'THE SIGN'

Magandang araw po mga Kapuso. I’m just one of your many readers dito sa site na ito. It’s almost my habit to visit this site and read letters from different kababayans abroad everyday. Simply because I can RELATE with some experiences, INSPIRED by successful stories and INFORMED to what is happening with other OFW’s around the world. I am working in Dubai for almost 5 months ( February 9, 2009 ) to be exact. I am just one of the Filipinos who took the risk na pumunta rito sa Dubai para makipagsapalaran through Visit Visa ( double V as the title of one letter here in Kwentong Kapuso ). I used to work as an auditor sa isang Rural Bank sa Pilipinas before I decided to go here. Marahil sasabihin ng iba na okey naman na yung trabaho ko sa Pinas. Yes, okey naman na and I feel well-compensated naman kasi medyo okey na rin yung sahod. Kung sa probinsya kasi mas mababa naman talaga ang cost of living dun. Pero may mga gusto akong makamit at ma-accomplish and it will take me so long kung sa ‘Pinas lang ako magtatrabaho. That’s exactly the reason why I decided to go abroad. I even asked the Lord for a sign if tama ba yung decision ko na mag-resign at i-push through ko yung balak ko. So as I was praying, I asked the Lord na bigyan Nya ako ng sign at ang hiningi ko e yung makita yung “Go" na word at feeling na talagang nile-let go ako ng Panginoon sa balak ko. Early in the morning, habang naghahanda ako papasok sa trabaho until natapos at nakabalik ako ng bahay hindi ko nakita yung sign na hiningi ko. Siyempre medyo may lungkot. Kinabukasan, when I woke up, nakita ko tatay ko wearing a shirt given by politicians as an ad strategy and there it was written “ violaGO Cares “( talagang sinabi ko yung kandidato dito…hehehe ) at biglang sumagi sa isip ko na parang ‘yon yung suot ng tatay ko nang sinundo nya ako kagabi from work. Hindi ko lang nakita kasi naka-jacket sya. Sabi ko, “Lord, is that a sign?" Then after a few minutes, somebody handed me an evelope na padala raw ng tita ko para sa nanay ko. I don’t know pero parang my bumubulong sa akin to open it and I did…to my surprise, it was 15 GO Bingo cards ( game show sa GMA 7 hosted by Arnel Ignacio noon ). Then sabi ko sa sarili ko ito na yun. Sounds strange, corny or whatever kasi ganun lang yung sign na hiningi ko and it may be experienced and seen everyday but I have the feelings na in one way or another binigay ito ni Lord because I prayed for it and claimed to have it. Summer nang dumating ako dito sa Dubai at talagang pagbaba ko pa lang ng eroplano, tumatagaktak na ang pawis ko. Pero kahit gaano kainit titiisin ko kasi decided talaga akong pumunta rito. Almost 1 month din akong naghintay bago makapasok. I had been to many interviews but unfortunately hindi ako natatanggap. I almost cried every night as I pray before I go to sleep. But I never questioned the Lord “why?" Instead, I keep on believing in the sign and on His word “I will never leave you, nor forsake you". After patiently waiting with pressure kasi malapit nang mag-expire ang visa ko, I got the job. Medyo maliit nga lang ang sahod compare to others, pero inisip ko na lang na ito yung work na ibinigay ni Lord para sa akin because ito ang nararapat. At habang tumatagal, nare-realized ko yung dahilan kung bakit maliit yung sahod. Sa sarili mo rin kasi alam mo kung tama lang yung sahod mo based on your workload. With a boss na naiintindihan ako at mabait sa akin, what would I ask for? I may not be as lucky as those high salaried employees but I believe someday darating din ako dun. I just have to take one step at a time. Being far from your family is very hard. Nandiyan yung feeling of homesickness palagi. Kahit gusto mong umuwi upang makita sila at makasama, but you can’t. The only thing you can do is to wait for your annual vacation or end of your contract. I miss my family so much…my friends and my “apong" ( grandmother), but I always bear in my mind na, nandito ako nagtatrabaho para sa kanila. My mother once became an OFW (domestic helper) in Hongkong since grade 1 ako hanggang makapagtapos ng college. My father naman once became a construction worker in Saudi Arabia and factory worker in Taiwan. I graduated because of their sacrifices. And now is the time that I must give back the fruit of their hardwork. I may not be with them physically today and in special occasions but in my heart I’m always with them. I want them to know that I will do everything for them, because I love them. I always ask the Lord to give them longer life and keep them safe everyday. Sa lahat ng mga kababayan kong nais mangibang bansa, pag-isipan ninyong mabuti. Hindi biro ang mag-abroad. It’s a hard decision to make. Ipag-pray niyo anuman ang balak niyo. At sa lahat ng nais makarating sa Dubai ng visit visa, isa lang masasabi ko…MAHIRAP. I don’t intend to discourage you pero dapat kung sisige kayo maging handa kayo emotionally, physically, spiritually and financially. Thank You and More Power to Kwentong Kapuso. I’m looking forward for many more stories to read. Yours, Niwrehs