My Blog

It was a regular working day for me here in LA until a Filipina officemate of mine asked me to check out an article written by a certain "jetsetter" slash "columnist" named Malu Fernandez.  I’m sure half or probably all of the OFWs all over the world have read and reacted to her article.  Needless to say, thousands of blogs have been written in reaction to her trash.  When I say trash, I mean trash - stinky, rotten & something you really would not want to keep.  Spraying Jo Malone all over you would not really hide your "smell."  This is but another blog but I know this counts.

I am an OFW and I am proud to say it.  I take the bus to work in downtown LA everyday just like every Hispanic, African-American, & Filipino migrant worker who does not drive or jetset to Greece for the Holy Week.  I’m sure my friends in Dubai or in Saudi or in Hongkong do the same thing too.  I am fortunate to have found work in an office where I can use the skills I’ve learned in school.  But it doesn’t mean that I don’t respect the other jobs that my other OFW friends have.  They may be selling perfume and cellphones in duty free shops or they may work as domestic helpers but that is not something you scoff at.  That is something people back home should appreciate and be proud of because we keep the Philippine economy alive. 

I was not born with a silver or gold or platinum spoon in my mouth that I can just travel around the world at the spur of the moment.  But I don’t make scathing remarks about their first class accomodations or their $4,000 Bottega Veneta bags either.  They’ve been given that life and so they have every right to enjoy it.  That is their reality.  I haul my ass off to work every day so I could help out the people I care about.  This is my reality and I think this is lost on Ms. Fernandez.

I pity you Ms. Fernandez.  Your so-called "honesty" is just plain bigotry.  I hope that when you look at the mirror, you don’t hate yourself for being who you are.

It is literally 30 mins to 5:30 on January 17th, 2007.  Amidst the clutter on my desk, I decided to write a blog.  It isn’t because of some mind shattering or heart wrenching experience.  I just have time on my hands.  Well, that and the fact that i suddenly found myself in a reflective mood.  It has been 7 months since I left my comfort zone and here I am - happier than I could ever be.  A large portion of that happiness is because the person I love most is with me.  But if he wasn’t here, I know I would still be more fulfilled than I ever was.  At the end of the day, God has granted me this life and I am thankful.  I can’t bitch about the imperfections nor the struggles.  I know they are there to make me see what I have - full frontal.  And yes, life is good!

So now, it’s 10 mins to 5:30 and I still have a ton of paperwork to face.  But as what I’ve just said - I won’t bitch.  And I won’t.  Tomorrow is another day.