Farewell

College life

It’s been 4 years since I turned all my dreams into realities. The day when I’ve faced and conquered the toughest yet challenging battles of my life and it’s only happen when I entered College. My College life was a big battlefield, there are a lot of enemies along the way and some people who took my hand and go with me to fought the world.  It’s never been easy yet I decided to continue to walk the path I chose to walk through because there are people who believe on my capabilities and talents and who has been very supportive in everything I do, and I will always be thankful they never let go. It’s been a winding road for me, but friends and College professors guide me to find my purpose – to inspire and touch others life.

I will never forget the faces of those people who turned back to me and those who amazingly still here beside me. I have forgiven people who didn't treat me well, say bad things about me even if they really don’t know me. And I feel so blessed to have those people who never ever let me go after the darkest hours of my life. I’ll always be thankful for teaching me and for letting me find the real me. For always being there despite my imperfections and inadequacy. To those professors who became parents to me, thank you for your guidance, the knowledge you shared and words of wisdom you always want me to remember. I am also thankful to those Juniors, especially in my Major, Human Resource who make me realize that I’m a good sister and an inspiration. Thank you for teaching me how to become much responsible. I will never forget.

For all those who have maneuvered through College, there is one day that we all have to face - graduation day.  A day where you breathe freedom yet shed tears for leaving behind the place in where you transformed from a boy to a man or from girl to a lady.

Graduation day is filled with multi-emotions, you feel elated yet dejected. Happy yet sad. As this will be among the last days you will share with your friends and professors who also became your friends. The feeling seeps in later as the day concludes and you wish it will never ends. Another happy effect of graduation day is because of our professors who cajole and pamper us unlike their routine days. Smiles spread on every face, they tell us so lovingly that they had a great time even though it's not completely true. And then we realize that they are so flexible and lovable. And will turn to be one of the most important people in our lives.

There are also times when various not so good friends come up to you and apologize for their behavior. You are taken aback and fall short of words to say. They hug you and you hug them back, a generous gesture to forgive and forget and also communicates that you are and will be a friends again. So you see friends and not so good friends hugging one another. Everything is possible to happen on that special day.

And then the climax came. The entire time you just hung around with your friends, now you have to step up the podium in a place designated to you. Short ones in front and the tall behind. Once everyone is adjusted you set your smile and then flashbulbs go blink blink, you throw your mortarboard in the air and the flashbulbs blink more.

But there are the speeches to attend to before all the merriment begins. Every word is thoroughly checked before it goes on air. The first speech is usually done by the valedictorian who elaborates the adventures of a student and the highs and lows of it. Sometimes there is another speech given by an ex-student or an outsider who elucidates life outside the institution and how one should gear up for it. Advice, wisdom, encouragement is spelled out to motivate the graduating students. So they feel proud of themselves and are ready to work up the ladder.

If you are privileged to give the student speech, do not shudder. Trust yourself. Take your professors help to jot down all the points you have to cover. You are not the one giving advice, so stick to the format. If you are an ex-student or a guest and are asked to give the speech then think of all the points you will give your son or daughter when they on the threshold of working life. Even though there is a world of information to give, do not get boring with your speech. Make it exciting with examples and real life situations so the students are hooked to every word.

A beautiful day comes to an end with hugs once again and promises to keep in touch. Wishes for a good life and luck flies in every corner while tear eyed students part filled with happy memories.

My College journey may soon to end, but learning’s aren’t. I still have a lot of things to know and to experience. I’m no perfect yet always willing to learn. I always give my best in everything I do no matter how hard it is. With God who gives courage and perseverance to win the toughest and hardest battles, I never quit. Goodbyes aren’t forever so I’d rather say until we see each other again.

I love to eat. Do you?

I love to eat. Do you???

