Thursday, April 24, 2008

A Tale Of Two Dreamers

A TALE OF TWO DREAMERS


Two friends. One dream. Two destiny. This is the story of my friends Donnie and Frankie.While they're not the best of friends, they considered me one of their best if not the best. They'd been together in the same work place nine years before I joined them as a result of my moving up. Donnie joined our company a year earlier before I did. We haven't been together nor seen each other before. He was posted at the country's premier Airport, the former Manila International while I was posted in our outlying office, a third class domestic airport. Frankie joined the company last, fifteen years after I was hired.As a result of the company's downsizing, I was moved up from my posting in the province after our senior supervisors in the city prematurely retired becoming my eventual friends superior. In 1983, Donnie was able to get a tourist visa to visit the U.S. mainland together with his wife. After less than two months of vacation in the U..S. , Donnie returned and was back to work leaving his wife in the care of their relatives. True enough, she left the mainland before her valid six month stay expires. Yes, she returned after giving birth to their youngest son. Donnie's wife has been coming back to the mainland yearly, staying there a little less than six months. During her stay, she did different kind of jobs as beautician “manicure, pedicure, hair culture and on some occasion cooks food for Filipino immigrants and visitors during weekends and was paid substantially. The U.S.- born son was left in the care of his uncles, aunts and grandmother when his mother is in the Philippines when he was already attending classes there. Donnie make it his habit to be with his son once a year in the U.S. and during school break, his son came here. The son completed his primary and secondary education in the U.S. Donnie and his wife says education is free until high school so it's more expensive if they are to send their son home to study here. Ten years ago, Donnie made a difficult decision. Our company was in turmoil after the crippling strike staged by our union. Then unknowns to us, while Donnie was at the picket line, he has a plane ticket in his back-pack, ready to take the last plane out in the event the airline finally closed shop after declaring bankruptcy. Leaving a strict instruction to his wife "NOT TO COME HOME WITHOUT MY GREEN LIGHT", who was at the mainland at that time together with their U.S. - born son and two other younger children, Donnie executed his elaborate plan with swiss-watch like precision. After the company's president announced the closure of our company in two days, Donnie proceeded to the Airport and took that night's flight to San Francisco . No none knew he left. I only learned of his leaving when he was already in the mainland, he called me at the office while we were shutting down our equipments and turning them over to our manager. He requested me to take care of his locker and things and he'll be calling again. Two weeks later, the company re-opened but without our flight to/from San Francisco . Hearing the news from Reuters, Donnie called up to verify if indeed, the company is to resume operations. "Affirmative", I told him. He said, "I'm flying out to Manila, first available flight". In three weeks time, our flight to/from San Francisco resumed. He was on board the second flight.. Reporting to work immediately after arrival, we learned he considered not coming back and just to overstay and wait for an amnesty. He consulted an immigration lawyer and was told to better go back and wait for his son to turn 21. The son will file a petition to have his parents be with him in the United States and it's the legal one rather than be a TNT, waiting for an amnesty which may never come. When the son has graduated from high school, he instructed his son to come home to study and earned a college degree. At first, the son refused but later understood his parent's desire so he came home and took up a highly-skilled course, Aircraft Maintenance. When the son turned 21 in 2004, he has graduated in his technical course. Right after turning 21, the son filed a petition to have his parents migrate to the United States . He filed it at the U.S. Embassy in Manila . In a months time, papers from the embassy arrived telling my friend Donnie that a petition in his favor and his wife is in the works and was told to submit documents, photographs attesting their parent-son relationship. I was quite familiar with the progress of their petition. Seven months after submitting their documents, the couple got their immigrant visa (theirs was an IR category, Donnie says itss immediate relative) and took off for San Francisco two months later. Since becoming an immigrant in August 2005, my friend and his wife came home several times- Nov 2005, Aug 2006, Nov 2006 and Apr 2007. The eldest son, now married and living in their house in the nearby province was given a brand new Toyota Innova after only their second visit from the U.S. , and the house was renovated as well. I'm happy to have and see a friend, former subordinate became successful. Our friendship remained as strong as ever. Maybe, he's disappointed because I haven't made good my promise to pay him a visit in San Francisco . I just told him maybe someday . How can I do that? I don't have a U.S. visa and it's too expensive to apply for this. If you're denied, the money is not returned. Anyway, every time he returns he treat us just like the old times. Thats enough friend. It's okay to see you here during your visit.

