Quote:
Sa may asawa, kapatid, anak, kaibigan, at kamag-anak na OFW.
At lalo na sa mga gustong mangibang-bansa. ..
Nais ko rin ibahagi sa inyo, ang natanggap kong email na ito.
Maaaring makatulong ito upang lalong maintindihan ng bawa't isa ang tunay na ibig sabihin ng pagiging isang OFW. Tiyak na may mapupulot tayong aral dito.

Hindi mayaman ang OFW - We have this notion na 'pag OFW o nasa abroad ay mayaman na. Hindi totoo yun. A regular OFW might earn from P20K-P30K per month depende sa lokasyon. Yung mga taga-Saudi or US siguro ay mas malaki ang sweldo, but to say that they're rich is a fallacy (amen!).
Malaki ang pangangailangan kaya karamihan ay nag-a-abroad. Maraming bunganga ang kailangang pakainin kaya umaalis ang mga pipol sa Philippines. Madalas, 3/4 o kalahati ng sweldo ay napupunta sa tuition ng anak at gastusin ng pamilya.

Mahirap maging OFW - Kailangan magtipid hangga't kaya. Oo, masarap ang pagkain sa abroad pero madalas na paksiw o adobo at itlog lang tinitira para makaipon. Pagdating ng kinsenas o katapusan, ang unang tinitingnan eh ang conversion ng peso sa dollar o rial o euro. Mas okay na magtiis sa konti kaysa gutumin ang pamilya.

Kapag umuuwi, kailangan may baon kahit konti kasi maraming kamag-anak ang sumusundo sa airport o naghihintay sa probinsya. Alam mo naman 'pag Pinoy, yung tsismis na OFW ka eh surely attracts a lot of kin. Kapag hindi mo nabigyan ng pasalubong eh magtatampo na yun at sisiraan ka na.
Well, hindi naman lahat pero I'm sure sa mga OFW dito eh may mga pangyayaring ganun. Magtatrabaho ka sa bansang iba ang tingin sa mga Pinoy. Malamang marami ang naka-experience ng gulang o discrimination to their various workplaces. Sige lang, tiis lang, iniiyak na lang kasi kawawa naman pamilya 'pag umuwi.

Besides, wala ka naman talagang maasahang trabaho sa Philippines ngayon. Mahal ang bigas, ang gatas, ang sardinas, ang upa sa apartment. Tiis lang kahit maraming kupal sa trabaho, kahit may sakit at walang nag-aalaga, kahit hindi masarap ang tsibog, kahit pangit ang working conditions, kahit delikado, kahit mahirap. Kapag nakapadala ka na, okay na, tawag lang, "hello! kumusta na kayo?".

Hindi bato ang OFW - Tao rin ang OFW, hindi money o cash machine. Napapagod rin, nalulungkot (madalas), nagkakasakit, nag-iisip at nagugutom. Kailangan din ang suporta, kundi man physically, emotionally o spiritually man lang.
Tumatanda rin ang OFW - Sa mga nakausap at nakita ko, marami ang panot at kalbo na. Most of them have signs and symptoms of hypertension, coronary artery disease and arthritis. Yet, they continue to work thinking about the family they left behind.

Marami ang nasa abroad, 20-30 years na, pero wala pa ring ipon. Kahit anong pakahirap, sablay pa rin. Masakit pa kung olats rin ang sinusuportahang pamilya - ang anak adik o nabuntis; ang asawa may kinakasama na rin. Naalala ko tuloy ang sikat na kanta dati, "NAPAKASAKIT KUYA EDDIE!"

Bayani ang OFW - Totoo yun! Ngayon ko lang na na-realize na bayani ang OFW sa maraming bagay. Hindi bayani na tulad ni Nora Aunor o Flor Contemplacion. Bayani in the truest sense of the word. Hindi katulad ni Rizal o Bonifacio na kalayaan ang ipinaglaban. Mas higit pa dun, mas maraming giyera at gulo ang pinapasok ng OFW para lang mabuhay.
Mas maraming pulitika ang kailangang suungin para lang tumagal sa trabaho lalo na't kupal ang mga kasama sa trabaho. Mas mahaba ang pasensya kaysa sa mga ordinaryong kongresista o senador sa Philippines dahil sa takot na mawalan ng sweldo.

