Of global Filipinos and Expats
V. de Leon of AJPress has a piece on the two types of Filipinos who go abroad – the global Pinoys or migrants, and the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) or expatriates.
As a “global Pinoy” myself, I totally agree on V. de Leon’s observation –
Traveling long distances to work abroad or reside permanently in another country does not make the global Pinoy forget — in fact, it makes him long for home and his family even more. In the midst of homesickness and loneliness, he strives hard to meet his financial goals and provide a better life for his loved ones.
I have really come to appreciate our country and our people much better now that I’m living away from home. There is nothing like the Philippines, and there is always that longing to connect to Filipinos everywhere. My closest friends in the US are Filipinos; my church is internationally “Filipino-flavored”. I will always be associated, and will always associate myself, with being Filipino. And that’s a good thing, because as a global Pinoy, I believe I am away from the Philippines for purpose. Much like a missionary or an ambassador, I want to bring honor and renown to our country.
2 Comments
I am not Filipina, but how desperatly i wish i was.
When i first traveled to the philippines i fell in love with the people and the vast “beauty admist the squalor”. I have a sense of how immagrants feel, because i too have left my heart in the Philippines.
I long to hear the rooster each morning when i am awakened by my alarm clock. I wish to feel the wind through my hair as I ride a tricycle, to hear the beeping of jeepneys. To hear the rain fall on the tin rooftops.
I wish to raise my children to know the feel of the philippines’ soil between their toes, to taste mango’s fresh from the tree and pandesol still warm from the oven. I wish to walk through the squattor villages and dance with the children in the streets. I wish to hold the hand of someone i love as we stroll through baywalk. I wish to hear songs of worship all through the night in a mix of tagalog and english echoing from the church yard. I wish to see Ate Remy in her “shopping hat” as we head to the supermarket. I wish to joke with ptr. ricky, ptr. andrew, kuya Noli, and the youth of the SBC again. I wish to play my tambourine in the place i learned to dance (philippines). I wish to be able to explain to my family why the Philippines has stolen my heart and why i belong there.
I may not be filipina, but i really appreciate this blog and the contributors… it feels like home…
Intresting information for the expats here.
Thanks for sharing
Sandra
asian expat.