Here comes Ana Julaton:
I AM A FILIPINO by Carlos Romulo
I am a Filipino – inheritor of a glorious past, hostage to the uncertain future. As such, I must prove equal to a two-fold task – the task of meeting my responsibility to the past, and the task of performing my obligation to the future.
I am sprung from a hardy race – child many generations removed of ancient Malayan pioneers. Across the centuries, the memory comes rushing back to me: of brown-skinned men putting out to sea in ships that were as frail as their hearts were stout. Over the sea I see them come, borne upon the billowing wave and the whistling wind, carried upon the mighty swell of hope – hope in the free abundance of the new land that was to be their home and their children’s forever.
This is the land they sought and found. Every inch of shore that their eyes first set upon, every hill and mountain that beckoned to them with a green and purple invitation, every mile of rolling plain that their view encompassed, every river and lake that promised a plentiful living and the fruitfulness of commerce, is a hollowed spot to me.
By the strength of their hearts and hands, by every right of law, human and divine, this land and all the appurtenances thereof – the black and fertile soil, the seas and lakes and rivers teeming with fish, the forests with their inexhaustible wealth in wild and timber, the mountains with their bowels swollen with minerals – the whole of this rich and happy land has been for centuries without number, the land of my fathers. This land I received in trust from them, and in trust will pass it to my children, and so on until the world is no more.
I am a Filipino. In my blood runs the immortal seed of heroes – seed that flowered down the centuries in deeds of courage and defiance. In my veins yet pulses the same hot blood that sent Lapulapu to battle against the alien foe, that drove Diego Silang and Dagohoy into rebellion against the foreign oppressor,
That seed is immortal. It is the self-same seed that flowered in the heart of Jose Rizal that morning in Bagumbayan when a volley of shots put an end to all that was mortal of him and made his spirit deathless forever; the same that flowered in the hearts of Bonifacio in Balintawak, of Gregorio del Pilar at Tirad Pass, of Antonio Luna at Calumpit, that bloomed in flowers of frustration in the sad heart of Emilio Aguinaldo at Palanan, and yet burst forth royally again in the proud heart of Manuel L. Quezon when he stood at last on the threshold of ancient Malacanang Palace, in the symbolic act of possession and racial vindication.
The seed I bear within me is an immortal seed. It is the mark of my manhood, the symbol of my dignity as a human being. Like the seeds that were once buried in the tomb of Tutankhamen many thousands of years ago, it shall grow and flower and bear fruit again. It is the insigne of my race, and my generation is but a stage in the unending search of my people for freedom and happiness.
I am a Filipino, child of the marriage of the East and the West. The East, with its languor and mysticism, its passivity and endurance, was my mother, and my sire was the West that came thundering across the seas with the Cross and Sword and the Machine. I am of the East, an eager participant in its struggles for liberation from the imperialist yoke. But I know also that the East must awake from its centuried sleep, shake off the lethargy that has bound its limbs, and start moving where destiny awaits.
For I, too, am of the West, and the vigorous peoples of the West have destroyed forever the peace and quiet that once were ours. I can no longer live, a being apart from those whose world now trembles to the roar of bomb and cannon shot. For no man and no nation is an island, but a part of the main, and there is no longer any East and West – only individuals and nations making those momentous choices that are the hinges upon which history revolves.
At the vanguard of progress in this part of the world I stand – a forlorn figure in the eyes of some, but not one defeated and lost. For through the thick, interlacing branches of habit and custom above me I have seen the light of the sun, and I know that it is good. I have seen the light of justice and equality and freedom, my heart has been lifted by the vision of democracy, and I shall not rest until my land and my people shall have been blessed by these, beyond the power of any man or nation to subvert or destroy.
I am a Filipino, and this is my inheritance. What pledge shall I give that I may prove worthy of my inheritance? I shall give the pledge that has come ringing down the corridors of the centuries, and its hall be compounded of the joyous cries of my Malayan forebears when they first saw the contours of this land loom before their eyes, of the battle cries that have resounded in every field of combat from Mactan to Tirad Pass, of the voices of my people when they sing:
Land of the morning.
Child of the sun returning . . .