Matindi ang OFW - Matindi ang pinoy. Matindi pa sa daga, o cockroaches which survived the cataclysmic evolution.
Maraming sakripisyo pero walang makitang tangible solutions or consequences. Malas ng OFW, swerte ng pulitiko - Hindi umuupo ang OFW para magbigay ng autograph o interbyuhin ng media (unless nakidnap!). Madalas nasa sidelines lang ang OFW. Kapag umaalis, malungkot and on the verge of tears.
Kapag dumadating, swerte 'pag may sundo( madalas meron).
Kapag naubos na ang ipon, wala ng kamag-anak. Sana sikat ang OFW para may boses sa Kamara.

Ang swerte ng mga politiko nakaupo sila at ginagastusan ng pera ng Filipino. Hindi nga sila naiinitan o napapaso ng langis, o napagagalitan ng amo, o kumakain ng paksiw para makatipid, o nakatira sa compound with conditions less than favorable, o nakikisama sa ibang lahi para mabuhay. Ang swerte, sobrang swerte nila.

Matatag ang OFW - Matatag ang OFW, mas matatag pa sa sundalo o kung ano pang grupo na alam nyo. Magaling sa reverse psychology, negotiations at counter-attacks.

Tatagal ba ang OFW?
Tatagal pa kasi hindi pa natin alam kailan magbabago ang Philippines , kailan nga kaya?
o may tsansa pa ba?
Masarap isipin na kasama mo ang pamilya mo araw-araw.
Nakikita mo mga anak mong lumalaki at naaalagaan ng maayos. Masarap kumain ng sitaw, ng bagoong, lechon, inihaw na isda, taba ng talangka. Masarap manood ng pelikulang Pinoy, luma man o bago. Iba pa rin ang pakiramdam kung kilala mo ang kapitbahay mo. Iba pa rin sa Philippines , iba pa rin kapag Pinoy ang kasama mo except ('pag kupal at utak-talangka) , iba pa rin 'pagnagkukwento ka at naiintindihan ng iba ang sinasabi mo. Iba pa rin ang tunog ng "mahal kita!", "day, ginahigugma tika." "Mingaw na ko nimo ba, kalagot!", " Inday, diin ka na subong haw? ganahan guid ko simo ba".

Iba pa rin talaga.
Sige lang, tiis lang, saan ba't darating din ang pag-asa.
Kung OFW ka at binabasa mo ito, mabuhay ka dahil ikaw ang tunay na BAYANI ng lahing PILIPINO!!!source:http://www.pinoytambaygroup.com/index.php/topic,88061.0.html
Visit pinoyUAE Reborn at: http://pinoyuae2009.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

The Filipino Smile. Why do we smile? a simple question with so many answers. Me, I try to smile everyday, not only when I'm happy or when I am excited or when I have thought of something funny or something mischievous, I smile even when I am stressed and under pressure...call me crazy but I do...It is my way of telling my self "kaya mo iyan". Well enough of me, I would like to share a blog by western-asian they tried to answer to the question Why do Filipino smile, enjoy reading :)
Deciphering the Filipino Smile: Filipinos are big on smiles. They smile when they praise, they smile when they criticize; they smile when they are embarrassed and have caused some minor offense; they smile when they need something from you; they smile when they are happy; and for any reason. A waiter who spills soup on your shirt apologizes with an embarrassed smile; a jeepney driver cutting in front of your moving vehicle smiles in lieu of asking your leave- or is it in triumph at putting one over you? It doesn’t matter, the best response in Manila’s hopeless traffic tangle, in the broiling noonday heat, is to smile back

An awkward situation invites a smile because the air is charged with potential conflict and you are expected to smile in return to defuse the situation to clear the air. A smile is a convenient reply when a person does not want to say something unpleasant. Rather than get something critical in words you will get a silent smile. If you ask someone what he thinks about something you just did and he smiles but says nothing, he is not acting the imbecile, he is telling you silently and in the gentlest possible manner he does not think much of it. A smile is always a perfect euphemism.