This is my friend Frankie's tale. He's about my age. He joined our company in 1989 and six years later he got a tourist visa and it's single entry valid for six months. He traveled to the mainland immediately after getting it. Then he re-applied, this time together with his wife. They got five years visa validity and since then, the wife has been coming back to the mainland staying there for a little over five months and returns here. After two to three months stay here, she returns to the mainland. She worked there in a homecare as Frankie told us. Frankie and his four children has lived luxuriously since the wife has been sending him 200 to 300 dollars a month. He was able to pay his loans and has traveled to our local tourist destination as Boracay, Puerto Princesa and Dipolog. Many of our officemates was envious of Frankie's high profile living. Many times I refused his offer of expensive treats, foods every time I helped him in his written communications and office problems. I told him, my friendship is not for sale. Unlike some of the people who claimed to be his friends, they're so good at instigating him to make unnecessary expenses which Frankie apparently not notice. In year 2000, they renewed their visa including the children. The children got a better deal. They were given 10 years valid visa while the parents got 5. In late 2000, after getting their visa.. Frankie's wife and 2nd child, the only daughter left for the mainland.. Mother didn't returned to the Philippines since then and said her employer has petitioned her and was told a working visa is in the works. His wife is paying an immigration lawyer 200 dollars a month to workout the papers, Frankie alleged. The wife became impatient waiting for her working visa to arrived and quarreled with her employer. The employer pulled out the petition and Frankie's wife transferred to another homecare, her daughter in tow, now a TNT. In late 2003, her daughter called him asking she be allowed to go home to study B.S. Nursing so she can return to the mainland and worked as a nurse. Immediately, not telling anyone of his plans to fetch his daughter from the United Stated, we were surprised to see his daughter here. Indeed, the daughter enrolled in B.S. Nursing in 2nd semester of SY 2003- 04 and was supposed to graduate in March this year. But, as fate would have it… it was not bound to happen. In July last year, Frankie secretly asked me to join him in his close-door meeting with our division manager. I asked him why? He simply said, I'll know it later. "Okay, No problem", I told him. When our manager arrived, I was summoned to join them in the Manager's Office. There I learned, disaster struck. One of his two sons he brought to the mainland ( Los Angeles ) in September 2006 and was supposed to return in February 2007 but decided to overstay was caught by agents of USCIS. The agents came, knocked at the door and asked his son if he is "NANDO". His son said "Yes", and the agents handcuffed him and was detained in a detention center along with some 200 others. His son was cowering in fear inside the prison as narrated to his father when he came out after the mother posted bail and was scheduled for a hearing. His son can't even shave his beard and moustache inside the prison. After the hearing, his son was supposed to leave on voluntary departure last April 03, 2008. Otherwise, the 5,000 US dollars posted bail will be forfeited. This time, it was already confiscated and his son is on the run. Since July last year, many water has already passed under the bridge. The other son is still in hiding in the mainland fearing he might be next to be caught. Frankie's wife working visa which was expected to be released last December 2007 has stalled and probably voided. Then Frankie and wife agreed to terminate their marriage so his wife can marry his patient in the US , of course for convenience. Do they really expect USCIS agents are so blind not to suspect this. Papers from their immigration lawyer came asking him to sign those papers so his wife can marry her patient. Apparently, those are divorce papers certifying his willingness to release his wife and marry again. Last time, Frankie and his son Nando has a conversation, the son was blaming his father for releasing their mother to be able to marry again. Apparently, the son is revolting against his father. And the daughter here, unable to enroll in her last semester in Nursing is now working as a saleslady in a popular mall in their city here south of Manila . In desperation, the daughter may end up marrying her suitor/boyfriend as Frankie himself intimated. The youngest of his children (son) figured in a motorcycle accident several months back. Thanks God, his wounds were not serious. Two of his three motorcycles were repossessed by the dealer when he failed to pay the amortization losing his down payment and several monthly amortization paid. Expensive appliances, furniture and other valuables were sold. Some supposed friends scrambled to buy some of his belongings since they were sold at garage sale, they said. I was offered some but I declined. I'm not one to take advantage of my friend's misfortune. If at all, I will help with my smallest deed. These friends are like fox watching the poultry house. Lately, Frankie move to a smaller house, just enough to have roof over their heads. Yesterday, he is considering resigning to get his separation pay and start a new life anew. I disagreed and strongly argued against. Some of our friends saw the wisdom of my argument. I feel great not feeling alone in my position. But, what shattered my good wishes for my friend was the continuous blaming games, admonition, making it appear they're wiser and smarter than Frankie. Do they really have to do that, just to feel good about themselves. I left them and spent my thoughts in solitude in the lonesome of my cubicle, not coming out after not hearing their loud voices. I felt disgusted and on the verge on nauseating. Even after I went home after leaving my office, I still pondered what happened to my friend especially he's considering staying at the office warehouse and leaving his remaining children to his sisters and their family.

I can only pray.. may GOD give him wisdom not to make desperate acts that may further shatter his already broken dreams.

