THE FASCINATING WORLD OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS

By Philip M. Lustre Jr.

No one could be more expedient and adaptable on earth other than the overseas Filipino workers or OFWs. Throw them in any of the inhospitable places on this planet and they will survive.

The Filipino diaspora is visible in every part of the world. Filipinos are present in construction projects in the Middle East, the fishing boats on the Scandinavian fjords, the cruise vessels on the Caribbean, the homes of the affluent in Europe, or in the typhoon ravaged the islands of the South Pacific. They perform jobs that range from the technical to the menial, or from the lowly to the sophisticated.

In chronicling the Filipino diaspora that took place more than thirty years ago, I have learned that the Filipinos have survived the hostile foreign environment by bringing with them essential Filipino traits and values ​​that all reflect persistence, adaptability, expediency, and a great sense of humor .

The fundamental value is "bahala na" (or literally, come what may). No Filipino would survive the challenges of a foreign job without adhering to this value.

But contrary to Western thinkers, who regard the phrase as an expression of fatalism, the Filipino contract workers have added a new dimension to take care of, which is audacity, or "lakas ng loob" or "tibay ng dibdid" in Tagalog. Only those who would dare to go out to meet the hostile foreign environment could survive the challenges.

In short, the Filipino overseas workers have made "bahala na" a proactive value. It's no longer as static or fatalistic as it used to be in the past. It connotes a daring approach to a situation or issue.

In my talks with workers, I've learned that their world revolves on three other values: "sapalaran," "diskarte," or "abilidad."

"Sapalaran" could be loosely translated as a sense of adventure; "diskarte," ingenuity; and "abilidad," adaptability, or the ability to adapt to any situation or issue.

Ask them on why they are working abroad and their answers would invariably go around on those concepts. Of course, they would add their love of God, or exercise of faith and family, or their sense of family-centeredness.

Our workers bring their practices with them when they go abroad. I went to weekend gatherings of Filipino DHs in Hong Kong and I was treated to afternoons of Filipino snacks. I feasted on lumpia, pancit and dinuguan, which were cooked by Pinay there.

While I felt aghast by their collective inability to collect their garbage and Hong Kong's central square, I felt relieved that they make sure they send their earnings back home. But I have discovered some disturbing practices.

Do you know the Pinay there on daily jueteng bet (informal lottery)? Or do you know they also have that ending PBA game?

Also, Pinay have made informal lending a part of Hong Kong's underground economy. Cash strapped Pinay could borrow a certain amount of money from fellow Filipinas, using their passports as collaterals.

I was told they also have detergent (cockfighting) for Pinoys there. For quite a while, they succeeded in bringing chicken eggs and incubate them there to become fighting cocks. Their Chinese friends to join them in betting.

In Singapore, those Pinay had different stories. I heard stories about those bleeding heart DHs, who became depressed (binuryong) and committed suicide by jumping from the high-rise apartments of their employers. But this is another story.