“Never let the things you want make you forget the things you already have.”
I’m in the last phase of visa processing. Had my picture taken, renewed my passport (for a whooping BND85 bucks) and fedexed my new passport to the embassy. In two weeks time or less, it will be returned to me and I’m good to go. Already my youngest sis is starting her list of ‘pabili’ and top of her list is a magic sing chip. You can take away the Pinay out of the Philippines, but you can’t take the Philippines out of the Pinay, lol. My friends here are in excited about the list of stuff that I will be selling on my impending garage sale. My car has a lot of buyers and one even went to our flat as early as last Thursday although they are very much aware that I plan to go back to Manila by middle of May. My stuffs are hot and they know it, lol.
Of course, in the middle of the raucous, I popped my close cyber friends and told them I have good news for me. Funny how they really know me well that Jojo gave three guesses: a) My papers got approved finally; b) I have a new bf; c) I got a big bonus. Told her how I wish they’re all true at the same time but I’m just happy that dream numero uno is positive. The latter will come, hopefully before next season, hehe. Jocy is already inviting me to do a ‘CSI’ - meaning tour Vegas, Miami and New York. Told her I’ll check my schedule. Dominika said she’ll definitely be in Canada by June and wants to know if we can meet. Superb. I still haven’t broken the news to my bridesmaid friends and those that I’ll be seeing in Manila. I have to arrange my 2 weeks in Manila first and be sure to meet HS friends, college friends, ex-officemate friends and ex-housemates. I want to meet them all and my list of inaanak. Also, it’s mandatory to meet my relatives but I’m actually looking forward to seeing some of them.
Now that everything is final and the waiting is over, one thought come running back to my mind. Not so long time ago, my ex-officemates and I were just chatting over lunch and the issue of brain drain in PH popped up. The pros and cons of migrating and how much better it is to be living in your own country amidst everything that’s happening (latest are Hello Garci, ZTE deal, Gucci Gang, to name a few). When asked why I am still in Manila despite the fact that my family has already migrated abroad, an officemate answered the question for me. I don’t want to be a second rate citizen daw. At that time, he didn’t know that I have my papers submitted already. Nakikisagot kasi. But that phrase made me think. Do immigrants feel like and treated like second rate citizens? I know for a fact that this is definitely not true as my family hasn’t felt that except for an encounter with a bitchy saleslady. But, that’s all. Patulan mo ba ang saleslady? Not that I’m demeaning the position but you know what I mean.
As a student, did I ever felt like a second rate citizen? Growing up and studying in 2 public elementary schools, I see teachers play favorites, school libraries that have a policy of no overnight borrowing of decade old books and school canteens that sell mostly candies and junk food. And I thought that was the norm. Until I met very few teachers who really want to educate and kind to the poor students who can’t afford to buy stuffs the school is selling instead of berating them and making them stand at the back of the room the whole day. That libraries can have the latest books, magazines and encyclopedia that you can actually touch and read without the librarian eyeing you like a hawk.
The entire lifetime that I was I a tax paying citizen working in Manila, did I always feel like a 1st rate citizen? Commuting through the hell that was coastal road, racing through the streets to chase after a bus and wrestling your way in and hanging on to dear life while the bus drives through a potholed road, I was always reminded how poor the Philippines is and how corrupt the system is. Our very own baranggay chairman, who for some miracle, has been elected again after his term, has only succeeded in having another wife and literally kicking the deaf wife out of the house. Our baranggay is still the same though, except for a new baranggay office and a waiting shed (a not very nice one at that) at the end of the street going his house.
With my previous employer, it is an ‘encouraged’ and practiced culture to stay way past after working hours. The boss will raise his eyebrow (although not known to be a queer) if you try to go home pronto and this incident will be the major if not the only thing that will be remembered come appraisal day. But this does not guarantee overtime pay. My job includes covering for overseas counterparts when their work ends – cannot call them unless it’s a really an emergency. However, we got calls in unholy hours and weekends included because we had to take charge of our own clients. It doesn’t work the other way around. I stayed there and tolerated it for a while. That was my norm. One brazen manager (rest in peace, just in case) often tells the newbies that they are dispensable so just be grateful for the job.
Does migrating mean becoming a second rate citizen in a first world country? I doubt it, although I doubt I will never encounter such, after all, each has its own demon to battle. But I’ll take my chances. I’m reading about my soon to be new country and state, and I like what I read so far. Very well organized and the OC in me rejoices.
Why not stay and help PH instead? Well, can I not help if I’m based abroad? Last time I checked, the Philippine economy is fueled by the money OFWs send while that fu#%$#ng POEA fees feed the fat assess of those in position. That may only amount to pennies and cents compared to ZTE kickback, but these breed of alligators will suck everything they can. I love Philippines and I love my friends there and will surely miss them, but I just can’t stay anymore. Now I’ll stop here before this reads like a break-up letter. As for break ups, nothing beats a Sarah Silverman – Matt Damon and Jimmy Kimmel – Ben Affleck gig. Cheers!
