school system, the hospital, municipal government and the 2 utilities company, electric and water. There is a small business sector that are mainly in the contruction industry and fueled by OFWs building nicer homes. Lobo is the ATIS capital of the Philippines but atis can hardly be found. Many forest farms are no longer as productive as before. The community lost a lot of income sources. These lost income sources must be replaced by other sources of income. TOURISM is one of the possible alternative income sources

for the community. Tourism in Lobo is still in its infancy but this year, there is a maked increase in visitors. It is starting to get noticed.

An open INVITATION.

You are all invited to visit Lobo, Batangas and enjoy the its beautiful beaches. Come with your family and we at Balay OFW would lavish you with the hospitality Loboans extends to all our guests. Know that while you are having a good time with your family, you are also helping a community get back on its feet again.

A slice of life at Balay OFW.

I have a lot on my mind the past few days the least of which is the ongoing construction here at Balay OFW. Last night i found myself lying on my back with most of the lights inside Balay OFW compound turned off. I was looking a the stars and i was in awe. I don’t see that many stars in Manila. It is ironic that i had to turn off the lights around me to be able to see clearly the beauty of the countless stars twinkling that night. I don’t know what time but at some point i fell asleep. I woke up this morning feeling rested and full of hope that everything will be alright.

-end-

Balay OFW by Dennis de Guzman (Philippines)

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Ikot ng Buhay

Sa ating paglalakbaydi natin tanaw ang gabayna di alam kung ito’y kasabaysa inasam na masaganang buhay

sapagkat di tiyak ang tinatahakkahit nakayapak sa daang di mahagilappilit parin sumusulongmadapa ma’y pilit bumabangon

upang masilayan langang liwanag ng kahaponna nagsisilbing kulay at gabaysa pagsibol ng bukang liwayway

bakit ba tayo nasadlak sa dusakung pwede naman sumayaat di na masaktan pa,siguro ito’y nakasaad naat sa iyo’y nakatadhana

subalit ako’y babangonsa putikan ako’y aahonat pipiliting mapagandaang buhay kong nakakadenaat di na muling malugmok pasa pait at pagdurusa

at iwaksi ang kadilimang nakakubliupang liwanag na nakaabang,ay akin ng makamtanat maging kaaya-ayang nilalang.

-Rein EviotaDubai U.A.E/Surigao City Philippines

Photo Credit: BALAY OFW

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About the Poet[s]

Rein Eviota is a graduate of Bachelor of Science & Industrial Technology major in mechanical technology at SSCT Surigao State College of Technology. He is currently an OFW working in UAE as a Procurement Officer.

Malayong PagsintaHindi ko mawari namapunta sa lugar na ganitomalayo sa piling mo’ykalungkutang totoo

pero batid ko langang tiwala at unawa mosapagkat lahat ng ito’ypara lang sayo

minsan ako’y balisaat di makatulog sa t’winakasi isip ko’t diwasayo lang napunta

at ang araw na nagdaanmga mata’y sa calendaryo’ynakatitig lang

sabik man ako sa yakap mo’t alagaat minsa’y lumuluha ng di sinasadyasana lang sinta,ika’y maghihintay sa tuwinapara sa muling pagdatingng mahal mong sinisinta

nang maibsan namanang pangungulilang dati paat aking ipadama ang pagsintang di maikumparang mapatunayang kong mahal kita.

-Rein EviotaDubai U.A.E/Surigao City Philippines

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Makata si Juan at si MariaA d v e r t i s e m e n t

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Makata si Juan at si MariaAbout the Poet[s]

Eden R. Manabat is a student of Professional Fashion Styling and Image Consultant Course. She is currently attending at Elite Pro Make Up Fashion School in Madrid & Barcelona. She loves sharing her experience by writing a topic on an article, a member of OFW AKO Community of Distributors in Russia and an experienced OFW working in Moscow.

Kapwa ko, Mahalin moGahaman ka sa karangyaan,Walang tumatagal na kaibigan,Makasarili ka at swapang,Kapwa mo ay iyong nililinlang

Kung tunay kang kaibiganBakit ugali mo’y ganyanAsal mo ay busalsal,Masahol ka pa sa barubal

Kapwa ko mahal ko,Ikintal mo sa isip moDito sa ibang bayan,Dapat ay magmahalan

Iwasan ang kayabangan,Kapwa mo’y wag sisiraanSariling bakod mo ang linisinHuwag sa iba ang galawin

Humarap ka sa salaminDungis mo ang pahirin,Wag dungis ng iba,Pilit mong pinapansin

Maging aral nawa,Itong aking tulaSa kapwa ko Filipino,Mahalin mo ang kapwa mo

Bato bato sa langit,Ang tamaan huwag magagalitIto lamang ay paalalaIwasan ang magkasala

-Eden R. Manabat

Photo Credit: BALAY OFW

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OFW Ako Magazine ONLINE Edition Issue 06