OFW Diaries Vol 1

A few days from now I will mark my six months stay here in Singapore. Six months?everything happened so fast. I didn't realize that it has been that long.

4th of December when I arrived. A place that has always caught my imagination. I had always dream of working here. I know a lot of people from my previous companies that had opted to work in Singapore as it has been a very favorable place. A relatively safe and peaceful environment, better pay to provide a more decent life and the power to come back anytime in the Philippines for a vacation, even just weekends will do. These and more are the things that Singapore can offer.

My journey in Singapore has proven to me very exiting. Before the plane landed, I was very keen to look at the aerial view of the country. When I was in the cab on the way to my apartment, I was looking all over the place. The taxi driver smiled and asked me..."You are new here?" I just smiled. I had been so obvious as usual as I would not know how to hide my emotions.

I conditioned my mind before I left Manila that there will be many adjustments which I shall face once I am here. New work environment, new housemates whom I actually do not know, and a brand new lifestyle I am not accustomed. I always have someone to look after me back home. Now, its all me. I need to cook my food, wash the dishes, do my laundry, iron my clothes, do the grocery and budget my finances.

I would always be grateful for the opportunities that this place offers me. It's people as well has been so good with me. Sometimes at the hawker center I would meet some locals and they would exchange conversations. In the lift of my apartment, I would always receive a smile when I happen to share it with them. 

Being here, fulfilling a lifelong dream has its ups and down. Now you realize that you had better purchasing power and at the same time, there's just so many things that cannot be compensated by it. The family gatherings that you'll missed, the birthday celebrations of friends and night outs you cannot attend, the laughter and cry of my daughter,  not to mention that milestones in her infant life that I totally missed out, and of course... I just missed my lovely wife so much that if only I literally have wings I would have flown back home just to kiss and hug her.

But I'm hanging on, I know someday my baby and my wife will be here as well to be with me.

Ang Buhay

Today, I was told that a friend of my kumare passed away who I think in his late 20's. I don't personally know him but I just got so affected with the news. I guess I am one with everyone in saying no one should die at such age when all the possibilities are still at the verge of happening.

Kaya dapat talaga mahalin natin buhay natin,kung may mali dito...gawan mo ng paraan, kung kay gusto ka, ituloy tuloy mo, i enjoy natin lahat ng pangit at magandang nangyayari, araw araw magpasalamat sa biyaya ng muling pagkagising. Matuto mag sorry kung kinakailangan o kahit na hindi kailangan kung hinihingi ng pagkakataon, pilitin gawin ang tama at iwasan ang mali, tantanan ang mga bagay na patuloy na nagpapasakit ng kalooban mo at bigyan ng pansin ang ilang aspeto ng buhay na may potensyal, wag gawing big deal ang di naman big deal, tignan kung ano ang maganda sa pangit, gumising na may ngiti at pumikit sa gabi na naka ngiti pa rin, kumain ng tama at wasto, ilabas sa sistema ang mga negatibong enerhiya.

Kasi isa lang buhay natin, hindi ito kagaya ng super mario brother game na nilalaro natin nun bata pa tau. Pag na dead ka, di mo na pwedeng ulitin simula level one.

THOUGHTS ON FACEBOOK

Facebook has been for years the outlet of many people in speaking of their minds, just like others I would rant, laugh, tell stories, shout a shout out and play around in Facebook.

Unlike others who thinks what you say should be moderated and be adjusted to the tune of other users of the site... I believe that people who are bold in giving thoughts, opinions and experiences in FB should not be bothered and be allowed to do the way they want to do it. At any rate, it is one's character that is revealed in every action you make therein. Your posts... as always is a reflection of who are you as a person.

I never liked timeline when it arrived unannounced at my page, I was just pushed to accept the new lay out just like most of us did. But eventually, I learned to be accustomed to it and one thing I learned in timeline is you can go back to certain months and years of your FB life. It was fun looking back at old posts, pictures and stories in different era of your life.

I was browsing my page timeline and I realized that facebook has also served as my online diary.. I checked my shout outs and here are some of my most memorable thoughts I had shared about how I feel about life in general.

April 27, 2012

Homesickness? I guess no one gets over it, neither get used to it...I guess you just deny and ignore it. T _ T

 Top of Form

Bottom of Form

April 14, 2012

Let the children be children so they would know to act their age when they grow up... 

 April 7, 2012

Dear God, please help me digest the unspoken words that echoes so loud at the back of my mind. May you give me broader mind-set to comprehend and please guide me through...

September 25, 2010

Genuine friendship does not seek confirmation. It has an open ending question how long and how far things could go. You just let them stay as long as they want and never ask who your true friends are. Because it is not in asking that you will find answer, it is merely by observing who are with you whenever you are on top and whenever you are hitting the bottom.

Top of Form

Feb 24, 2010

I think a women is most beautiful when she would not go beyond her means to look attractive : )

Nov 7, 2009

Once in a while we tend to hate ourselves. We just don’t like the way we utter a word, did something wrong and became totally such a mess…but at the end of the day what matters is you bounce back thinking that tomorrow is another chance to do things right.

Top of Form

REFLECTION

The moment you learn to accept yourself the way you are and embraced all of your good and bad bones is the moment you start living a life.

From then on, you wouldn't be needing approval from the people around you to confirm how great or terrible you are...you wouldn't be clinging for sense of belonging as you used to do when you were younger.


Because you would realize that as much as you had accepted the good and bad in you, you had as well accepted all the good and bad that runs on your circle.