Filipino at It’s Best

What’s happening today the world’s worst economic and financial crisis in decade taking place.  A lot of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) facing the death penalty in China on drug charges. New Zealand is suffering from the toll brought by the most recent 6.3 earthquake.  There were around 14 Filipinos missing in  who are believed to have been buried alive in the rubble.  Thousands of Filipino workers remain trapped in Libya, where Libyan leader Moammar Ghadafi has vowed to fight the protesters and rebels until “the last drop of his blood,” escalating what started as a peaceful protest into a full-blown civil war. In Japan,  experiencing catastrophic event, more than half a million left homeless including OFWs and still in the evacuation center with unfavorable condition. Food, water and other personal necessities needed as the survivors clinging for their new life. That was now the biggest problem of OFWs and the Philippine government problem.

Spending sleepless nights thinking of ways on how to survive is torture and suicidal for some of us.  Well, having trouble buying enough food, paying for basic expenses, had trouble paying for electricity, water bills, medicines, paying for medical treatment and paying for their children’s tuition. 

As the poor grows in number with the continuing economic malaise due to natural disasters and red alerts more mouths needed to be fed and people like them just have to dig deeper into their inner resources, find their hidden talents and use them to earn extra money.  Never mind of some people belittle them, or make fun of them, or scorn them.  The critics can’t feed their children.  Just as they believe they are doing decent jobs and servicing their fellowmen even for a fee, they would rather be thick-skinned than having sores all over their skin due to poverty. The growing number of breadwinners in the country who are trying mightily to earn extra income to support their families.  They have been forced to engage in “unconventional” work trying to cushion their families from the tightening grip of poverty in the countryside and some urban areas. 

What’s more striking was the fact that those demanding more work were those who were already working 40 hours or more a week.  This could only mean that mean that many workers do not earn enough for their own needs and those of their families.  Nearly century ago, it was widely recognized that higher education equals a better job.  But now, the income difference between the average attorney and average welder is neglible. Filipino workers are trying to make ends meet these days, using whatever talents and skills they have.  They are a living testament of the enguinity, resourcefulness and survival instinct of our race.  Filipino indeed at its best.

Stop living life worrying.  Life is about more than just being wealthy.  Just a simple healthy and happy lifestyle.  In any way, most people would succeed in small things if they were not troubled by great ambitions. Remember, having abundance of money is not guarantee for a happy life nor it is a passport for eternity.