I love to eat. Really. Haha :) I love how my taste buds explores. Maybe because my loves cooking and eating too. I do cook a lot. As in a lot. I experiment dishes. I bake and work on anything available in fridge. I love going out. To explore the world and try new things, especially new kind of food. Below is just some of the things I do and the food I tried in past days, months and years. Enjoy!!! :)

The last coffee date I have with a very good friend. He's one of the closest people on earth I love going out with. Haven't got chance to go out again with him after he became employed. But, yeah I wish him well in his work and hope to see him very very soon.

Anyway, I don't usually drink hot coffee most of the time I drink the cold ones. My tummy badly reacts with hot coffee, that I really don't know why. But I'm an avid coffee drinker.

In love with a chocolate cake. Anything with chocolate is heaven. That's it period. Anyway, I don't remember when I eat this one. Hahahaha :D

Home-made shawarma by yours truly. I made this when two crazy friends invade our mansion. They drop by because of "peg" planning for our graduation ball (oh! damn I missed college) Hahaha :) My peg is actually Audrey Hepburn, but it turned as a bad ass girl/mafia's girlfriend turned Rhodora X. #fierce

Ooohhh strawberries. Most favorite fruit of all time. I usually dip this to home-made chocolate or nutella. You must try! I swear, you'll love it.

End of first half. Continuation of this blog will be posted probably next week!

How to dazzle HR during Interview (Tips before, during and after interview):

Few weeks from now we’ll be marching down the aisle and accept our diplomas. We’ll be starting to live the real things. We all want to become successful in the fields we choose and the ways we start to pave for our future. Yes, it would be a winding road and tough fight but we must keep our feet to the ground and do the best we can. And for now, we have to ready ourselves for the real fight outside school. Here are some tips that we’ll help you for your future careers.

As a Human Resource student, this is must remember before, on and after interview:

·         Work on your handshake: Don‘t offer up a flimsy or sweaty hand. Instead, when you meet with prospective employers or interviews, offer a firm handshake, with one or two pumps from the elbow to the hand, and smile. It‘s a good way to illustrate your confidence and start the interview off on the right note.

·         Get serious: If you take a casual approach to the initial interview with a company, especially with a screening interviewer from the Human Resources Department, you may be sealing your fate. Job seekers should treat every interview as if it‘s their one and only chance to sell themselves to the recruiter.

·         Get the practice: If you find yourself being offered an interview for a job you are not really interested in, go on the interview anyway; you can make contacts for future job opportunities and get valuable interview practice.

·         Be enthusiastic: Bring a positive attitude to your interview. Most interviewers won‘t even give a second thought to someone who has a negative presence or seems like they almost need to be talked into the job. “You‘re selling yourself, and part of you is the positive approach you‘ll bring to the office every morning,” says Alison Richardson, a recruiter for several New York financial firms. “That smile and friendly demeanor go a long way.”

·         Ask questions: When interviewing for a new position, it‘s essential to have a handful of questions to ask your potential employer. Some questions could include: What do you consider to be the ideal background for the position? What are some of the significant challenges? What‘s the most important thing I can do to help within the first month of my employment? Do you have any concerns that I need to clear up in order to be the top candidate? What are the next steps?

·         Tell a story: Your interviewer wants to know about your skills and experiences, but he or she also wants to know about you. Don‘t fire off routine answers to questions. Instead, work your answers into stories or anecdotes about yourself. People remember the people who are interesting. Prove your value by tailoring stories that address the main concern an interviewer may have because this question is in his mind: What can you do for us?

·         Show restraint: During an interview, what you don‘t say may be as important as what you do say. As a rule, don‘t talk about money or benefits, especially during the first interview. You should already know if you fit the parameters. Don‘t badmouth about any of your past employers. Organizations don‘t hire complainers. Don‘t mention outside career aspirations or part-time jobs. Employers are looking for people who want to be part of their organization for the next decade and beyond.

JP Morgan Philippines says:

So your application has been successful and you have been invited for an interview. Congratulations! Remember that every interview is a two-way process: it is an opportunity for us to get to know more about you and your achievements, and it is an excellent chance for you to find out more about the firm and our culture. We're not trying to catch you out and are mainly interested in learning more about the 'real you'. Make the most of the experience by ensuring you are fully prepared.

