Heading for change
By Rolo B. Cena
Arabian Diaries
According to the New Testament, it was winter when Jesus was delivered from the bosom of Virgin Mary. I used the word winter to mean “cold” which aptly describes the night when the couple was ushered to the manger in Bethlehem.
The greatest book of all times claimed that the three wise men came from the East. In geography, the East refers to the land where the Arabs are, and this includes of course, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Other Gulf Countries are also Kingdoms, before and after Christ.
Considered as one of the most sought-after tourist spots in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Judas Cave where Islams believed Judas hid after he betrayed and bartered the physical body of the human Christ for pieces of silvers is found in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Looking at Arab people, their apparels are closely similar to the ones the twelve apostles and other disciples, including Christ, were using.
Amazingly awesome! I mean the links are. Do we have the same wave length? Are you thinking what I am thinking? Can the Wise Men be the Kings of the neighboring Kingdoms of Saudi Arabia and its boarders?
I suspect!
Ladies and gentlemen, I am not rewriting history or the biblical narrations for that matter, for if I do, this will require a total change process from A to Z. This is just one of my wildest imaginations linking these things I have come to know and realize. After all, I love change!
Anyway, the Wise Men were believed to be members of the Zoroastrian sect. This is a group of religious and wise people in the East who worshipped the stars and made the stars as their guide. Hence, the Star of the East came about.
As it was foretold, the Three Wise Men shall confirm the greatness of The One through the Star from the East. But this is not just it; the three wise men did a drastic and significant change in the history of mankind.
We all knew that before they arrived at the destined place as pointed by the Star, they were met by Herod and the latter instructed them to see him right after they found the Messiah. But wise as they were, they thwarted the plan of Herod and took the other route back home.
This was the change: re-routing for safety, for the benefit of the Savior given up for the mankind.
Yes, just like the three Zoroastrian figures, we too can. We can always re-engineer ourselves for functional efficiency and effectiveness. We can always re-define our purposes in life in order to achieve the true meaning of “it” in our lives. We can always re-write unsound decisions except for those which have already been executed to achieve better results.
Change is just a click away. Heraclitus philosophized that “the only constant is change.” Which is why, change has been playing a greater role in our lives, and even in the life of the Messiah.
Change connotes defects. Defects connote reforms. Therefore, change is reform. We need to reform our old beliefs to attune to the present ones, especially if these are obviously not working and defective. We should stop singing the old song and sing the new one, especially when its melody no longer attracts, soothes, or comforts the majority.
We need to reform our values to conform to the commands of the Word, not of the World. The modern-day society has eroded our values that it significantly decayed our moral foundation. This then renders us incredible to lead for change.
The mass-supported actor-turned politician was dethroned from the highest elective post shortly after assuming the power due to his questionable credibility to lead; the petite lady in the Imperial Manila is now bombarded by streamers within or without the picket fences due to the same issue. Former Senate President and House Speaker were ejected from their respective “influential” seats due to their discreditable moral leadership.
Zig Ziglar advocated that “it is attitude not the aptitude that will determine your altitude.”
Truly, I believe in the lines quoted by one of the world’s contemporary social scientists and Management experts. He, along with other experts advocated and introduced Change Process especially in the work place that catapulted the shift of the old ways to a new paradigm.
The heights that we soar today depend solely on our attitude and not on what we know – the Aptitude. I maybe good in mathematics or natural sciences that can make me a scientist but without the required amount of right attitude, I can never be one.
Albert Einstein made several failures before he successfully completed his theories. Nicolaus Copernicus made several damages before finally perfected his invention that boldly changed the entire humanity. Manny Pacquaio made several downfalls before he finally regained his composure and continuously maintain his fame today.
Change is what we need. As significant as it is, the New Year has always obliged us to proclaim our New Year’s resolution. This simply connotes change.
Change has always been for the better. However, change can only take effect unless the concerned individual acknowledges defects by heart. This admission then would lead to an honest assessment that could generate honest and implementable alternative courses of action. After this process, execution ensues. This process assures genuine change.