Ne’er shall invaders
Trample thy sacred shore.
Out of the lush green of these seven thousand isles, out of the heart-strings of sixteen million people all vibrating to one song, I shall weave the mighty fabric of my pledge. Out of the songs of the farmers at sunrise when they go to labor in the fields; out the sweat of the hard-bitten pioneers in Mal-ig and Koronadal; out of the silent endurance of stevedores at the piers and the ominous grumbling of peasants in Pampanga; out of the first cries of babies newly born and the lullabies that mothers sing; out of crashing of gears and the whine of turbines in the factories; out of the crunch of ploughs upturning the earth; out of the limitless patience of teachers in the classrooms and doctors in the clinics; out of the tramp of soldiers marching, I shall make the pattern of my pledge:
I am a Filipino born of freedom, and I shall not rest until freedom shall have been added unto my inheritance – for myself and my children’s – forever.
How to succeed as an OFW taken from GlobalPinoys
There are many Overseas Filipino Workers who work abroad for many years but are not successful and no investments were acquired by the time that they have already retired.
The worst situation is that there are some OFWs who have been in an accident overseas which prevented them from working again. Regardless of working in or outside the Philippines, Filipino worker should know how to value his labor and sacrifices while aiming for his dreams.
The following tips are worth reading that will serve as guides for typical Overseas Filipino Workers. Information given is based on my own experiences and from the experiences of other fellow Overseas Filipino Workers.
1. Do not spend too much of your income. Not because you are earning big now and you have extra money, you are going to spend too much for your vices and unnecessary things. Some Filipinos who are only on a temporary working visa are buying luxury and brand new cars which I think is not necessary. If your earnings are high, it should be okay but I know some Overseas Filipino Workers who buy expensive and brand new cars but do not have any investment on important properties yet. They could not even eat proper meals anymore as luxury is more important to them. They are not thinking that their job abroad is just temporary, anytime they can be sent back home if some unpleasant situation happened such as war, bankruptcy, slow economy or as I have mentioned above, when they become paralyzed and couldn’t work anymore after an accident.
2. Always keep some income for savings. Save some of your income in Philippine banks as well as banks in the country where you work. And because you will stay abroad for about two years or more, it’s better that you’ll keep your money in a term of savings where you can earn more interest such as Time Deposit or Funds. Some Philippine banks offer special savings program for Overseas Filipino Workers and their beneficiaries.
3. Obtain pension plans for retirement, savings fund, children's educational plan, health insurance or life insurance. Get more if you can, although you already have the OWWA Benefits or Social Security Insurance (SSS) or Pag-Ibig, it is also better to get another one from private insurance company.
It is not always safe to work anywhere, you will never know if you can have an accident in the future that will prevent you to engage in any kind of jobs again. Having some insurance is always a big help.
4. Once you start receiving your salary and suppose you have no debts to pay anymore, make sure you would invest in a property first. If you will buy some property, its’ value does not go down; it's always accumulating or increasing every year. House and Lot or Lot is the best investment of all.
5. If you want to build a house, unless you already got many houses, it is better to build an apartment first to have some additional income. Your wife/husband is in Philippines can take care of your property in case you want them to be a commercial or residential apartment for rent.
If you are earning from the rental of your apartment, you may now save your income and with some additional money from the last few years of working abroad, you can build a new house again for your family.
6. Do not give so much allowance to your beneficiaries that could only make them spend your remittance for unnecessary things as well. You should let them know how hard it is to work in a foreign land and earn that money that you are sending for them. You should let them know how to spend wisely as well.
Do not stay quiet or ashamed to tell and explain how hard it is to work as Overseas Filipino Workers abroad to your family. If they do not know about your real situation, they would just think that you are just "collecting" money while you're walking on the road. So, they would just spend your remittance on things that are unnecessary.
7. If you cannot bring your family while you are working abroad and your vacation is not yet due, why not try bringing them to your country of work. Sometimes, you need to spend a little to maintain the relationship and bonding of your family.