Before the interview:

• Look at our website and learn as much as you can about J.P. Morgan, our business areas and our culture. If you know people who work in investment banking, particularly within the business area you're interviewing with, don't be afraid to contact them and ask them questions.
• Read the financial press regularly and be prepared to discuss topical issues.
• Know yourself – think about why a career in financial services and the business area to which you have applied is of interest to you.
• Most of our interviews are competency based, so think about aligning your key skills with relevant examples. If you have not had much interview experience, attending practice sessions at your university careers service can be beneficial. Remember – however prepared you are, you will still need to show that you can think on your feet on the day. Key skills and competencies that we look for within each business area are highlighted in the Internship and Graduate Opportunities sections.

During the interview:

• You have exactly five seconds to make a great first impression, so dress for the part. Usually, this means professional, formal business attire. 
• Allow plenty of time to travel to your interview and plan your route the evening before. Arriving too early or late is an unfortunate way to start your interview.
• Watch your body language – posture, hand shake, eye contact, and smile.
• Make sure you mobile phone is switched off.
• Structure your thoughts, have confidence and be honest. Think about each question carefully before responding and answer as best you can.
• Be yourself and don't be too nervous; your interviewer is only human. Demonstrate your interest by having some questions for us. This is your chance to learn more about our business and culture.
• Answer the question asked rather than the one that you have practiced. Never give 'parrot fashion' answers.
• Be prepared to discuss topical business issues.

For undergraduate and MBA candidates, here are some additional tips from our recruiters and employees who just went through the process:

• The way you interact with interviewers gives them an indication as to how you might behave with clients. 
• Stay friendly and professional. If there are two interviewers, be sure and include both in your conversation with equal eye contact, even if one dominates the proceedings.
• If you're asked for your opinions, be prepared to state them tactfully and support the thought process you put into them.
• Phrase your answers using the Problem-Actions-Results (PAR) approach wherever possible to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. State a problem you encountered at work or school, the actions you took to solve it and the beneficial outcome – quantified, if possible. 
• Follow up after the interview. Ask for a business card and send a timely thank-you email. 
• Demonstrate your interest by having some questions for us. "What distinguishes a great Analyst/Associate from a good Analyst/Associate?" is a good way to elicit information that can be invaluable in your next interview. Interviewers may interpret a lack of questions as a lack of genuine interest.

For PhD candidates, the following provides some guidance on the interview process:

• Be ready to articulate why you want to work in investment banking, and more specifically, for J.P. Morgan. What do you bring to the mix? If you've done your homework, you should have a pretty convincing answer. 
• Most of our interviews are based on competency, so be prepared to think on your feet.
• Be ready for questions about your experience solving problems and leading teams. 
• Stay cool, and think before you answer; keep your answers concise and make sure you're answering the question asked. Remember, this is no worse than your dissertation defense. 
• Ask a career advisor or friend to conduct a mock interview with you to help you prepare for your visit. 
• Be prepared to discuss topical issues relating to your field. Have opinions without being opinionated. 
• Demonstrate your interest by having some questions for us.

BusinessCoach Inc. says:

As a jobseeker, a job interview would probably be a nerve-racking situation for you. You may be stressed out, but still you have to compose yourself and show your confidence when presenting yourself for a job interview.

The main objective of a job interview is to advertise yourself. You have to “sell” yourself effectively to your potential employer within the 15 – 30 minutes most interviews last and convince them that you are the best person for the position.

Interviewers know how to elicit information to identify the candidate who will match their needs. They are skilled in assessing how an applicant thinks, and are well experienced in evaluating an individual’s personality. They have a ways of knowing if a jobseeker is lying, and are adept in cross-examining an applicant.

A typical job interview is usually a face-to-face interview with your potential employer (or their representative). It may also be an interview series, or a panel interview.