It is already 2009: the old year has gone and the new one is dawning for all. While we may have endured the pains and savored sweetness of the old year, let us remember that the New Year would still be the same unless we firmly command ourselves to change.
For a freer and better world, let us all head for a change!
Published, Dumaguete Star Informer, 04 January 2009.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Welcome home, December!
By Rolo B. Cena
Arabian Diaries
Just about an hour before writing this article, I accompanied our Filipino company driver and aide in transporting one Sri-Lankan guy to the airport. He is leaving the Kingdom for his annual vacation to his tribal home in Colombo.
Five months ago, I was also heading for the departure area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport 1 for my sojourn to this Kingdom. I was leaving my family then in search of the “good luck” we OFWs used to call. Paul, the Sri-Lankan employee we ushered to Dammam International Airport was donning the other way – he is leaving the Kingdom to join his family.
Prior to this, I chanced a casual conversation with him and asked him what would be the first meaningful activity he would do upon reaching home. Exuding a very sniveling yet consoling smile he replied, “I will say a service as a thanksgiving for everything.” Paul is Christian-convert from Islam in Colombo.
About eighteen hours earlier, the same team escorted another colleague to the Bus Station for Bahrain International Airport. He is leaving for Manila for his annual vacation, too. After a casual chat that preceded a tearful exchange of “goodbyes” from Kababayans, Gerome tendered his firm yet temporal goodbye to all of us. After nine hours of taxing air stride, he would finally enfold in his arms his loved ones.
Early morning tomorrow, the same group will bring an Indian National to the Airport. Mubin, who has been in the company for about ten years, would soon join his own family again for his annual vacation in the native town of Mumbai in India. As per our earlier pre-departure interview with him, Mubin said “the mere thought of meeting loved ones whom you have left behind year after year is as refreshing as taking a bath every morning.”
All the three of them are heading for a very exciting vacation spree with their respective families. Whether one is a Christian (Paul), a Roman Catholic (Gerome), or a Buddhist (Mubin), the feeling of leaving the hardships in the Kingdom is as relieving as meeting respective families at their respective arrival areas.
Finally, I quickly grasped the meaning of leaving Saudi Arabia or the Mid-East for that matter- your work, either for vacation or final exit: relief.
Yes, relief! Relief from loneliness brought about by being separated from loved ones; from boredom being ushered in a place where almost everything is prohibited; from temporary insanity caused by severe frustration to do activities mature men do but just can’t do them; and from stress brought about the piling pressures in the workplace.
Yes, relief! The gratitude is immeasurable; no words can equate or super-impose the meaning. Nothing can compare, in fact.
To us Christians, the month of December, or the Season of Advent, is very meaningful and important. Which is why, booking for these three vacationing employees as early as three months ago was as hard as getting approvals for their entitlement. According to our Travel Agent, also a Filipino, it is in month of December where we experienced the heaviest of traffic in the e-ticketing system. There’s no doubt about it.
Which is why, one-hundred per cent of OFWs are dying to send home packages and monies on or before Christmas for the momentous affair. Which is why, most are dying to apply for Christmas vacation just so to be with the family.
Gerome sensitively confirmed that, apart from of course vacationing, his trip was meant to attend the baptism of his second angel. Paul revealed that his is supposed to be a thanksgiving for the good health of the whole family and a better income-source; while Mubin sweetly informed us that his eldest son is marrying another Buddhist.
December is just as ordinary as January in the Islam-dominated and controlled Kingdoms. But to us Christians, this is the most festive of all months, the month of celebrating life and the fullness of life.
Obviously, we cannot just fly home as fast as clicking the mouse; we need to push the buttons of requirements and processes. Conversely, Christmas would be far from reality. Christmas to us here in the Mid-East becomes a dream, a fantasy only those with magical carpets and wands can celebrate.
Christmas is absent to those who are left to experience another mile of longing in this land where the Magis were believed to have come to abort the plan of Herod to the Messiah.
