OFWs Are Not ATMs

People think that all Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are rich. Maybe some but not all. They thought, just because we are outside the Philippines make us eligible to claim fortune. On the contrary, we are just doing fine. We can live comfortably, enjoy other perks we cannot have back home, and invest our hard-earned money to properties and income-generating business. All these are achieved because of our sweat and toil.

Photo credit: yahoo.com

It is so unfair to be stereotyped as money-spewing Automated Teller Machines where you can get  money day in and out. It does not work like that. Please remember, we are humans too. We work, we flex our muscles, lift our fingers and exert effort to earn a decent living. We won't be here in the first place if we have a better life back home and if there is a high-paying job waiting for us in the Philippines. We too, have our sacrifices. We didn't get here by sheer luck nor fate. We got where we are because we worked hard. We spend money here for our daily sustenance. We have bills to pay, kids to send to school, loans and mortgages to settle and on top of that, money to send back home. We can only stretch ourselves so much but at one point, we need a break too. So, don't get mad if our ATMs will show a sign that says "out-of-order" one day.

Help the Birds this Summer

It is unusually hot these days that even the small creatures cannot bear the heat. It is that time of the year again here in the Middle East when we have to endure the scorching heat and pray that it does not get us. So, imagine how the small creatures feel in this extreme weather condition.

My request is now for my family, friends and loyal readers to please forward this to as many people as you can to spread the word. A little help will go a long, long way to our feathered friends. The picture says it all.

Fund Raising - A Noble Cause

For most who are financially endowed than others is a blessing in itself. I am glad that I am surrounded by people who earn 10 times than I do and still, they go out of their way to rasie money for church and other communities. I see their generosity in an intangible manner. I am sure their recipients are very thankful for the blessing in various forms.

Some of the people I work with have very big and kind hearts. They offer portion of their salary to build and raise schools and churches for the under-privileged in Third World countries. Others sponsor a family and send their "adopted" children to school by sending regular remittances. Some of my colleagues even do candle fundraiser, bake sale, rummage sale, car-boot sale, donations and collection drives to send to worthy organizations in much need of assistance.

Pooling our resources to be of help to others is such a noble cause. As early as now, I am already building my daughter's social awareness by joining volunteer work and contributing to worthy causes and civic drives. I also enlist the help of my friends who are active in church by getting their church fundraising ideas. I also get opinions from others who have done this kind of activity on ways to engage other people to contribute and offer their time, effort and financial assistance.

Giving is more important than receiving. The little things we do and give to our brethren are the things which make all these very worthwhile.

Need A Help?

I have had the opportunity to experience the complexity and difficulty of planning, organizing, packing, and unpacking our stuff when we moved from one building to another in a different locale. It was the culmination of all headaches I have had in my life rolled in one event. My husband is contemplating about moving again to a cheaper flat but I have to tell him to hold his horses.

Moving should not be a horrendous experience. If you are left on your own devices then it becomes one. However, if you seek help from people who are professional movers then your moving experience becomes a breeze. If you are living in the US of A then there are various professional moving service companies you can choose from. I only wish we have the same kind of service here in Dubai. Unfortunately, it is a different case here.

Hire A Helper is an online site offering various professional help in the form of moving, cleaning, lawn help and day labor. The site is well-presented and you will not get lost in the process as you browse through their services. They offer listings for Moving Companies too based on your location and that covers coast to coast.

The site offers great services in terms of moving. They can help you with packing and unpacking, loading and unloading of boxes and furniture and even help you with driving. All these to make your moving experience a wonderful one!

Another great offer from this site is their learning center tab where you can get valuable tips in moving, cleaning your place, about labor and gardens and lawns. I have not seen that many service and products and even tips in one comprehensive site. Check out their satisfied customers' testimonials and you will be convinced to seek their help right there and then.

HireAHelper.com is the right venue to make your moving woes to awes!

Just say No

I don't understand why it's so easy to say "yes" in all occasion for any favor asked but too difficult to refuse one. This is one perplexing phenomenon of human nature - saying no.

Family and friends often tell me I just can't say no to anything and I always get in trouble for that. I thought I'd never learn until this one instance in the office that really pulled my last nerve. I will not go into detail and it was nothing really serious that would result to a "pink-slip-on-your-table-the-next-day (wink!). I was just being a good Samaritan to someone who needed help and ended up being blamed for the mistake and the boss would not hear any from me. The term you call for that is scapegoat (yes! Poor, nice me...) Talk about tough luck. After that incident, I taught myself to evaluate things first and then say no if I would get in trouble. I felt a little awkward at first because deep inside I knew I wanted to "genuinely" (I stress that) offer my aid but I would often pause and think million times whether I should open my mouth and utter "yes." I think swiftly before the adrenalin rush get the better of me and right there and then, the word comes out - no. I did it! I finally said it! Wow! It felt great and somehow a thorn is taken away from me. The first few seconds after saying that is the weird part because you see the reaction of the other person. I need not explain why I had to say no because it's my prerogative.

I am still the ever helpful and dependable person that I am but more wise. I still go out of my way to offer my assistance to people who "genuinely" need it. In the office, I am more guarded because predators are out there to get you. They ask for your help and when you do engage yourself to lend a helping hand, they bite you. They make you clean up their mess like how Pontius Pilate washed his hands after sending Jesus to the cross. It's so unfair to people like me who loves to help others. I get duped in the process.

So, I don't regret learning how to say no. Actually, it's one of the best things I have learned in life so far. I have to say no sometimes for "self-preservation" lest I become a prey. I still believe in the cosmic power of karma. I know that He knows my sincerity when I help people and I'll stick to that. However, while some people (with ulterior motives!) are still plotting to enlist my assistance, here's what I have to say: No, Laa, Nein, Non, Nao, Geen, Het, Ingen, Nahi, Hindi. Comprendo?