The best strategy for a winning job interview is to have a clear picture of how you would like to project yourself during your interview. Here are tips for a successful job interview:
 

Do research on the company. Know the products or services offered, as well as the culture of the corporation. Make the interviewer feel that you are very interested in the job. Find out too, the characteristics of the employees they hire, if you can talk to one of them.

• Bring extra copies of your resume. You never know, but you might be interviewed by more than one person.

• Have a ball pen on hand. Other companies have their own application forms, which you have to fill up. Besides, you might be asked to sign some papers. You may also bring a notepad, just in case you have to take down notes.

• Dress your best for the interview. In other businesses, this is not important. However, it would be best to present yourself appropriately during this time. If uncertain, err on the side of conservatism. Avoid clothes in bright colors. Put on limited jewellery, and use perfume sparingly. For ladies, avoid wearing short and tight skirts that you could hardly sit down in. For men, hair should be short and neatly combed.

• Arrive early. Come to the office 15 to 20 minutes ahead of time, but aim to be in the vicinity of the building an hour beforehand, to allow for unusual traffic or a flat tire.

• Be courteous. Greet the persons you meet, or offer a smile. From the receptionist to the secretary, show everybody that you are nice and friendly. They might influence your interviewer into hiring you.

• Wait to be seated. Say “thank you” when offered a seat. When already seated, do not slouch, nor fidget. Never place anything on the table of the interviewer. Remain as calm as possible.

• Let the interviewer start the conversation. If the interview has not started yet, keep quiet, sit straight, and maintain eye contact.

• Be honest. Do not lie about anything. If hired, and your employer discovers an inconsistency in your application, you might just be terminated.

• Listen well. If some questions are unclear, courteously ask for clarification. Pause before answering the questions, so you will have time to organize your thoughts and think of the best answers.

• Be direct to the point. Discuss only the important details needed to answer the question. Also, avoid interrupting the interviewer. Even if you are impatient to answer, let the interviewer finish the question.

• Focus on positive ideas. Offer answers featuring your strengths or skills. Do not give too many personal details. Never criticize your previous employers.

• Answer questions loud and clear. Do not mumble. Relax, and show that you are confident.

• Do not take cell phone calls while being interviewed. This is not only inappropriate, but will also irritate your interviewer.

• Leave on a positive note. Thank the interviewer for her / his time. Ask also when it would be best to follow-up on your application.

• Send a thank you letter to the interviewer. Keep the letter short, and reiterate your interest in the position, as well as your assurance that you meet the criteria for the position.

You only have a limited time to convince your interviewer that you are the most competent candidate for the position, so you must come well prepared. Know the most frequently asked questions during interviews, and be ready to answer them (see MOST COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS below).

After the interview, it is most certain that the interviewer will ask if you have questions before she / he concludes the interview. Most applicants would politely say “none”. This is not recommended. Having no questions sends the message that you are not serious about the job.

Always prepare questions to ask after the interview. However, do not ask questions about wages and benefits, unless those issues are raised by the interviewer. Prepare sensible questions, such as the following, to make a good impression:

•     What would you expect me to accomplish in this job?

·         What will be the greatest challenge in the position?

·         What tasks have the highest priority?

·         How will my leadership skills and performance be measured?

During the job interview, the interviewer gets the chance to evaluate your expertise, knowledge, and skills. Always keep in mind that the best way to answer the questions is to be as direct and honest as you can. Gathering your thoughts prior to answering is not only helpful but also wise. Stay calm, and have fun! Your prospective employer would want to add positive, energetic, and confident employees to their roster

McDonald’s Philippines ask the following question’s during interviews:

What can you tell us about McDonald’s?

·         They are the largest fast food chain restaurant in the world.

·         They sell hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken, French Fries, breakfast items, soft drinks, shakes and desserts and has recently has offered healthy options such as fruit, salads, and wraps.

Why do you want to work at McDonald’s?

·         McDonald’s is a huge corporation and I see lots of opportunities to learn and grow. I read on the McDonald’s website more than 50% of McDonald’s franchise owners started off behind the counter and so did 75% of restaurant managers.