But to Paul, Gerome, and Mubin, Christmas is being home. For Believers or not, December which encases the celebration of Christmas, has come; they have come home.
Welcome home, December!
Published, Dumaguete Star Informer, 28 December 2008.
By Rolo B. Cena
Arabian Diaries
Just about an hour before writing this article, I accompanied our Filipino company driver and aide in transporting one Sri-Lankan guy to the airport. He is leaving the Kingdom for his annual vacation to his tribal home in Colombo.
Five months ago, I was also heading for the departure area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport 1 for my sojourn to this Kingdom. I was leaving my family then in search of the “good luck” we OFWs used to call. Paul, the Sri-Lankan employee we ushered to Dammam International Airport was donning the other way – he is leaving the Kingdom to join his family.
Prior to this, I chanced a casual conversation with him and asked him what would be the first meaningful activity he would do upon reaching home. Exuding a very sniveling yet consoling smile he replied, “I will say a service as a thanksgiving for everything.” Paul is Christian-convert from Islam in Colombo.
About eighteen hours earlier, the same team escorted another colleague to the Bus Station for Bahrain International Airport. He is leaving for Manila for his annual vacation, too. After a casual chat that preceded a tearful exchange of “goodbyes” from Kababayans, Gerome tendered his firm yet temporal goodbye to all of us. After nine hours of taxing air stride, he would finally enfold in his arms his loved ones.
Early morning tomorrow, the same group will bring an Indian National to the Airport. Mubin, who has been in the company for about ten years, would soon join his own family again for his annual vacation in the native town of Mumbai in India. As per our earlier pre-departure interview with him, Mubin said “the mere thought of meeting loved ones whom you have left behind year after year is as refreshing as taking a bath every morning.”
All the three of them are heading for a very exciting vacation spree with their respective families. Whether one is a Christian (Paul), a Roman Catholic (Gerome), or a Buddhist (Mubin), the feeling of leaving the hardships in the Kingdom is as relieving as meeting respective families at their respective arrival areas.
Finally, I quickly grasped the meaning of leaving Saudi Arabia or the Mid-East for that matter- your work, either for vacation or final exit: relief.
Yes, relief! Relief from loneliness brought about by being separated from loved ones; from boredom being ushered in a place where almost everything is prohibited; from temporary insanity caused by severe frustration to do activities mature men do but just can’t do them; and from stress brought about the piling pressures in the workplace.
Yes, relief! The gratitude is immeasurable; no words can equate or super-impose the meaning. Nothing can compare, in fact.
To us Christians, the month of December, or the Season of Advent, is very meaningful and important. Which is why, booking for these three vacationing employees as early as three months ago was as hard as getting approvals for their entitlement. According to our Travel Agent, also a Filipino, it is in month of December where we experienced the heaviest of traffic in the e-ticketing system. There’s no doubt about it.
Which is why, one-hundred per cent of OFWs are dying to send home packages and monies on or before Christmas for the momentous affair. Which is why, most are dying to apply for Christmas vacation just so to be with the family.
Gerome sensitively confirmed that, apart from of course vacationing, his trip was meant to attend the baptism of his second angel. Paul revealed that his is supposed to be a thanksgiving for the good health of the whole family and a better income-source; while Mubin sweetly informed us that his eldest son is marrying another Buddhist.
December is just as ordinary as January in the Islam-dominated and controlled Kingdoms. But to us Christians, this is the most festive of all months, the month of celebrating life and the fullness of life.
Obviously, we cannot just fly home as fast as clicking the mouse; we need to push the buttons of requirements and processes. Conversely, Christmas would be far from reality. Christmas to us here in the Mid-East becomes a dream, a fantasy only those with magical carpets and wands can celebrate.
Christmas is absent to those who are left to experience another mile of longing in this land where the Magis were believed to have come to abort the plan of Herod to the Messiah.
But to Paul, Gerome, and Mubin, Christmas is being home. For Believers or not, December which encases the celebration of Christmas, has come; they have come home.
Welcome home, December!