I'm not so concerned with Donnie's fortune but Frankie's present dilemma made me rethink my position. Does getting an immigrant visa and an opportunity of living in the USA and an opportunity of becoming a US citizen really worth it? A departed friend, once said "Some people wanted to immigrate to improve their lives, economically, others for political reasons like the asylum seekers, some to avoid prosecution and persecution, others for status symbol, some not for anything else but for bragging? Is that so? I'd rather be good at blogging. Citing my own experience, my family, friends, officemates, and probably, even my enemies.


Somebody Up There Loves Me

SOMEBODY UP THERE LOVES ME


Monday. June 15, 1998. Our company's management began serving termination papers as a result of its downsizing program as a consequence of the pilot's protracted strike staged ten days earlier. Criteria used for this drastic action was Last In, First Out. But, it was not strictly followed. Several rank and file employees who should have been sent out were retained allegedly because of favorable attendance, work attitude and competence. On the other hand, several senior employees who should have remained were sent out. If I were to rate myself, I'll be somewhere above the middle. I belong to the second generation of employees still active in the service. My seniors were hired ten to twelve (10-12) years earlier while the youngest in the group, the so-called 3rd generation employees were thirteen to fifteen (13-15) years my junior. In this structure, I was now among those considered as next in line for promotion. My last movement was seven years earlier and once a bidding for promotion is opened, I'm 80-90 per cent sure of making it. Two years earlier our manager had been making overtures of promoting me since two or our supervisors had intimated their desire of availing an early retirement. I politely refused telling him I'm flattered with the offer but I would rather remain in my present position. Some would readily agree and even grab the offer but my refusal was honest and sincere. I have different things in mind. At that time, I have two daughters attending college in the big city and two were in high school in the province.. It is true that with the promotion I'll be given a proportionate salary increase that goes with it. But the increase is loose change compared to what I'm getting in my present position. Nine to ten months a year I'm on company travel, i.e. on OB (official business). The per diems and overtime pay I'm earning in addition to my basic pay is substantially higher than what the most senior supervisor is getting. One time, before my traveling position was awarded to me I actually earned more than what my branch manager got in that particular year (his basic pay only… his representation allowance excluded). It's because I'm working almost two shifts a day (I have 38 hours overtime per week and 40 hours regular work/week). When the Statement of Earnings and withholding tax was released by payroll for the filing of our Income Tax Return to BIR, my withheld tax was seventy percent of the lowest earning made by my colleague in our branch. Obviously, my boss understood my position and persuaded the two supervisors to stay for at least a year since they are not 100 per cent sure of getting out. At the time of the ongoing pilot strike, our rank and file union was planning to stage our own strike in support of the pilot’s action, our supervisors wanting to be released renewed their pleas. Of the six supervisors in the roll, a third joined the original two. Less than a month later, three supervisors were out and three remained. Meanwhile, the pilots attempting to return to work in compliance with the labor department secretary's order to "Return To Work" were locked out. They were refused entry for not complying with the order a week earlier and found themselves without plane to fly. Management has effectively and permanently clipped their wings to fly the national flag carrier's planes. The following month, our division manager was forced to retire when management demanded all manager's resignation. He was not re-appointed and thus joined the three supervisors who retired earlier.. Our division, now without a manager was left in the care of an officer in charge. The most senior of the three remaining supervisor was appointed OIC. Two months later, one of the remaining two supervisors was forcibly retired after coming back to work for only two months after he was discharged from the hospital. Less than a year later, this supervisor died after suffering from his last stroke. With only one supervisor left to supervise 30 staffs spread in three shifts (ours is a 24-hour operation), our division made a re-organization and re-structuring. My travel assignment and position was scrapped following the closure of our outlying stations. I have no one to relieve in the provinces since our staffs there were absorbed by other department. This time I was given an offer I can not refuse.. I was promoted supervisor along with another colleague. Five months later I was confirmed. Less than a month after my appointment, the company chairman and CEO announced the inevitable closure of our company if no fresh additional capital is invested due to successive losses in revenue in the last several years. Less than two weeks after his announcement, the roof fell. The latest announcement was declared. "Tonight, the national flag carrier is closing down and will cease to operate. The airline business is finished. The national flag carrier is dead", so the Chairman and CEO said. Everybody were served our termination papers. This time we took a united stand. Divided in opinions on several issues, we made a quorum on what should be done. We will not sign and accept these termination papers, not accept our separation pay and we will fight it out to the end. We have determined that it's a psychological warfare (psy-war) we can't allow ourselves to lose. It's mental torture to get our separation pay, now out of work seeing new hires took over our previous position although they may be paid half or less than half of our salaries). Everybody is watching everyone