·         If going to school state it is a great way to pay for school and that you schedule is flexible and can work the lunch time rush.

Why should I hire you?

·         I enjoy working with customers therefore I would present a positive image (think about it when I go order food at McDonald’s I can see the entire staff so the image you present is very important. Make sure you hair is short and if you have any facial hair get rid of it.)

Can you work weekends/nights?

·         It is in your best interest to be as flexible as possible so it will be your best interest to say yes.

Whatever you do, don‘t mention the need for an immediate vacation. First of all, you‘re making an assumption that the recruiter wants to hire you. Second, you‘re essentially removing yourself from the list of potential candidates. A job candidate we once interviewed was quick to announce that she needed time off immediately for a two-week honeymoon. We hadn‘t even offered her the job. Needless to say, we didn‘t. Certainly, there are scenarios in which you‘ll need to discuss pending scheduling conflicts, but the interview isn‘t one of them.

What if the time suddenly stops?

What if the time suddenly stops?

Have you ever asked yourself why you've existed? Have you asked God about your purpose in this world? Have you tried to end your life? Have you ever kissed a stranger under the rain? Have you already let go of someone you really love? And how do you feel about yourself after finding out the answers?

Life is a book; every page has different stories and experiences to tell, it's either to touch others life or make some things worst. God give us this precious gift of life because He knows we're worthy having it. We may not know exactly why we're one of the chosen one but at least we have a pinch of idea that we must prove everyday that we have to make a difference.

Have you ever fall in love to a person you just met? And when is the last time you did something for the first time? Some people keep on asking themselves, why haven't they ended up with the person they've dreamed of? Or why do people they love keep on hurting them? Sometimes we refuse the fact that we're the reason why things happen or why our relationships with people suddenly ended. We're so afraid of admitting it and don't have the guts to accept it, simply because we don't also want to feel bad about ourselves and don't want to be hurt again for the same reasons.

We keep on saying time is gold, but have we really give importance to it? It's one question that we'll refuse to answer because again we won't accept the facts that one time in our lives we haven't because we always look after our prides. It's funny why people sometimes laugh on wrong things other people did, that they forgot they've done the same thing before.

What if the time stops? What do you think might happen? Would there be happiness and contentment? Would people still commits to people they have in their lives? Would people value people? Would people still value life?

If the time stops, I don't think we'll enjoy life the way we're used to. Yes, we may not be in rush to things around, but we may lose the feeling that we have to give importance to things. Time may end so fast but the moments and experiences you've shared with people you value the most are much important because it'll last forever.

We must learn to appreciate everything we have, the people that come and go in our lives whether they moved us or not still they're part of making us become a better person. Remember that everything we have comes from God. We sometimes forgot how to take life seriously. We must enjoy little things in life for one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things. If we want to feel the real happiness we must live a meaningful life. A life that touches others, who fight for what he thinks, is right, and one who make a difference.

I am not a graceful person. I am not a Sunday morning person or a Friday sunset. I am a Tuesday 2am. I am gunshots muffled by few city blocks. I am a broken window during February. My bones crack on a nightly basis. I fall from elegance with dull thud, and I apologize for my awkward sadness. I sometimes believe that I don't belong around people, that I belong to all leap days that I didn't happen. The way light and darkness mix under my skin has become a storm. You don't see the lightnings, but you hear the echoes. I fell in love so fast, get hurt. I'm torn between living a life or not, yet I still chose to live my life and just be happy.

"Life is short. Break the rules. Forgive quickly. Kiss slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that makes you smile." - Mark Twain

HRSS: AUCTION FOR A CAUSE:

The Human Resource Student’s Society takes the lead in the recently conducted HRSS: Auction for a Cause.

          The said event was part of the gathering of the biggest College in Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina, the Business Administration Week or B.A Week. The students’ majoring in Human Resource, Marketing and Finance unite for one special cause: to help the College raise funds for new equipments.