Published, Dumaguete Star Informer, 28 December 2008.
Hunting for Christmas
By Rolo B. Cena
Arabian Diaries
Juxtaposed with the emotions experienced by most overseas workers, mine is by no means different form the rest. If they feel happy, I do; if they feel lonely, I do, too. No one is above this because emotion is being human and as usual as drinking a cup of tea every morning.
Unplanned and without employing the analysis I do most of the time in my work, I hurried down the street and started walking to the favorite bookstore just three blocks away from the company accommodation. I visited once again the stationer I would frequent and browsed almost all the books. Although the shelf was full of books by most of my favorite writers, none was there, and I thought, my indeterminate trip became useless and the undefined search empty.
The bookstore is just across the famous Corniche Boulevard where almost all of the richest men of the Kingdom live in the nearby Village, and of course, the famous Corniche Park where most, not to mention the Arab nationals, overseas workers including Filipinos thrive during weekends, holidays, and at night.
Usual to my routine since I discovered the area, I paced a brisk walk along the beautifully decorated kilometer pavement five times to eliminate excess fats and unwanted toxic wastes, and then rested for a moment.
I was facing the legendary and historic Arabian Sea with the full moon (I happened to appreciate its fullness only this time) beaming at my face when a familiar greeting from an equally familiar language chimed my ears.
“Merry Christmas, kabayan!”
The line pierced my heart for two reasons: Since I arrived here, I already lost track of time, holidays, and occasions; and I almost am missing the Season of Advent. Second, seeing the couple and their four kids reminds me of my family back home.
They introduced themselves; we conversed. We discussed work, reasons for leaving home, other common denominators and familial matters. The family invited me to join them in the coming Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Still, I was only hearing the lines but not truly listening and worse, not truthfully really reading between them.
I realized that soonest thereafter.
The sounds of the firecrackers and fireworks started to light up the moon-lit sky and these disturbed our casual yet evocative talk. It was an amazing and magical display of pyrotechnically created bliss that has taken me to a carpet-ride back home. I quipped: this is just the same as celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Eve in the Philippines sans family and traditional preparation of favorite foods and gift giving.
During this time, the Arabs are celebrating the end of the Eid Al-Adha (others have it Al-Udha). To us Christians, this is similar to the Christmas Season that ends in the New Year’s Eve. It is a week- long celebration and holiday with the first day as Christmas and the last day as New Year’s Eve. In contrast, Eid Al-Fitr that commences the Holy Month of Ramadan resembles Catholic’s celebration of the Holy Week which was in September to the first week of October.
Having regained my composure, I suddenly sensed a renewed feeling; it was then I knew I was hunting for Christmas. Seeing the fireworks displayed in variant of styles, forms, and colors awakened my senses and in fact, allowed me to associate meanings to them. I then graciously accepted the invitation.
Personally, Christmas is being with family. The delivery and reception of Jesus to the accord of Joseph and Mary justifies this. Which is why, the feast of the Holy Family falls in the month of December.
For the first time after four decades, the habit of celebrating Christmas with my family becomes impossible. Not even James Bond can control the happening of this or give superb resolve. But being separated by miles of beautifully crafted lands, deserts and seas from my humble abode simply defines the detachment of the physical presence; the moral foundation, the values, and the wisdom are always left unscathed.
While all of us overseas workers hunt for real-life Christmas, the celebration from both sides of the world will always continue with or without members of the family. Along with the spirit and the wisdom from The One, no matter how painful celebrating Christmas would be by ourselves, by myself, the Season of Advent will always witness the true accord between husbands and wives and family. Much more, this Season will always remain true to its meaning in the lives of the Filipino families regardless of status in life.
Over time, the temporary estrangement would bring about wisdom to all parties involved and would always fine-tune familial activities. Members of the family would always re-align relational conflicts and emotional differences to the same plane of thought to achieve the highest level of understanding, especially in looking at the scenario that the head of the family is separated for a moment.