else. There was even an agreement among us "whoever signs his termination paper and accept his separation pay will have his fingers chopped off". Heated debates followed, insulting words exchanged. Finally but grudgingly we agreed. DO NOT SIGN, DO NOT ACCEPT. Just like any normal human being, I was already doubting my ability to withstand pressure. After faithfully serving the company for more than 23 years, I was being served with a termination paper without any justifiable reason. Alone, I reconsidered my position. I've concluded, as If they don't have any loyalty to me, why should I have any to them?. I summoned my three children (all staying with me in the city , the youngest still with my wife in the province and the only one in high school) that night and broke the news.. my impending decision to TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN. "I will take my separation pay, go home to the province and start a small business.", I declared. Then I rationalized. No one can cut/will cut anyone else fingers as we have agreed among ourselves in the office because what one is getting is not anyone else. They can do with whatever they want with their money so with me. My eldest (daughter) said "DON'T, HANG ON. FIGHT IT OUT TO THE END". She added, "I"ll work part time as a service crew, study at night and even temporarily stop in my college studies". My second child/daughter says "IT'S UP TO YOU, YOU KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR US.". I'lll work for my college Dean and she'll pay for my tuition fees. I'll attend my classes in the evenings," she added. My third child/son, just in his freshman year said "IT'S JUST TEMPORARY. GOD WILL NOT GIVE US ANY PROBLEM WE CAN NOT SOLVE". He added, I'll join Ate, at the food chain and be a working student too". Always the religious, the altar boy, I expected his opinion. Unknown to me, my children told my wife when she happen to called up wanting to talk to me. They told my wife my plans and the position they want me to take. My children were given instruction to tell me to wait for her call once I arrived from our rally at the Senate Building . We were making this rally to demand from our lawmakers to pass a law to have the state take over the national flag carrier. After arriving home, not long after the call came. We argued heatedly, on the verge of shouting out invectives defending the merits of our respective positions. Suddenly, she said.. "Our youngest here is joining his classmate in their teacher's piggery as helpers to be able to continue his studies and help the family". With her last words, I was struck with so much beating not knowing what hit me. I told my wife to hang up and I'll return call tomorrow after I've cleared my head of cobwebs. She hang up after telling me "DON'T TAKE THE MONEY. FIGHT, EVEN IF YOU'RE THE ONLY LAST MAN STANDING". Still confused on what to do after our red-hot discussion, I began to dissect my plans, how I arrived at this, and why I considered this my best option. It finally goes down to one of the seven deadly sins. Pride. My wounded feelings tells me exactly what I decided earlier.. Take my money. I deserved this. It's no dole out. It's not a gift. I worked hard to be entitled to this. All of my 23 years in the service. More than half of my lifetime. My best years. During this period, the union conducted a referendum among the members whether we agree to have a ten-year moratorium in our collective bargaining agreement (CBA) or to have the airline permanently closed forever.. President Erap was brokering the idea of reopening the airline for the sake of the national interest with certain conditions. The union must agree with the business owners desire to have a suspension in CBA negotiation for the next ten years. When the referendum was over, the YES votes have it. There will be a ten year moratorium from 1998 to 2008. Our company actually stopped operation for two weeks before we were recalled for the resumption of operation. In three days, everybody has showed up. Our OIC then distributed our recall papers. Not everyone is hard headed but then, we took a united stand, our second. No one signed a recall paper. We argued "how can that happen when we were not actually separated. Maybe these recall papers be better served to our colleagues who were terminated in June. No one in that group was recalled. We told our OIC, if they're joking don't do it to us. He can't force us so he referred to higher management and legal department what to do with us and the papers. He was instructed to let everyone sign both papers, the termination and recall. We didn't budge. We told him to put it in black and white. He did and everybody signed and dated the same papers the same day we signed it and with the remarks "RETURN TO WORK ACCEPTED". Days passed, then weeks and our operation was becoming normal again albeit many flights to many out stations were still not resumed. Suddenly I realized I have abandoned so many things I habitually do in the past. The last five months in my professional career had been so turbulent. I got lost in the maze of developments with blinding speed. Things were different when I woke up compared to what was happening when I fell asleep. Now, it's November 1998. Last time I saw my wife was in June, two days before the pilots went on strike. A colleague died in the hospital less than a week after he underwent a by-pass operation. I can still vividly remember. I donated my own blood before he went under the knife. One supervisor who was forcibly retired after coming back to work suffered his last stroke while on duty. I was the most senior around so I directed one of my colleague to call up an ambulance, two escorted him to the hospital. He wasn't able to return to his job since he was permanently incapacitated. Three supervisors and our division manager were gone. Thirteen staffs were terminated in the provinces and those retained were absorbed by another department. Many pilots were out of work. So with rank and file. In May we were more or less 14,000 strong. In late October we were around 4,000. So many casualties. Or as they in the military "collateral damage", aside from the actual casualties.

