September 27, 2007
I'm here...
...still here, in the Philippines, at home, writing this blog entry.
I wasn't able to fly away because apparently, I didn't have exit clearance from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). Of course, I had no idea whatsoever that every Filipino working abroad (immigrants are excluded) has to pass by the POEA office first to get cleared to leave the country. If you are a Filipino and you are going to work abroad soon, please make sure to go to the POEA office (the main branch is in Ortigas) and get your exit clearance ASAP; here's how.
There I was, having exhausted all my tearful farewells, all ready to check-in, only to be told I couldn't leave. Talk about anti-climactic. My family had to fetch me from the airport, already a balikbayan. We just laughed at the whole episode. Thanks to our contact at the POEA, I was able to secure my exit clearance in record time; 6 hours, as opposed to days! My flight has been re-booked and I'm leaving (again) tomorrow morning at 8 am.
There's a reason things like this happen. I've been able to spend another day with my family, make some last minute purchases and printouts, and even watch the Ateneo-La Salle game (hahaha, talo La Salle, 1 point!). I bet tomorrow's farewell won't be as heart-wrenching.
(P.S. I am now officially an OFW, and proud of it! Mabuhay ang mga Bagong Bayani!)
...still here, in the Philippines, at home, writing this blog entry.
I wasn't able to fly away because apparently, I didn't have exit clearance from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). Of course, I had no idea whatsoever that every Filipino working abroad (immigrants are excluded) has to pass by the POEA office first to get cleared to leave the country. If you are a Filipino and you are going to work abroad soon, please make sure to go to the POEA office (the main branch is in Ortigas) and get your exit clearance ASAP; here's how.
There I was, having exhausted all my tearful farewells, all ready to check-in, only to be told I couldn't leave. Talk about anti-climactic. My family had to fetch me from the airport, already a balikbayan. We just laughed at the whole episode. Thanks to our contact at the POEA, I was able to secure my exit clearance in record time; 6 hours, as opposed to days! My flight has been re-booked and I'm leaving (again) tomorrow morning at 8 am.
There's a reason things like this happen. I've been able to spend another day with my family, make some last minute purchases and printouts, and even watch the Ateneo-La Salle game (hahaha, talo La Salle, 1 point!). I bet tomorrow's farewell won't be as heart-wrenching.
(P.S. I am now officially an OFW, and proud of it! Mabuhay ang mga Bagong Bayani!)
August 19, 2007
If you are a Filipino, then I guarantee that your day is sure to be ruined after reading this. Even if you're not a Pinoy I'm pretty sure you'll at least lose your appetite. Read the comments and follow the links and you will find out why everybody hates Malu Fernandez nowadays.
After some thought, I've finally figured out why the article was so offensive for me. Sa lahat ba naman kasi ng lalaitin niyang mga tao, mga OFW pa. It's like going to America and making fun of the soldiers stationed in Iraq. Malu, make fun of politicians and celebrities if you like, I might even laugh with you, but at least have some respect for our tireless workers who give us pride and hope and help keep our economy afloat. They make such sacrifices out of need, yet what have you done for our country lately, aside from giving us shame?
(A less venomous commentary can be found here.)
Update: Not sure if this is 100% official/confirmed, but this article reports that Malu has succumbed to the public outrage demanding her resignation! I hope this is the end of this emotionally-charged episode. There are lessons here for all of us, not just Malu (and I have no desire to expound on them at this time).
However I forgot that the hub was in Dubai and the majority of the OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) were stationed there. The duty-free shop was overrun with Filipino workers selling cell phones and perfume. Meanwhile, I wanted to slash my wrist at the thought of being trapped in a plane with all of them.
On my way back, I had to bravely take the economy flight once more. This time I had already resigned myself to being trapped like a sardine in a sardine can with all these OFWs smelling of AXE and Charlie cologne while Jo Malone evaporated into thin air.
All in all, it’s been a pretty good summer. Jetting from the Aegean Sea to the Pacific may sound a bit pretentious until you wake up in economy class smelling like air freshener.I wasn't planning on blogging tonight or even for the next few days but people like Malu Fernandez can make anyone's blood boil. As if the Philippines wasn't experiencing enough hardship right now without this bitch's derisive attitude towards her own countrymen. Is it possible for a country to disown one of its own citizens? If not, can we make an exception just for her? Punyeta.
After some thought, I've finally figured out why the article was so offensive for me. Sa lahat ba naman kasi ng lalaitin niyang mga tao, mga OFW pa. It's like going to America and making fun of the soldiers stationed in Iraq. Malu, make fun of politicians and celebrities if you like, I might even laugh with you, but at least have some respect for our tireless workers who give us pride and hope and help keep our economy afloat. They make such sacrifices out of need, yet what have you done for our country lately, aside from giving us shame?
(A less venomous commentary can be found here.)
Update: Not sure if this is 100% official/confirmed, but this article reports that Malu has succumbed to the public outrage demanding her resignation! I hope this is the end of this emotionally-charged episode. There are lessons here for all of us, not just Malu (and I have no desire to expound on them at this time).
Labels: bigotry, Malu Fernandez, OFW, people, Philippines
