The heroism of our OFWs

(First of two parts)

When I was still working as corporate executive in San Miguel Corp in the 1980's and for Pepsi Cola in the 1990's, I did not seriously take the government's attribution to the OFWs as Bagong Bayani. In fact, I begrudged them for not paying any income tax to the Philippine government after then President FVR signed the law, exempting the migrant workers from income taxation. But since I worked as Labor Attaché in 2005 until now, it dawns on me that indeed, there is a lot of heroism among their acts and achievements. Of course, there are a few bad eggs here and there, giving our country a bad name, but the greater majority of OFWs have excellent performance and do make us proud.

Their heroism, is first and foremost, to their families. They work long hours, accept risky assignment and even graveyard shift in difficult and highly dangerous locations all in the name of their loved ones. They send money for children tuitions, for parents' hospitalizations and even for their wives' long delayed Belo or Calayan lipo suction. They'd give up their rest days and even work on holidays just to send more money to their family. And so, they'd feel betrayed and devastated if their spouses commit infidelity or their children drop out of school and become drug addicts or juvenile delinquents.

Heroism to fellow OFWs

There are OFWs out here in the Arab world who follow the Ateneo's Ignatian spirituality of being men for others. (not men for others' wives, of course) they spend their weekends, not only giving fish to the less fortunate migrant worker's, but also by teaching them how to fish. They'd volunteer as resource persons to the Labor Attachés Skills Training Program. In Kuwait today, I have three outstanding groups, that give five computer lessons every Friday and Saturday - the Triskelion Int'l (Alumni of Tau Gamma Phi) led by Eng'r. Jun Panaguiton, the ITP (IT Professional) by Eng'r. Cesar Castro and the Society of Engineers. led by Eng'r. Francis Roque.

There are also Filipinos who volunteer to do psychological, spiritual and emotional counseling to distressed DH's in the FWRC (Bahay Ni Kuya), and they include Pastor Martin Banting, Pastor Gaspe Panesa, Pastor Melvin Ramirez, Bro. Frank Catalbas, Hiyasmin Guinomla and my wife Emma S. Jimenez. One other group, LIFE (Legal of Integrated Filipino employees) are manning our Paralegal Services Center. They trained under me for eight weekends on BLAWSFIL (Basic Laws for Filipinos). These are people who inspire me to work harder and do more for the 140,000 OFWs in Kuwait. (To be continued)

* * *

Email: [email protected]