So many shattered dreams. I could have been one of them, with 5 dependents. Was it luck that I still belong to those who still remained? Am I too good and too smart to get out of this alive? Were my friends less capable and less talented why they're at the other side of the fence? We were no longer colleague but we remained friends. Some friends turned into enemies because we happen to have different opinions. Why allow this to affect me? After all, opinions are like assholes. Everybody has one. They have theirs, I have mine. I realized I haven't visited the house I used to visit before, especially when I'm asking a special favor. Thrice I passed government-administered examination because I asked for his help and blessings before I showed up at the venue of the exams. In the elementary, I was a consistent honor pupil and habitually prayed and asked for his guidance. Even early recovery from my illness and those of my family when I became a married man. In high school, in technical school and in college, I asked and prayed for his guidance. He never failed me. Even asking to be granted an excellent lifetime partner, it was granted. I married the best wife and mother. Our four children can attest to that. In solitude, I realized I had been negligent and ungrateful for his blessings. I was so used to fighting, competition and vengeance. I'm not really that smart, excellent or exceptional. Despite my human frailties, I still managed to succeed. Not because of my own effort. I acknowledge and accept that GOD gave me the strength and wisdom to succeed. That one and somebody up there loves me.


Monday, April 21, 2008

American Dreamer Dictionary


In May 2007, my friend Donnie Valencia came home and paid a visit to our office. His former office, almost a home for more than 31 years. We exchanged stories and pleasantries along with Verna. I almost forgot about this dictionary he jokingly asked last time he was here. It was originally intended for him but he suggested friends might get amused and as one author once said "The best joke is to tell the truth". It might not be the whole truth, but it comes very near to it. So, here it is, Relax, Seat and Enjoy (Or Annoyed).


Donnie,


Getting a U.S. visa is big deal to many Filipinos including employees of the national flag carrier “retired and active.. Even idiots claim to have a lot of class simply by getting this visa. I don't know why. Many went to the mainland and came back more stupid than when they left. You taught me many things and this serves as an overview of what to be done if and when I decided to apply for a visa (kung hindi ako manghinayang na mag-tuition sa pag-kuha ng visa) and if I don't chicken out in my filing for application. Based on the briefing you gave me, I documented it in my listed word meanings (my own, not copied from Webster) so if anything wrong comes out.. they are entirely my own. Nobody to blame. Ako lang. You are not responsible either. I might be the one who got confused. Anyway, many things I wrote might have actually happened to you, your friends and other Filipinos. As for me, panaginip pa lang. Libre naman eh.

If you find any mistakes in them, please make the necessary corrections and when you showed up again during you vacation here, give me the corrected version and I'll make a revised edition.

Thank you very much.


My Best,


GENE YU


AMERICAN DREAMER DICTIONARY



Amboy “ Long before the Fil-Ams came, there was this Amboys. I happen to be one.

When mother was raising me as a child, I was basically breast-fed. Bottle-feeding was unknown then. When working wives became the fad, bottle-feeding becomes popular. When my mother's milk was drying up, I was made to suck this Rice soup (sabaw ng sinaing na kung tawagin ay AM). Being fed this way, I became an accidental Amboy.


AW- I thought this is the American fast food chain. Until somebody corrected me. Mali daw ako. These are health workers in the United States , either legally or illegally that includes- nurses, caregivers, physical therapist. My colleague Billy gave this acronym new meaning AW, Ass Wiper. According to him, no matter how much you'repaid, in whatever currency you're paid, how much bonus you get if you're doing any of the above, you're still an Ass Wiper. An ass is an ass. Whether here in the Philippines , in the United States , or anywhere else. Isn't it Billy?


Alvarado “ What I had in mind before Frankie tells me his amazing story, I thought this is the character actor in most tagalong movies (local cinema), I've seen in my youth. A Sammy Davis or Jay Leno look-alike, he was a topnotch villain I wanted killed. I'm wrong after all. Frankie, the master de-facto liaison officer everybody knows in the office, found this street in downtown L.A. (according to him, how would I know) frequented by TNTs on the lookout for fake SSS, California ID and Driver's license cards. Talaga itong si Frankie, pambihira ang galing. Even in the United States , he's on the look-out for fake papers and credentials. I fervently hope and pray¦ our friendship is not fake. Or else, Oh my God (OMG).


America “The best place in the world" for the Americans.


Barkada “Some people mistook barkada for friendship. Very shallow. Most people who were taken for a ride thinks anybody who regularly give them drinks, foods and entertains them is their friend. Maybe.. If he/she is your friend, even without any or all of the above, then they are your friends, not barkada. Good luck.

Citizen “a person born in the USA by American parents (natural born) or of foreigners who happen to gave birth in the United States . If the foreigner happens to be a Filipino, the child is a Fil-Am. Eman Valencia , Donnie and Verna's son belongs to this group.