Christmas is for all of us; no one is discriminated. And while we are bounded in all directions, the celebration would always be meaningful if love, trust, and wisdom are used as ingredients in cooking a fabulous menu called life.
Merry Christmas!
Published, Dumaguete Star Informer, 21 December 2008
By Rolo B. Cena
Arabian Diaries
Juxtaposed with the emotions experienced by most overseas workers, mine is by no means different form the rest. If they feel happy, I do; if they feel lonely, I do, too. No one is above this because emotion is being human and as usual as drinking a cup of tea every morning.
Unplanned and without employing the analysis I do most of the time in my work, I hurried down the street and started walking to the favorite bookstore just three blocks away from the company accommodation. I visited once again the stationer I would frequent and browsed almost all the books. Although the shelf was full of books by most of my favorite writers, none was there, and I thought, my indeterminate trip became useless and the undefined search empty.
The bookstore is just across the famous Corniche Boulevard where almost all of the richest men of the Kingdom live in the nearby Village, and of course, the famous Corniche Park where most, not to mention the Arab nationals, overseas workers including Filipinos thrive during weekends, holidays, and at night.
Usual to my routine since I discovered the area, I paced a brisk walk along the beautifully decorated kilometer pavement five times to eliminate excess fats and unwanted toxic wastes, and then rested for a moment.
I was facing the legendary and historic Arabian Sea with the full moon (I happened to appreciate its fullness only this time) beaming at my face when a familiar greeting from an equally familiar language chimed my ears.
“Merry Christmas, kabayan!”
The line pierced my heart for two reasons: Since I arrived here, I already lost track of time, holidays, and occasions; and I almost am missing the Season of Advent. Second, seeing the couple and their four kids reminds me of my family back home.
They introduced themselves; we conversed. We discussed work, reasons for leaving home, other common denominators and familial matters. The family invited me to join them in the coming Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Still, I was only hearing the lines but not truly listening and worse, not truthfully really reading between them.
I realized that soonest thereafter.
The sounds of the firecrackers and fireworks started to light up the moon-lit sky and these disturbed our casual yet evocative talk. It was an amazing and magical display of pyrotechnically created bliss that has taken me to a carpet-ride back home. I quipped: this is just the same as celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Eve in the Philippines sans family and traditional preparation of favorite foods and gift giving.
During this time, the Arabs are celebrating the end of the Eid Al-Adha (others have it Al-Udha). To us Christians, this is similar to the Christmas Season that ends in the New Year’s Eve. It is a week- long celebration and holiday with the first day as Christmas and the last day as New Year’s Eve. In contrast, Eid Al-Fitr that commences the Holy Month of Ramadan resembles Catholic’s celebration of the Holy Week which was in September to the first week of October.
Having regained my composure, I suddenly sensed a renewed feeling; it was then I knew I was hunting for Christmas. Seeing the fireworks displayed in variant of styles, forms, and colors awakened my senses and in fact, allowed me to associate meanings to them. I then graciously accepted the invitation.
Personally, Christmas is being with family. The delivery and reception of Jesus to the accord of Joseph and Mary justifies this. Which is why, the feast of the Holy Family falls in the month of December.
For the first time after four decades, the habit of celebrating Christmas with my family becomes impossible. Not even James Bond can control the happening of this or give superb resolve. But being separated by miles of beautifully crafted lands, deserts and seas from my humble abode simply defines the detachment of the physical presence; the moral foundation, the values, and the wisdom are always left unscathed.
While all of us overseas workers hunt for real-life Christmas, the celebration from both sides of the world will always continue with or without members of the family. Along with the spirit and the wisdom from The One, no matter how painful celebrating Christmas would be by ourselves, by myself, the Season of Advent will always witness the true accord between husbands and wives and family. Much more, this Season will always remain true to its meaning in the lives of the Filipino families regardless of status in life.
Over time, the temporary estrangement would bring about wisdom to all parties involved and would always fine-tune familial activities. Members of the family would always re-align relational conflicts and emotional differences to the same plane of thought to achieve the highest level of understanding, especially in looking at the scenario that the head of the family is separated for a moment.