          The Senior’s and Junior officers of HRSS were wowed on the support and participation of B.A student’s. Every participant we’re enjoying bidding on items they want like shoes, clothes, bags and many other more. This is the very first time to happen in B.A Week and HRSS Organization didn’t expect to come out this way.

          Thanks to Prof. Arvin Villodres for his time, patience and effort in hosting the said event. We are hoping for more successful event like this. And we hope that this will not be the last but the start. We are praying that the next set/ batch of HRSS Senior officers will continue this and we also pray for improvements and another successful event’s in the next years to come.

          Big thanks also to those professors and people who share pledges without even asking for return. The HRSS Organization is so happy that we are able to contribute in our simplest way to our dearest College. Because of the funds gained, the HRSS were able to buy new equipments like printer and donated to the College of Business Administration.

          Every organizers and people who helped came out proud and full of gratefulness in their hearts after the event. After of weeks of sleepless nights of planning and preparation we still made the vent full of fun and most of all successful.

          Thank you Lord! We offer this big blessing and successful event to you.

Photography in the Philippines:

Taking Place

          No doubt, today’s media and advertising industry heavily exploits “Fashion and sexy” themes, Over time public perception of what is acceptable has also broadened. This trend drives the demand and naturally glamour photography is increasing in popularity.

          The increase of photography popularity is not very surprising. Many men and women want a different experience to try: wearing different clothes, accessories and trying different creative ideas is a whole different experience.

          Me, personally is one of the few people is so in love with taking photos and photography itself. Since grade school I’m already an aspiring photographer and up to this moment I’m still dreaming of achieving and becoming that person. I love to capture anything under the sun. Cell phone cameras will do for me. Everyone who is into it has different stories to tell behind the photos they capture.

          Photography itself is simply the art, science, and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film, or electronically by means of image sensor. But to people who is serious about it has different explanation what’s photography is all about. Some would say: “Photography is a way of expressing my thoughts and ideas”, “It’s my way of showing my feelings.” And other says “It’s my way of inspiring people.”

          I was mesmerized by one person I get to know through one of the most popular social networking/ photography sites in the world today, Instagram. He said he’s not a professional photographer but he captures beautiful, amazing, great photos and each of them has a story to tell, selfless, with life and will wowed you every time you’ll see it. He is Dan Suansing, 21 years old, a young man from Bacolod City. I admire him for being such a gentleman and humble kind of person. I got the chance to ask him “How photography change his life?” he replied “ I guess it changed me in a way I can appreciate the things around me and especially the environment, because without the environment I can’t take good photos of the sunset, sunrise, clouds, plants, animals, etc.”

          For me photography is a bridge of gaining new friends. Because, by that site I gained one. And that person teaches me how to love and appreciate photography, the nature and everything we have right now. Because, we can’t have to those things forever. So captures many photos as much as you can. He let me experience a world inside the lenses, photo cards, and the camera rolls. It’s a whole different experience and it always gives me reason to come back again and one extraordinary reason to stay.

          Photography open doors to those people who want to show their feelings and emotions in a more creative way. Photography takes you to another place. Photography is not just about how you take a shot, show the angles, different positions. It’s all about the story you want to tell people who see it and their interpretations about it.

          Photography in the Philippines has always been amazing. Filipinos are known for being so creative-minded in every single thing they do. We may not be a rich country, but then we can make solutions out of every problem we encounter and that’s one of the most amazing things we must be proud of. Philippines have a lot of great photographers around and I can say that Filipino photographer’s are much better than others, and I really brag about it because Filipinos are also good storytellers also because we’ve experience a lot, we’ve overcome challenging things in life no one has ever expected to happen, we’ve been through battles and many other obstacles, and we’ve all fought that with one big reason “to live.”

          Photography in the Philippines has already takes it place and still continue to grow.

First Article: OFW Dad

For some people, working abroad is a logical step in their career. For others, it’s a necessity in a tough job market or a desire for a better standard of living. And there are those who do it to experience a different way of life.