Consular Officer “ is an authorized person at the U.S. embassy who evaluates and assess the application for a visa and can either issue or deny it. Unfortunately, some people act, talk and discourage prospective applicants by saying "You will be denied.. you don't have money, you don't have any relative in U.S. , you don't have valuable property, you look live a prospective TNT, etc.. In short, they are saying.. "Hindi ka puwedeng mabigyan ng visa" "Di ka katulad ko. Ako lang (or Kami lang and puwedeng mabigyan ng visa, di ka puwede" This shit is all-knowing, too presumptuous. The consular officer himself will not tell you why you are being denied.


Fil-Am

One group of those amerasians who traces their roots in the Philippines . Fil-ams are of different class “Bic-Am, Vis-Am , Il -am, Tag-Am (Bicol-American, Visayan-American, Ilocano-American and Tagalog-American,. Many Fil-Ams who were nobody in the U.S. mainland suddenly find themselves a hot item or most-sought-after commodity here in the Philippines . Some of them turned to basketball, showbiz becomes instant celebrities and found themselves in the limelight. Many women including matronas fantasizes that these Fil-Ams might court, marry and bring them to the U.S. of A.


Friend “Anyone you can trust, depend, rely and turn your back to without getting stabbed in the back. He/She will not turn you in. Instead, they're whom you can turn to. If I have a friend who will turn me in or betray me, Mag-aalaga na lang ako ng aso. No dog has betrayed his master. A dog is not man's best friend for nothing.

Green Card “ A credit card or ATM card look-alike that is shown to friends or former workmates/officemates by immigrants who is a holder of this card that signifies their stay in the United States is legal. No immigration officer will run after them as far as their stay is concerned. To a natural-born American citizen, this card has no value; but to an immigrant, it's a big deal. Although its value is nominal compared to than of full citizenship, its value in the Philippines becomes greater than it actually is. As my former officemate Donnie Valencia says, its value here is purely "PAMPAYABANG". He added, "Magyayabang ka rin lang, Hustuhin mo na". I believe in what he says. Di tulad ng iba diyan, magyayabang din lang puro kuwento, wala naming kuwenta.. Yon pala nakikisabit lang. Free Loaders.


Invitation “ It is an offer by a friend, relative or acquaintance to come to the U.S. and stay with him at his house and says "Feel at Home”. There you can sleep, eat, drive his car and consider it your own. Some guests take it seriously. When they go home, nagbi-bitbit pa ng gamit ng host and sometimes nag-uumit pa.

Plenty of jobs in the U.S. “Some immigrants and even TNTs will keep on telling people to come to the U.S. once they get their visas. I can surely help you once you arrived there. Once their friends get their visas and were able to come to the U.S. , they'll tell them "You came too late. Huli ka na. Last week lang na-fill up ang bakanteng puwesto. Sayang. Dapat inagahan mo. Next time na lang baka ma-taymingan mo. Sayang talaga. Buwisit ka, sabi mo marami.. ngayon napunan na lahat.... sabay-sabay bang napunuan ang maraming pinagsasabi mo? O nambobola ka lang.. PWE.


Legal “Also called a legal permanent resident. He has the necessary and valid papers to show when confronted by immigration authorities. Sometimes, called L na L, or legal na legal. He can legally stay and roam around the United States and can expect to become a U.S. citizen after a certain period of time. Donnie Valencia and Alfonso Lin belongs to this group.


Naturalized American "A foreigner who earns an American citizenship by undergoing a process called naturalization. When one is a naturalized American, he is not natural-born. I used to think, a naturalized American is one born by natural or ordinary means, normal delivery. Not caesarian. Hindi pala. Now, I know.

Pakisama “fellowship. Getting along with people. Some people give this new meaning. Like, "Punta ka pala sa amerika,.. PAKISAMA mo naman ako. Wala akong matutuluyan don eh. May U.S. visa naman ako.


Petition “something done by a petitioner whereby he files with the appropriate U.S. government agency or office informing that office he wants to have his parents, siblings, spouse or sweetheart to stay with him, join him or bring them to the United States to be reunited. In the Philippines , a petition is something submitted to a government agency or office demanding or requesting the removal, dismissal or replacement of a government official they don't like.


Petitionee “ is a person designated by a petitioner he wants to be with in the United States . He can be a parent, sibling, spouse or sweetheart. In some instances, a petitionee is a prospective worker.


Petitioner “is a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States who files a petition to an appropriate government office or agency informing that office he wants he parents, sibling, spouse or sweetheart to join him in the United States. A prospective employer can also be a petitioner. Sometimes, a petitioner is a paid citizen who do it for monetary consideration and/or other conditions.