Christmas is for all of us; no one is discriminated. And while we are bounded in all directions, the celebration would always be meaningful if love, trust, and wisdom are used as ingredients in cooking a fabulous menu called life.
Merry Christmas!
Published, Dumaguete Star Informer, 21 December 2008
Surviving the OFWs
By Rolo B. Cena
Arabian Diaries
Pragmatically, there is no dogma by which people, organization, or even the government can measure the distance they have traveled. For us OFWs, the only creed we know of is the contract we inked for a period and the remittances we send every month.
As we take each day at a time, this we know, we travel as much as we could according to the time and tide of the status quo. The travails we had trudged yesterday become irrelevant and illogical to dwell on.
The homecoming of the recently reported 1,000 Filipino contract workers form Taiwan alters the status of the modern-day Filipino heroes. Last month, hundreds of OFWs from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who went home because of business closures adds fuel to the fire. The reported several thousands of contract workers in the United Arab Emirates of which majority are Filipinos are as hurting as piercing a dagger into the heart of an innocent captive.
These are real life dramas of modern-day heroes who struggled to compose amidst disheartening situations overseas. Don’t blame them for leaving, tell it to the marines!
On the 8th of December 2008, it was reported in the Arab News, the leading broadsheet in the Kingdom, that the government of the petite lady president is allocating P250M for various assistance, programs, and projects for the displaced OFWs. At the spur of the moment, one can definitely praise her for such a gallant move. On the other hand, I could not think of any political reason for doing this – “unless she has plans otherwise.”
If I may opine, the action of the government of spending multi-million peso fund for the OFWs especially on training, livelihood programs is an after-thought. The government could have initiated this move long before.
Putting my two cents in, once again, I believe the undefined leader of the Imperial Manila failed to synthesize the main problem of this paper which is why, her consultants was never able to create the real statement of the problem.
In graduate studies, the moment the analyst fails to define the main problem, consequently, the statement of the problem becomes irrelevant. And what else can we say about the alternative courses of actions?
Irrelevant! Illogical!
The government could have bravely analyzed deeper the root causes of the exodus of Filipino workers abroad, then start from there. Prophylactic measures could have been imposed had accurate diagnosis of the situation been accorded. The government, for this instance, just gave us the topical medicine for a deep-rooted or terminal illness.
I have always believed that prevention is better than cure. GMA’s P250M OFW fund is actually an ointment for the external pain sensed by the OFWs. The greatest pain, which is internal, has never been addressed to. Stated differently, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
OFWs have been tagged as the modern-day heroes. These people are as heroic as Jose Rizal, Andres Bonficio, and Ninoy Aquino. If laying the wreaths on the grave of these figures are planned according to customs, policies, laws, and maybe traditions of the country, why then can surviving these Overseas Filipino Contract Workers be done timely?
This is absolutely not passing the buck; this is expressing what’s in the box so that these people who are supposed to be on top of the situation can think of out-of-the-box alternatives to better the situation.
While the puzzled Arroyo may have instituted a resolute move towards surviving the Overseas Filipino Workers, I still would like to impress that this does not put out the fire.
Long before, the country’s Talent Market has been drained due to the exodus of Filipinos to not just one “Red Sea” of the moment, but to more than a dozen promise lands in search for several dozens of the Biblical Moses for refuge.
But ladies and gentlemen, no other kings and queens from far and away can ever solve the problem of the Republic such as this.
Statistically today, our government commissioned twenty-four senators and more than two hundred congressmen. They were chosen by the people through popular election because, to safely state, they are the best out of the list. Initially, people believe that they can propel the economy to a better state.
But lo! This has never happened. Thanks to EDSA though but it never hit the mark. No one has ever produced brilliant moves to save the ailing economy. If I would have a choice, I would have opted Mr. Marcos to remain sans the corrupt lady. His brilliance is enough to outwit the brains of these mentally dehydrated men of the two chambers.
Had the OFWs been survived? The answer is a resounding no!
