What OFWs go through when going home

The airports
Nasa airport na 'ko! Malapit na ‘ko makauwi! It is his first time coming home as an OFW. The hum of the airport is loud with the Christmas rush of passengers and ground personnel. Naku, sana Pinoy yung nasa counter para pagbigyan ako kung may excess baggage. He wishes he could take home more goodies for his family, his nieces and nephews, his brothers. He has a large family and he cannot wait to see them all. His check-in baggage allowance is not enough but he takes home as much as he can, utilizing every kilogram allowed. The chatter of balikbayans running through the airport is in his ears and he cannot help but smile at the thought that all these people are going home for the holidays to be with the people who matter most.
After his 6 hour flight, the plane lands and all the balikbayan OFWs on board let go a round of applause; a uniquely Filipino practice that puzzles the other foreign passengers in the plane. The happiness and excitement is thick in the air. It is so good to be home.
Teka…
Sapat na nga ba yung mga pasalubong ko? As he departs the plane, he quickly runs through the many pasalubong items he will take home to his family in his head.
Nagbibinata na si Junior. His son is in his awkward teens and needs new clothes for when he attends his parties and impresses the girls. And a new cellphone to call his friends or tell his mom that he might be home late.
Lumalaki na si bunso. His young daughter is just turning four. She likes pink frilly dresses and dancing. She will love the new ballet shoes and tutu skirt. And, of course, all the chocolates!
Miss ko na rin si mahal. The love of his life, whom he calls every other night to ask how her day was, to make sure their home is bright and happy, that the children are doing well, she gets a lovingly-wrapped watch, the one he was saving up for because it is the one she’s always wanted. He wishes though that more than the watch, he could give her the gift of time - the gift he wishes he could give unsparingly to the people he loves, but cannot.
Pasalubongs
While waiting for the flight attendants to open the cabin doors, he notices something strange. His carry-on bag seems a bit lighter than it should. He goes through his bag and realizes that bunso’s bag of chocolates is missing! He left them back in his apartment now 1,000KM away to where he was.
Sarado na lahat! It is 1:30AM. He cannot go home without his daughter's favorite chocolates! He walks around the airport hoping to find an open store with the chocolates.
Mag-Duty Free ka. He hears the voice from behind him. Another OFW notices his frantic searching and offers him his advice. Ganyan din ako dati noong unang beses ko umuwi. Extended shopping hours ngayon ang Duty Free, sakto kahit alanganing oras yung dating natin. Dalian mo!
He is saved. He rushes to Duty Free, happy to see its glowing sign still shining bright in the night, and roams through the aisles enjoying the festive atmosphere and the many Christmas promos in store. He sees a few passengers from his flight also there shopping for their loved ones. He could still feel the same air of happiness and excitement he noticed during his flight.
Seeing the family again
Malapit na ako. He quietly enters his house and brings in his bags. His plan of surprising his children of his return is still going as planned! He tries his best not to wake his sleeping children. He looks for his wife, who is in on his plan, but suddenly, the lights turn on. The jig is up.
“Daddy!!!” his kids shout happily. He sees his family who has been waiting to surprise him! His heart is so full he thinks it will burst. They run to each other, hugs, kisses, happy words, tears, smiles, nothing compares to this.
Not quite fully recovered from the tearful reunion, he brings out all the pasalubongs he has brought for them.
“Daddy, para kang si Santa Claus!” answers his young daughter.
All the anticipation from packing his luggage, to boarding the plane, arriving in the Philippines, finally holding his family in his arms, all the happiness is palpable. All his hard work is worth the happiness of giving his family a good life.
Ang Saya Magpasaya
Duty Free Philippines Fiestamall is open from 9am to 12am from December 9 to 22, and up to 2am on December 23 and 29.
Regular international travelers can shop up to 48 hours upon arrival. Balikbayans and OFWs who arrive from November 15 to January 15 have 30 days, balikbayan senior citizens have up to one year.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

POPCOM, gagamit ng ‘digital platforms’ para pagtibayin ang mga ugnayang pampamilya

Mas pinalalawig ng Komisyon sa Populasyon at Pagpapaunlad (POPCOM) ang adhikain nitong pagpapalaganap at pagpapabuti ng pakikipag-ugnayan ng mga nakakatandang Pilipino sa kanilang mga anak na nagdadalaga at nagbibinata. Nitong Setyembre 21, ang POPCOM ay nagsagawa ng isang “parent-teen talk webinar” gamit ang Zoom, kung saan ang isang “interactive program” ang nagbigay ng naaayon na kaalaman at kasanayan sa mga magulang, habang tumulong ito sa mga anak na teenager na maabot ang kanilang buong potensyal. Hinikayat din nito ang mga nanay at tatay na sumali sa malayang usapan, lalo na sa mga usapin ukol sa sex at sekswalidad, na nakikitang makakatulong upang bumaba ang mga bilang ng mga pagbubuntis sa hanay ng mga kabataan. Maaaring mapanood ang webinar sa https://youtu.be/lZ9jrJCjYas. Ayon kay Ikalawang Kalihim (Undersecretary) Juan Antonio A. Perez III, MD, MPH, “ang webinar ay naging isang tagapag-simula at ‘padaluyan’ ng pag-uu
Read more

UP Diliman Professors Share Scientists’ Procurement Struggles at Senate Hearing

By Harvey Sapigao Senate hearing of the revised procurement law (Photo credit: Senate of the Philippines) College of Science (CS) Dean Giovanni Tapang held up a little white device as he finished his presentation. “This is a ₱150,000 component,” he described. “Isa lang gumagawa nito sa buong mundo, pero ang hirap pilitin sila na magregister sa PhilGEPS,” he continued, referring to the requirement that foreign companies must first register to the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) before they can sell products to local scientists. Marine Science Institute (MSI) Deputy Director Dr. Irene Rodriguez explained that the small device is a resin that filters metals in water. “May budget tayo,” she said, “pero ang problema ko ay ‘yung resin na ito.” This and other bottlenecks brought about by the procurement law, or the Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 9184), slow down research and development in the country. UPD leaders were invited to the Senate he
Read more

Biden said set to make push for demilitarized Palestinian state as part of new doctrine ---By LAZAR BERMAN

New York Times’ Thomas Friedman, who’s close to the US administration, says emerging doctrine would include Saudi-Israeli normalization, 2-state solution, and campaign against Iran US President Joe Biden’s administration is homing in on a new doctrine involving an unprecedented push to immediately advance the creation of a demilitarized but viable Palestinian state, The New York Times’ Thomas Friedman reported on Thursday. The plan, Friedman wrote, “would involve some form of US recognition of a demilitarized Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip that would come into being only once Palestinians had developed a set of defined, credible institutions and security capabilities to ensure that this state was viable and that it could never threaten Israel.” White House officials “have been consulting experts inside and outside the US government about different forms this recognition of Palestinian statehood might take,” revealed Friedman. What he termed the new “Biden Doctrin
Read more