A smile is the best way out of having to say something that could create controversy. Where the westerner would give a curt “no comment”, the Filipino confronting the media will not budge from his smile. Clearly, there is much to be read into a Filipino smile. With it, subtle mechanisms of social interaction are triggered. There is a smile for every situation; you simply have to learn the meaning by observing the cause and effect of smiles. For example, if you accidentally fall over in public, people will not be solicitously concerned for your safety. Instead they will probably smile, while waiting to see you stand up and recover yourself. Verbal concern would only turn public attention to your predicament and causes you loss of face. By deliberately overlooking your public embarrassment while showing sympathy with a smile, your discomfort is suppose to be relieved. One’s dignity, or in Filipino-English, ‘poise’, is always more important than physical calamity.

There are various kinds of smiles and half-smiles, accompanied by eye contact, to cover all occasions. There is no Filipino dictionary of smiles- it takes exposure to comprehend what they are all about.


photo: pinoyespesyal.blogspot.com

PWW [Gregoria]

On our 6th moth, we would like to present the 1st batch of PWW Admins. League.

Get to know the person behind the bayani name you often see at PWW Wall.

2nd batch will come very soon...

PWW Admins. League
Batch 1



Daniel Amorsolo
[Luna]

• Our hospitality and respect for the elders is what i like most on being a Filipino.

• My father.

• Being a PWW Admin. is a fun and cool experience for me.

• I appreciate the good things life has to offer and being with my family, friends and loved one.

• What I like most about us is that we are flexible when it comes to anything that comes our way. We don’t give up easily. We are fighters and we don’t surrender just like that. One more thing, we are family-oriented, for in everything we do, foremost in our minds is our love and care for our family, so much so that even up to our grandchildren, we normally opt to live together under one roof. Getting old is nothing to worry about because our family is always by our side.

• I admire my mom. Before she was remarried, she was the single most awesomeness parent ever. She's the only person I know who accepts people for just the way they are. She made people feel comfortable around her, like they didn't have to hide behind the different masks, we are forced to wear at times. It is hard to meet people like that these days.

• With so much improvement, I envision the future Philippines as an eco-friendly country that conserves energies, a major tourist attraction and a lot of new things. It will be a small country full of wonderful good stuffs, and most of all, the best place to call ‘Home’.

• Being one of the PWW Admins. can give you the opportunity to meet new people and maybe somehow help them in a different aspect. Also, one way to keep me busy at times.
  

• So many things to appreciate. Being born as a Filipino. My freedom. The beauty of this planet we live in. My family, Love ones and Friends. I appreciate all the beautiful things God created for us.
  

**********

Benita Pantillo

• I am proud to be a Filipino! A Filipino is a survivor and a fighter. In our lives we are tested in different ways but we always welcome those challenges as a way for us to be strong, to be a better person , full of life & hope ...dinadaan na lang natin sa kanta. Ika nga, "Mga pagsubok lamang yan.....".
  
• Our close family bond, our hospitality and our strong faith to God are what i like most of being a Filipino. ,

• God! because of His unconditional Love to all of us. Next to God , are my parents ( even though Tatay passed away 7 years ago, he is still very much alive in my heart & in my mind) they are the person next to God whom I admire most because of there unconditional love for all of us, their 12 children. Their strong faith, hope, determination and perseverance in dealing life difficulties, which help us & enable us to become a person of what we are now. To you Tatay & Nanay we are very proud of you!!!
  