Port of Entry “is a place in a foreign country usually an airport, seaport, or border where foreigners are admitted or rejected by immigration authorities. Travelers usually develop a sudden uncomfortable feeling that made them feel like urinating, bowel movement, perspiration, high blood pressure, heart palpitation. Some even collapse. A few are excellent liars and bluffers and were able to make it. Some say they will visit a relative but actually they don't have any.. sabit lang. Others say they are coming for a short visit. Short visit? Mga buwisit na ito ah.. Ayaw ng umuwi.. short visit lang? Iniiwan nga ang trabaho dito at pamilya... short visit pa? Sinungaling na mga ito ah. Baka Long Buwisit. Hi Hi Hi. Sometimes, it's also an "airport of denial", "airport of crying", or a "port of sadness". A 2 A ako ah. Hu Hu Hu.


Recto “A busy street in downtown Manila where credentials are easily procured for a measly sum of money. What takes an ordinary student four years to earn a college degree, anybody can get it in an hour or two. You can choose any course you want, the year you supposedly graduated, honors earned or received. To an untrained eye, he/she won't recognize the fake from the original. Sometimes, the fake looks more genuine and the original looks inferior.


Relative “are of two kinds. Affinity or Consanguinity. Relative by affinity are those we have account of marriage. For example: mother-in-law, father-in-law, all kinds of in-laws. Outlaws not included.. Mga wanted ito, may patong sa ulo. Relatives by consanguinity are those we have account of blood relationships. For example: Uncle, aunts, cousins, grand-parents. Somebody who made me a topic of their discussion once said, "Gene Yu has no chance of visiting America because he has no relatives there". True, I have no relatives there. I don't deny. But then, he is wrong. Why? Not all those who have relatives in U.S. were able to go there. I made an extensive research and found out at least one person who came to America without any relative. For your info, he is Christopher Columbus. He has no relative at all. Pinsan, Tiyohin, tiyahin, biyenan. Talagang wala. Peks man. Cross my heart. Believe me. Maniwala ka, walang kamag-anak ang kumag na ito ng pumunta ng Amerika. In fact, siya ang kuna-unahang dayuhan na nakarating ng Amerika aside from A.V. Kilala mo ba ito? Try to find out kung hindi pa. Only idiots will tell me only those with relatives can go to America . Tell that to the marines.


TNT “acronym for Tago Ng Tago. A tourist who has overstayed in the United States . He abused the generosity of the U.S. government for allowing him to stay for a definite period of time. Nasarapan yata. Ayaw ng umuwi. Like a mouse who plays when the cat is away, he roams like a lion and act like somebody when no immigration officer is around. Comes an immigration officer, he will hide even in the dirties sewer (imburnal) to get away from immigration authorities. Sometimes, he is called "Illegal or Panaguan. Many ex-employees of the national flag carrier belongs to this category.


Tourist “holders of tourist visa who were admitted and gained entry in the United States. Some of these tourists worked there as caregiver, PT and similar work, a violation in the issuance of the tourist visa. When they don't return to their home country and remained in the US after the validity of their legal stay, then they become a TNT. Years back, my Japanese look-alike friend called them TOURISAN, a corruption of the tagalong word- Tulisan. Some of these tourists eh nakituloy na, may mga nawala pang gamit sa tinuluyan ng nagsi-uwi. Totoo nga. Tourisan.


U.S.Visa “a document issued by the U.S. government through the U.S. embassy to selected applicants granting them permission to enter the U.S. mainland or any of its trust territories. Some people think having a US. Visa include the right todemand accommodation by acquaintances (kakilala), friends (kaibigan) once they are admitted at the port of entry. Wrong. The visa is used only for passage to gain entry, a limited stay for a specified period of time. It does not include the right or privilege to forced admission to any acquaintance or friend residing there. Otherwise, you become an "unwanted guest" or "gate crasher". Some would- be host suddenly leave town or change telephone numbers to avoid these tourisans or buwisitors.


Working Visa “one of the visa issued by the U.S. government where holders can legally work in the United States .

