SAYAW

...my passion is dancing

 AKO AY OFW... sa isip, sa salita at sa gawa! 


ANONG BUHAY MERON KA SA PILIPINAS NOON?
BAD. I had a year without a job, I was uninterested, I don't have focus, down, a little disappointed with life and struggling on how to make both ends met. My family were living in Cagayan de Oro while i run away in Bohol ashamed of the fact that I can't be able to help my family financially. My mother was a high school teacher while my father work for a local upholstery shop. My parents could not afford to send both my brother and my sister to college, so they had to stop. We don't have much in life and I was not born with a silver spoon on my mouth. I don't have the luxury of living a life of a king or owning something I want not until a friend of mine tag me along to visit Manila. I started working in a Call Center for almost 2 years, had some amount to send to my family back in Cagayan de Oro and send my sister back to college. I begin to take focus, had direction and opportunities begin to open before my very eyes.

ANO ANG NAGTULAK SA’YO NA MANGIBANG BANSA?
MONEY. Honestly speaking, it’s for the money. I was thinking that when I go abroad I could earn much than what I was earning back in Manila. I don’t want to let my family live a life of struggle and was only depending on a meager budget. I had too much of living a life on my own and I've always wanted to earn much than what I earned working in Call Center. I barely had enough and could not sustain if I were to support the whole family. I had to earn much, more than what I earned in Manila. I wanted to help my family in all aspects of life and I want them to live a life of bliss.

PAANO KA NAPUNTA SA BANSANG PINAGTA-TRABAHUHAN MO NGAYON?
A FRIEND. It was June of 2008 when a friend of mine, who were in Doha already, gave me a call and telling me stories about the place and asking me if I were interested to work in Doha. I had too many questions in mind, where is Doha? who’s the people living there? how’s the food in there? I had to decide between missing Philippines , the place, the food and the people. Not until early September when I had finally made my decision and had my visa middle of September. Penniless (no worries, I had my friend who is kind enough to support my stay) with my passport, Tourist visa and a zero knowledge of the place, I flew to Doha on the 2nd of October 2008 with no idea in mind on what the place looks like, I ventured myself and give opportunity a try. Lucky enough I found a job after my 3 days stay in the land of Arabs.

ANO ANG BUHAY MO SA KASALUKUYAN?
GOOD LIFE. I’m having a blast with destiny! I can buy what I want, go to places I want and to top it all, I’ve helped the whole family and send both my brother and sister back to College. I can say that the life that I’ve always wanted to have for my family is now pellucid.

MAY PAGSISISI KA BA SA PAGIGING OFW?
YES. Pagsisisi kung bakit ngayon lang ako naging OFW, bakit hindi noon pa? Noong naging uso na ang pangingibang bansa. I should have paved the way of a better life for the whole family if I had been an OFW early in life. But still I am thankful for the opportunities and while I am able and strong I will be helping my family in one way or the other.

PAANO KA NAKAKA COPE-UP SA KALUNGKUTAN?
Nasanay na akong mag-isa kahit nung nasa Pilipinas pa ako, kaya parang wala na sa akin ang homesickness. Andyan naman ang Facebook, Instant Messenger at isang tawag lang sa telepono sa pamilya ko sa Pilipinas ayos na.

HANGGANG KELAN KA MAGIGING OFW?
I don’t know. For as long as I am able, capable and happy of what I am doing.

ANO ANG PLANO MO PAGNAG FOR GOOD KA NA SA PILIPINAS?
I had too much plan the time I had to return to the Philippines for good. My plan lists are:
1. I had my passion in dancing and I’ve always wanted to share my knowledge in the art of dancing. To make this a reality I am planning of putting up a Cultural group in my community.
2. Continue what we had started before a core group for young people who will make the commitment of serving God and the community through the Parish Ministry.
3. Taize Prayer – this is what we are doing in our small town every Sunday and I want to continue the tradition who I think as of writing had stop.
4. Spend time with my family whom I miss while I was still an OFW.
5. Enjoy life to the fullest till it bids me goodbye.

ANO ANG PINAKA DI MALILIMUTANG KARANASAN MO NG PAGIGING OFW?
I had also my ups and downs as an OFW. Yung sinisigawan ka ng amo mo at sinisisi sa mga pagkakamaling ni minsan sa buhay ay di mo nagawa. Yung mga panahong pinapahid ng mga amo mo ang mga kamalian nila sayo. Yung minamaliit ka nila sa kakayahan mo at ang diskriminasyon. Pero sa likod nga mga ito natuto akong magpakumbaba, tumahimik, magpasensya and not to rebut kahit na hindi mo mali. Naging mas matatag ako at lumalim ang paniniwala ko sa Poong Maykapal.

ANO ANG MAIPAPAYO MO SA KAPWA MO OFW?
Isa lang ang maipapayo ko sa kapwa OFW – as what once J. Maxwell said “successful & unsuccessful people do not vary greatly in their abilities. They vary in their desires to reach their potential.”

JUN AMOLATO, DARA Engineering Consultants