Our government has been very effective in saving faces, but was and is a failure in salving our dying economy.
Take it from the numbers!
Published, Dumaguete Strar Informer, 14 December 2008
By Rolo B. Cena
Arabian Diaries
Pragmatically, there is no dogma by which people, organization, or even the government can measure the distance they have traveled. For us OFWs, the only creed we know of is the contract we inked for a period and the remittances we send every month.
As we take each day at a time, this we know, we travel as much as we could according to the time and tide of the status quo. The travails we had trudged yesterday become irrelevant and illogical to dwell on.
The homecoming of the recently reported 1,000 Filipino contract workers form Taiwan alters the status of the modern-day Filipino heroes. Last month, hundreds of OFWs from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who went home because of business closures adds fuel to the fire. The reported several thousands of contract workers in the United Arab Emirates of which majority are Filipinos are as hurting as piercing a dagger into the heart of an innocent captive.
These are real life dramas of modern-day heroes who struggled to compose amidst disheartening situations overseas. Don’t blame them for leaving, tell it to the marines!
On the 8th of December 2008, it was reported in the Arab News, the leading broadsheet in the Kingdom, that the government of the petite lady president is allocating P250M for various assistance, programs, and projects for the displaced OFWs. At the spur of the moment, one can definitely praise her for such a gallant move. On the other hand, I could not think of any political reason for doing this – “unless she has plans otherwise.”
If I may opine, the action of the government of spending multi-million peso fund for the OFWs especially on training, livelihood programs is an after-thought. The government could have initiated this move long before.
Putting my two cents in, once again, I believe the undefined leader of the Imperial Manila failed to synthesize the main problem of this paper which is why, her consultants was never able to create the real statement of the problem.
In graduate studies, the moment the analyst fails to define the main problem, consequently, the statement of the problem becomes irrelevant. And what else can we say about the alternative courses of actions?
Irrelevant! Illogical!
The government could have bravely analyzed deeper the root causes of the exodus of Filipino workers abroad, then start from there. Prophylactic measures could have been imposed had accurate diagnosis of the situation been accorded. The government, for this instance, just gave us the topical medicine for a deep-rooted or terminal illness.
I have always believed that prevention is better than cure. GMA’s P250M OFW fund is actually an ointment for the external pain sensed by the OFWs. The greatest pain, which is internal, has never been addressed to. Stated differently, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
OFWs have been tagged as the modern-day heroes. These people are as heroic as Jose Rizal, Andres Bonficio, and Ninoy Aquino. If laying the wreaths on the grave of these figures are planned according to customs, policies, laws, and maybe traditions of the country, why then can surviving these Overseas Filipino Contract Workers be done timely?
This is absolutely not passing the buck; this is expressing what’s in the box so that these people who are supposed to be on top of the situation can think of out-of-the-box alternatives to better the situation.
While the puzzled Arroyo may have instituted a resolute move towards surviving the Overseas Filipino Workers, I still would like to impress that this does not put out the fire.
Long before, the country’s Talent Market has been drained due to the exodus of Filipinos to not just one “Red Sea” of the moment, but to more than a dozen promise lands in search for several dozens of the Biblical Moses for refuge.
But ladies and gentlemen, no other kings and queens from far and away can ever solve the problem of the Republic such as this.
Statistically today, our government commissioned twenty-four senators and more than two hundred congressmen. They were chosen by the people through popular election because, to safely state, they are the best out of the list. Initially, people believe that they can propel the economy to a better state.
But lo! This has never happened. Thanks to EDSA though but it never hit the mark. No one has ever produced brilliant moves to save the ailing economy. If I would have a choice, I would have opted Mr. Marcos to remain sans the corrupt lady. His brilliance is enough to outwit the brains of these mentally dehydrated men of the two chambers.
Had the OFWs been survived? The answer is a resounding no!
Our government has been very effective in saving faces, but was and is a failure in salving our dying economy.
Take it from the numbers!
Published, Dumaguete Strar Informer, 14 December 2008
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