Monday, April 7, 2008

Migration That Never Was

More than two decades ago, I seriously considered joining the exodus of our countrymen never seen before who left our homeland to seek the proverbial greener pastures. Many find themselves doing odd jobs in the middle east, getting paid handsome salaries higher than what some junior executives are getting locally. Some were hired as seamen on board oil tankers, container ships and the lucky ones on board cruise ships in the Carribean and European tours. Several friends who were in a hurry to leave to join the hunt for the new-found fortune were leaving faster than expected. When their families were receiving the expected remittances, a new lifestyle was noticed. Mothers who can seldom afford to buy new clothes for their children even on Christmas holidays can be seen on shopping sprees every time they received their husband's allotment. Picnics and excursion were common place even to those who haven't been to beach before. Some who were living in run down apartments were moving to their new houses in the newly-opened subdivisions. School children who were attending classes in the public schools were transferred and attending their classes in the private schools the following school year. Seeing all these things were becoming disturbing. Attracted by the thought of getting paid much better than what my friends were receiving, I began to make an elaborate plan not to be left behind. The craving for more money is now sky high. After five years of marriage and four young children to took after, I decided it's now the time to make my own bold move. All my professional requirements were on hand and only my resolve to apply for an overseas job, contract signing and resignation from my present job separates me from the first pay envelope I’ll be receiving from my foreign employer. Like all previous serious decisions I made before, my well-laid plan were drawn, plotted and careful analysis were repeatedly done to make sure I’m not missing anything to draw a correct conclusion. I made this in absolute secrecy so no distraction can influence me in whatever decision I arrived. Ergo. The decision is right. There is no turning back. Time to present my thesis to my wife. I've done it before, I can do it again. I can get her approval.. whether she likes it or not. She will say " Yes, darling! Yes, honey! I'm supporting your plans 100 per cent. No buts. No ifs. Or so I thought. After dinner, one enchanted evening.. I began my preliminaries. Would you like to have a house and lot so we will be living in our own house instead of this rented run down apartment? Of course, who would not want to live in her own house. she replied. Better yet, it must have matching furniture to enhance the ambience of our new home, she added. Would you believe we can have both the house and matching furniture, send our children to a private school including educational fund for their college education? I asked like a salesman expecting to close the deal. Wow, that would be great sweetheart!, I never expected we could have that too soon, she said.. her eyes suddenly widened. I could hardly suppressed my smile. I told myself, It's time to deliver my coup de' grace. But before I could deliver my line, she finally asked. And where are you getting the money? Shocked but never out of my wits, I counter attacked. I don't have the money right now, but if you cooperate we will have it. I argued my case presenting my blue print emphasizing the advantages if I work overseas instead of staying in my present job. She remained quiet while carefully analyzing all my entries and when she was finally done, she said with a strong conviction pushing my thesis. Your study is incomplete. All you have here are the tangibles that can be quantified and given values in monetary amount and you did not show the intangibles. My face turned red down to the neck since it's the first time my work was returned and of all people, my wife did it. Err..what I'm planning to do is for the good of the family and it will improve our financial condition substantially, I strongly argued. But what you'll not be doing once you leave is also for the good of the family, the children particularly, she said on the verge on crying. And remember, I married you for what you are, not for what you want to be, nor what you can provide. I'm not a material girl. She's now crying and I couldn't say a word to exacerbate the situation. I let her to cry until silence fell. Then, I proposed that we talk it out without our emotional outburst. Bargaining and Negotiation followed. Conditions were explicit not leaving any room for doubts. Remain in my job to be able to continue discharging my parental function to guide our children (ages 5, 4, 2 and 1 years old) in their formative years, finish my baccalaureate degree (I was a graduate of a 2-year technical course and work for the national flag carrier and she was a degree holder working for the local government when we got married), I remained the sole bread winner and she to be a full time wife so we can give quality parenting time to our children. I can still consider going abroad once I finish my baccalaureate degree. Three years later I earned my degree. We were given substantial salary increase by my employer and my plan of going abroad was further put on hold. Overtime was open and I was able to buy our housing lot. Five years after graduation I was promoted to a higher position but my job requires me to travel to our satellite stations 9 to 10 months a year. My traveling allowances including my salaries were at par with what I'll be getting had I went abroad to be an OFW, the so-called modern day heroes. Three years later after I was promoted, our company went on a series of strikes that almost made our company declared bankruptcy and close shop. Our company actually closed shop or shall I say temporarily stopped operations and when it re-opened I find my self promoted anew to my present position. Many scrambled to get their separation thinking our company will finally closed shop. To those who gambled where I belong, we keep our planes and the company flying high. After more than twenty years since I originally planned to migrate and find my fortune overseas, I was able to keep my family's skin and soul together. All my children are now degree holders but one. They have all worked including the youngest who is two subjects short of graduation. Attending a training my employer gave to our dependents, he has a paying manager/business owner for a classmate. When the training was over, he gave my son a ring. He was asked, I want to hire you to work for me. Are you willing to accept? Sir, I am willing but I'm still an undergraduate, two subjects short of graduation., my son replied. No problem. Many graduates applied for the position I'm offering you. I don't want to hire them. I want to hire you. You're hired. Show up on Monday. So, of my four children the youngest didn't apply for a job. His classmate applied to be his employer.

Looking back, I could have made much money compared to what I actually got. What I lost was my dream and chance of migrating and making it big. What I gained was the outcome of how my children grew and what they achieved with me around. I appreciate the efforts of our countrymen who have to leave our homeland to find their places under the sun and give better and brighter future for their children. Mine was migration that never was.