• I do believed that God sees & hear our cry for our native land. Six years from now, I envision Philippines in a more optimistic/ positive way. Philippines will be a country to be proud of, not to be ashamed of. This would be a country , that everyone in this world would love to visit, stay & spend the rest of there lives, because our country will be a place full of love, respect & understanding. We are the largest Christian nation in Asia, the more reason that God will continue to prosper, bless & make this country a very safe place to everyone of us. No poverty, people are well educated, no corruptions, no more killings , only LOVE & MORE LOVE TO ONE ANOTHER...

• Being a PWW Admin. helps me in different ways. It helps me more in developing good rapport with different personalities / individual amd on different occasions. It teaches and enlighten me more on sharing different ideas especially with regards to our mother land. It help us develop friendship/ camaraderie/ sisterhood/brotherhood and even make us feel like we belong to one family.

• Everything I have in this world, whether it comes in small or big packages are a blessing and must be appreciated. Waking up every morning with a brand new day, brand new beginning, healthy smile, watching the beauty of this wonderful world around us, thinking that i have a family whom love & care for me so much & i reciprocated the same, thinking that a lot of people loves me & i do the same, with God' s assurance of His unconditional love is what i really appreciate in life.

**********

Jasmine Khan

• I adore the closeness of the culture. Family is pivotal in the lives of many Filipinos and it is something I have come to truly appreciate. Love and affection is also given wholeheartedly to friends, and at times even strangers, and it makes each person feel warm and welcomed. Oh, and the food! Hahaha. Can't forget Pinoy delicacies!

• I'd have to say my mum and dad. They have both endured so much in their lives, and to still be here today happy and smiling shows me that true strength during times of hardship pay off in the best ways. They made me who I am today, and I am extremely grateful for that.

• I would like to think that a generational change is coming - people want to see a better, united country and many are trying to make this happen. Patriotism can go a very long way, and I believe that with this new surge in pride, we can only go up from here.

• It's a lot of fun being involved with a group of like-minded people seeking to provide information (and the occasional bit of humor) to those interested in the Philippines. It's also really fascinating reading people's comments and it makes me happy to know that PinoyWorldWide's fans enjoy reading and viewing what we've all put together.

• I have to say I value the simpler things that make me happy. I've learned not to take anything or anyone for granted because it could all disappear before you realize it.

**********

Olivia Lalas

• What I like most being a Filipino is that we are cheerful and happy even with simple things.

• I admire most Angelina Jolie because she is a great actress. Other than that, what is most admirable about her is that she is such a helpful person, she donates to the needy and visits personally in their countries. And the very important thing, family matters to her. She takes good care of her family and she shows her children how to be like her, humble and helpful.

• Hopefully, there is an improvement in Philippines 6 years from now. As of now, we need to be more knowledgeable on selecting the right candidate. Whoever wins, we’ll just see. For now, we’ll just focus on what we do. I believe that each of us can do something for the Philippines for its improvement. It will still make a difference. We should look at what the successful countries are doing. I know that they are a good example. I believe Philippines have a lot to offer, from natural resources to its people. And with this, I still look forward for a better Philippines.

• I find being a PWW Admin. as a challenging role. I feel so mature in this kind of responsibility. I’m happy being a part of PWW and it is an achievement in my part. With this, I’m helping our country, uplifting our Filipino people even just in front of the computer, using the internet.

• I appreciate the beauty and wonder of the world. The world itself is life. I’m still amazed the how big the world is.

• What I like most on being a Filipino is that through ups and downs, we Filipinos never forget to cast a smile once in a while...
  

• I admire those who died for our freedom.

• 6 years from now... maybe our country is still striving... we can't expect it to boost within a short span of time.

• Being PWW Admin. makes me more proud of being a PINOY.

• I appreciate everything, because everything that comes our way has its lesson.

• I like most on being a Filipino is our hospitable trait that can only be found in FILIPINO PEOPLE.

• I admire my Family most because they are always there for me ;)

• "Modern Computerized Technologies Gadget In Our Civilization" that elevates in our nation ;)

• PWW Mod. is like a researcher taking and sharing his knowledge ;)