8. If you are on vacation, do not spend all your savings thinking that you still have a job in abroad upon returning there. It is not always like that. I have someone that I knew, who had bought brand new car, spent most of his savings while on vacation but by the time that this fellow overseas Filipino worker is now going back to work abroad, his employer's company suddenly closed. He did not know that the company was already failing and facing bankruptcy.
9. Rather than spending too much of your savings on less important things, just improve your skills. You will never know that your current job will still be on demand after one or two years. You should try to be knowledgeable of other types of skills and profession.
If you are a carpenter, acquire some skills that could help you to become a contractor just in case you want to have your own business and would like to get your own carpenter to do the jobs.
10. Do not start your own business if you do not have any idea about the business. Do not just listen with other people’s suggestions, think about it. It is not because having an Internet Cafe is one of the good businesses these days, you will engage yourself with that same business even you do not know anything about computers.
If you have an experience in carpentry jobs, start business that is related to carpentry such as cabinet making, construction materials retail, painting etc. Do not engage in other kinds of business unless you have also experienced it before. This is not the proper way to do business. Put up a business that you are familiar with and that you most love to do.
Tips and advice above are just guide and suggestions for Filipino Workers. It's still up to the person if he/she would like to follow other people's suggestions. Not anything that had happened to you is other people's responsibility it's your own responsibility.
Get more photos from this Flickr User
Here is a nice video depicting the life of an Overseas Filipino Workers.
Tip # 1 – RESPECT YOURSELF
For those who haven’t directly experienced a racist attack, advice such as respecting yourself may seem futile. But, those who have landed in the thick of racially charge situations understand the need for self respect. It always goes that you cannot expect others to respect you if you don’t respect yourself. Get rid of that colonial mentality and really believe that you are as good as anybody else – regardless of the color of their skin. Once you have established inner strength, dealing with racism gets easier. You can now stand up against racial slurs and recognize it as a result of ignorance, instead of a direct attack to your person.
Tip # 2 - BE ASSERTIVE
Assert you rights. Assert you position. Let people know that you deserve to be where you are and that you are equals. Gently (but firmly) remind them that the color of your skin does not dictate your abilities. Nor does it give them a reason to treat you badly. Keep in mind that being assertive is not the same as being superior or arrogant. Be assertive in things that you deserve. Don’t let it go too far or you’ll find that you are just as bad as the racist who attacked you.
Tip # 3 - RESPOND POSITIVELY AND EDUCATE
When someone attacks you racially, your first impulse may be to respond with equal negativity. Hold off on that response. Instead try you best to steer the situation positively. Stand your ground and don’t stoop to their level. Do your best to educate your abuser. Inform them that they should look past the color of your skin and focus instead on your abilities. Responding in this manner to a racist act can be very frustrating. You may not be able to see results at the start, but later on you will see positive results.
Tips # 4 - COUNT TO 10
Responding to a racist slur or attack positively may be the right thing to do, but it can be also be very difficult. More than once you will feel the need to shout and get mad. It may seem like the right thing to do at that time, but it’s really not. In these situations, it is best to take a step back and slowly count to ten. Let your self cool down before moving forward. If 1 to 10 isn’t enough, don’t worry you have every number in the universe at your disposal.
Tips # 5 - FIND A SUPPORT GROUP
With every negative situation, the need to vent is always present. That is why it is necessary and helpful for you to find a support group. Look for fellow Kababayans who are going through the same things that you are. Share your experiences with them and listen to theirs too. Support Groups can help you see that this isn’t happening to you alone. Members may even give you more tips on how to deal with racist attacks.
Tip # 6 EXCEL IN WHAT YOU DO
Sometimes the best way to silence racist attacks is by excelling in what you do. Gain the respect of the people around you and show them that you capable. Show them that you can do your job as well as, if not better than anyone else can. Flaunt (through your actions) the fact that you are a skilled individual and that you help make the organization better.
Tip # 7 – REPORT IT
No matter how positive you are or how you are in your job, there will always be people who just don’t understand. Some of them grew up thinking that they are superior among other races. They may be the ones who are constant in their attacks. Or those that hit your where it hurts the most. In cases like these, it takes more than a smile to make it go away. It is cases like these that you have to assert your legal rights. Report it to your superior or to the authorities before things get too violent. You have the right to do so.
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