Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Fly Away

During a recent gathering, the hot topic for discussion was overseas employment.

It seems everyone wants to get the hell out of the Philippines. I don’t blame them.

Times are hard. 

I, for one, live from paycheck to paycheck. That wasn’t the case, say, five years ago.

Most of Raft3r’s friends are now based abroad - some in Singapore, a couple in Canada, a few in Australia, and a good chunk in the United States.

When they are here for a visit, their stories of success are such welcome news.

Now, one of my best friends wants to try his luck overseas. He says he has given up all hope in finding a decent way to make a buck in Manila.

A part of me wants to strap him to a chair and tell him not to go. Selfish as it sounds, Raft3r does not want to lose a good party buddy. I have been constantly losing friends to immigration.

Raft3r is sticking to his guns and staying put in the Philippines.

Unlike most of my friends, I am not giving up on my country. I still think there is hope.

How's this for irony? Raft3r's not even a part of the Philippine labor force.

24 comments:

Coriander Dreams said...

Hay. Pag overseas gusto umuwi. Pero pag nasa Pinas gusto umalis... Hayyyy. Life. Gusto ko na rin umuwi.

Come to think of it, I am still doubting whether it is all worth it. And, I'm leaning to... It's not.

I think, mas bayani ang mga nasa pilipinas.. saludo to you

Raft3r said...

coriander dreams, Saludo din ako sa mga kagaya mo.

Visual Velocity said...

Mejo nakaka-lungkot nga. Ako rin, yung ibang kaibigan ko nagsipag-abroad na. Bilang na bilang na nga lang yung mga kaibigan ko to begin with, tapos mababawasan pa. Tama ba yun, iwan akong mag-isa dito sa Pilipinas? Leche.

Pero sabi nila na swerte nga ako at dito ako sa Pilipinas nagtratrabaho. I agree.

laieesha said...

lol! oo nga, do YOU work FOR the country?? hehehe

People think it's easy to get a job here in the US, but with the crazy economy - people getting laid off left and right - jobs are not easy to come across. I personally know a couple of friends who got laid off about a month or so ago, and a few others, and still can't find a job. Since there are lots of people getting laid off, that means there's that much more people competing for the same jobs. So I'm super grateful to our Lord that He has blessed me with a pretty stable job.

Bottom line - apply somewhere else. Try London... hehehe

The Scud said...

dati gustong-gusto ko magtrabaho abroad. but for the last few months nawawala na yung urge to work in another country and earn more money.

dito na muna ako sa pinas kahit na i "live from paycheck to paycheck". masaya naman dito. for now.

laieesha said...

By the way, living "paycheck to paycheck" is not a bad thing at all. It's also not just a PI thing... I think it's everywhere. I, too, live from paycheck to paycheck. It's hard having bills! It's the 'grown up' world. The last time I remember where I wasn't living paycheck to paycheck was when I was living at home with my mom. Syempre, all expenses paid dun hehehe...

Anonymous said...

Imagine what we must be going through, thinking of college tuition and insurance! LOL

Oman said...

we have the same case here. most of my friends and classmates (including my best friend) are now overseas. i can't blame them coz the pay there is much, much bigger compared here.

as for me, i think i'm staying here 'coz i enjoy travelin' pinas even if it means i go by paycheck to paycheck existence.

Anonymous said...

Oo nga, di ka naman empleyado sa Pinas ah. (,") Yun ang ok sa job mo, you get to work in our country but you get a higher paycheck because you work for a different govt. Pwede bang pareho tayo ng sweldo para di na ako umalis? hehehe. Kita tayo lunch ng April4, pwede kayo ni Omna? (,")

Anonymous said...

I was actually half expecting that you'd say you'll be joining those looking for greener pastures abroad... nice to know your still hopeful about things for our country.... life is tough all around the world these days... better to go throught tough times at home surrounded by people who care for you than all alone in a foreign country i guess... :D

Raft3r said...

andy briones, Hehe. Kahit ano pa sabihin ng iba, mas masarap pa din sa Pinas.

laieesha, Consider yourself lucky. Hirap maghanap ngayon ng work dyan.

the scud, Hehe. Pinas pa rin tayo!

ganns, I know. Thank God I'm single. Nyahaha

lawstude, Masarap mabuhay ng paycheck to paycheck. Masalimuot. Hehe

jella, Nyahaha. Di pa ako nagtapos nyan, ha. Quote yan from a friend of ours. Hehe

mitzi, Believe me. It never crossed my mind. Unless, mag-offer ang UN ng trabaho. Hehe

Wendy said...

Huy asan na si Daniel Smith? Tingnan mo nga pati si Nicole nag-US na rin. Takot ako magwork abroad. It seems too arduous to build a new life and a new career in a foreign country. Dito muna ko sa Pinas. Tiis na lang sa paycheck to paycheck existence. Till when magtitiis, ewan:D

Raft3r said...

wendy, Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ba ako na hindi lang ako ang living from paycheck to paycheck. Hmmm...

pixie27 said...

hahahah...naku pareho mo ang bestfriend ko ayaw din mag work abroad dahil naniniwala parin sya na aasenso daw sya sa pinas...well ganun talaga...tska raft3r kung single ka palang I think mas ok nga dyan sa pinas kasi mas maraming gimmiks dyan na pwede mo puntahan anytime unlike pag nasa abroad ka dapat sa mga major cities ka like NewYork dahil para di ka mabored hehehe....Pero kung may sarili ka na family mo naku magisip isip ka na mag abroad hahahah...yun lang pow! bow!

Anonymous said...

These past few days I've been hearing one bad news after the other -- Aquino convicts were freed, Jalosjos is a freeman, Nicole recanted her statement. However, I'm still one of those who have and will always have faith in this country.

Every year more than a million Filipinos are going abroad. You can't blame them; there are opportunities that our country can't provide for them. 'Filipino diaspora' is a phenomenon. While some returns to the country with their success stories, others have their saddest tales, too.

I salute them!

Raft3r said...

pixie27, Point well taken indeed. Hehe

len, Bad news week nga ngayon eh. Hay...

escape said...

a lot of people are indeed taking chances outside the country as more and more companies apply cost cutting thru employment reduction.

sad thing.

Raft3r said...

the dong, Eto na ang sitwasyon ng buhay natin ngayon. Nasa tao na lang kung paano sya dumiskarte. Hehe

Anonymous said...

It a good idea but not in these times! Kung hirap dito hirap din ang buong mundo ngayun. Even my siblings in the US are complaining kung gaano kahirap ngayun.

Raft3r said...

liza, Definitely not a good time na mag TNT sa Amerika. Hehe

Anonymous said...

Parang kilala ko kung sino to. Haha!

Raft3r said...

pete, Sige nga. Sino? Hehe

abie said...

hehehe...ako d2 lang din sa pinas...pero i don't think we still have a chance...kung puro corrupt lang din ang uupo sa govt natin, wala na talagang mangyayari...

Raft3r said...

abie, Napapagod na ako kaka-reply sa mga comments mo. Hehe