Millions of people throughout the world have a desire to work and live abroad, to taste a career and a culture within the unknown. For some it is simply the chance to fulfill a need to travel and explore, to see how others live and work; for others it is a way to progress in their career, to learn from the skills of people outside their own country and to reap the financial rewards that often allure people to work overseas.

If you are interested in working abroad but haven’t got a clue how to go about it (and don’t think the chance is likely), think again. In this day and era anything is possible. In the workplace you just have to set your goals and tread the path in the direction you want to take. 

It was not easy to work a broad; it’s a matter of understanding, support and sacrifices as well as for their families that they will leave here in the Philippines. It was not easy to stay away from them or to say goodbye for a long period of time, but for a better and good future their families they’re doing it.

OFW’s take so many risks and sacrifices just to earn a living. Some of them accept 3D (dirty, difficult and dangerous) works just to earn a bit higher salaries that they can send to their families here in the Philippines.

The wobbly economic and political situation in the Philippines is one of the main reasons why most professionals and highly knowledgeable Filipinos choose to work abroad. They could not see any light from higher authorities to realize success for the country. And for the people they find more meaning giving in their skills in other countries rather than staying in a place where stability is far by reach.

Our country is governed mostly by dishonest and unserious in dealing with the country's economic progress and growth. They are busy arguing, debating and opposing each other's ideas and projects rather than making steps in solving the present problems of the country. There is lack of collaboration, sympathy, acceptance and consideration. They keep on complaining rather than working hard for the country.

The Philippines is a rich nation because of the resources that we have. However it's not well handled. That is why many Filipinos leave yearly to look for better opportunities abroad. Some of them prefer to work and stay there permanently. They adapt everything in their new environment. Second main reason is Poverty; some Filipinos acquire work from factories or manufacturing firms for the purpose of having experience but really don't have any plan to stay longer in the company. The source of livelihood is not enough for the growing family, so one of the partners must decide to go abroad for the good future of the family.

Another main reason is Low Wages - College education is very expensive, parents really find it hard to pay tuition and school projects of their children’s. The moment they land a job in the Philippines, he does not get compensated enough to equal his investment on education.

That is why most Filipino skilled workers acquire jobs abroad where wage is proportionate to education, skills, and experience. Even skilled professionals here grab the opportunity to work as maids, care giver, sales ladies, construction workers and laborers from other countries. As long as it is upright and high paying. Also, Low benefits- most of the companies here especially Filipino owned don't have good benefits but foreign-based companies can give reasonable benefits to their workers.

As a daughter of an OFW, I want to share to you a short story and experience of having an OFW DAD.

          It was year 2010, the very time I saw my dad leave the country for our future. It was hard to say goodbye that night, but he have to. He decided to do it because he want to give us a better future, what we need and what we wants and for us to survive everyday living.

          It was December 2012, when he gets back in the country after his 2 years contract in Doha, Qatar. I was so enlightened by that time and so excited to see him again, as per me I am a “daddy’s girl”. And by that time I really understand much deeper how hard it is to work away from your loved ones.

          As their family or us, their children all we can do to pay their efforts is to study harder because, it is the only and most important treasure they can give to us, a “good education”.

Once my father told me; “If I can stay here in our country for good. I would love to, but I can’t. Just look at the state of our living here, it’s not as good as the other country. There’s a minimal chances of employment. So for now we have to take risk and to sacrifice, because it’s not only for us, but for you and for your siblings.”

We must appreciate effort they do, because without them we’re not here. They are the reason why we’re alive and enjoying and living the life we wanted to be. Don’t wait for the moment of their leaving until we sink in to our minds how blessed we are to have them as our parents or just an in individual who take a big role in our lives. It’s not too late to say “Thank you and I love you”, it might be a word but for them it mean the whole world.

 

 

“We have a lot of kids who don't know what works means.  They think ‘work’ is just a four-letter word.” – Hillary Clinton J