FOR THOSE WHO NEVER LEFT
WE LIVE IN AN OLD HOUSE. From far-flung places in Asia, our forefathers came to build this house with their blood, sweat and tears. For centuries, they’ve lived prosperously in this house. They’ve planted trees around it, the fruits of which we now consume. They painted it with regal color, made sure that it looked good to those who passed by. They even put a fence around it to protect it from those who tried to take over the house. There was a time when another family took over the house and our forefathers were turned into mere tenants. But with their blood, sweat and tears, they rose up against these “invaders” and push them out of their household.
I have plenty of brothers and sisters, some have come and gone and there will be more to come. I have brothers and sisters who witnessed our forefathers’ struggle and fought with them. But there are brothers and sisters who were born after the struggle, who did not experience the hardship and the pain they’ve been through. And as our house aged through time, so they were. Some of them felt that this house is too small and too old for them. They started feeling insecure. They felt that the fences that our forefathers built can no longer protect them. Others felt there wasn’t enough fruit from the trees. They started looking out the window, dreaming they lived in a bigger, much nicer house.
Soon they grew up. These brothers and sister have left the house in search of greener pastures. One of them writes to me. He says he’s now a professor at a prestigious university, in a place called the United States, that he’s now living a good life, with beautiful wife and charming children. I remember how our forefather toiled to send him to school. He was the first summa cum laude in Electrical Engineering in this house. Another, a sister, is now a famous fashion designer, also in the United States. She designs clothes for famous celebrities in a place called Hollywood. She now has a good husband and child.
Most of the brothers and sisters who stayed in the house were proud of those who left. I am not sure what to feel though. How can I feel proud when they can’t even visit the house, let alone care for its crumbling structure or send some of my brothers and sisters to school?
I don’t want to see this house go. I can’t imagine myself living in another house, with different neighbors, different “brothers and sisters”. My forefathers dreamt of this house to be one of the most beautiful and most prosperous homes in this part of the world. It would be sad to let that dream go. I want that dream to come true, not just for them but for my own children, and their children as well.
And so, even though I live in an old house, I try as much to make it last, to make it strong, prosperous and beautiful. I take time to water the trees, sweep its “dirty” yard, fortify its fences. I’d repaint the crumbling colors, I’d fix the broken ceilings and floors, I’d wash every nook and cranny of dirt and mold. I will protect this house from the elements, even if it means shedding my own blood, sweat and tears. If no one’s going to do it, who else will? That is why I am here in the first place.
The work will be hard. Even the brothers and sisters who are with me now aren’t always cooperating. Some don’t even want to wash the plates, do the laundry, or sweep the floor. But that won’t weaken my resolve. I have to do what I have to do, even if I had to discipline them with my words, let them be ashamed of what they are doing to our forefather’s house. Perhaps that will make them realize that they have a role to play too.
I live in an old house. But for the length of time I’ve been here, for the amount of effort I exerted to maintain this house and for the love I have for my brothers and sisters, this is more than just an old house. This is my home, and I guess you know what it is right now. My home is the Republic of the Philippines.
For those who never left…mabuhay kayo!
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Napakagandang kwento, sana lahat ay may pagpapahalaga sa ating pinanggaligan. Kung walang nagsimula wala ring magiging kinabukasan.
Sa mga RELA-THIEVES ko na naiwan, sorry na lang kayo. Mahirap din buhay dito sa abroad.
those that remained… by choice— in the philippines, are the true heroes. the world has changed since the 70′s and 80′s— it became smaller with telecommunications and cheap airline tickets. now who would be left to mend the store? IF ALL THE SMART BRAINS WE HAVE OPTED TO GO ABROAD… THEN WE ARE DOOMED TO RETURNED TO THE FEUDAL SYSTEM.
ANTI progress for me… ENGLISH language, religion, and the JEEPNEY!
wow i had goosebumps reading it. A wonderful reflection of this sorry place we have. I still love my house though. I think the main reason why people pack their bags ang leave because they are afraid of confronting reforms and change. It seems so impossible for us especially those who are educated people. I wish there comes a time that all members of the family will go back to their old houses built by our forefathers.
Proud to be Pinoy!
sarap pakinggan….sa may akda
sarap pakinggan….sa may akda
sarap pakinggan….sa may akda
sa may akda nito kaisa mo ako …
no one would have left if our brothers and sisters weren’t so corrupt.
Good LIFE FOR THOSE WHO NEVER LEFT.
Good LIFE FOR THOSE WHO NEVER LEFT.
for those who left don’t want to come back……BROKE.
for those who left don’t want to come back……BROKE.
for those who never left…na naghihintay lang ng padala ng those who left,ano/paano kaya ang kabuhayan mo? kung hindi/walang ‘those who left’…
for those who never left…na naghihintay lang ng padala ng those who left,ano/paano kaya ang kabuhayan mo? kung hindi/walang ‘those who left’…
ahhhh… I am a pinay… lolz… anyway…lahat nmn ng bansa may knya knyang baho eh… basta ako pinay..tuldok…
ahhhh… I am a pinay… lolz… anyway…lahat nmn ng bansa may knya knyang baho eh… basta ako pinay..tuldok…
this message is so contradicting. pero, you cant blame mga pinoy na lumabas, sa dami nman ng coruption ngaun, pati mga magnanakaw nalilibing na sa libingan ng mga bayani. di porque lumalabas ng bansa traydor na, we just want a better life for our fam
Those were the days ika nga…at manatiling memories na lang…
Philippines is a good country but have been confronted with many obstacles. The future of the country is on the hands of the people and leaders that run the country. I cannot blame those people that leave the country because they want a better jobs and more money. Most of these people want to have good future for their families. I’m pretty sure for those who left behind are just waiting for their turns to go abroad. The rich people stay.
great read: dont be an ofw is the message.
nakikiusap po na kung maari po ay pakisalin po sa salitang pilipino. Mabuhay!
would had been better kung tagalog na sinulat
Tama po, pero ayos din naman nakasulat in english para maintindihan ng mga kabataan sa states or abroad na hindi marunong magtagalog. Para malaman din nila, and feel a sense of national pride for our country. And I don’t see anything wrong with going abroad and helping our fellow Filipinos sa ating bansa and wanting a better life for their families. But to forget our real identity and kalimutan at pabayaan ang bansa kung saan tayo pinanganak? That’s just…I don’t know. But no matter what, I still want to see ‘our house’ become beautiful and prosperous. The people and the government really need to work together to make it happen. It’s not impossible. We just need to have a positive vision and hope.
Have a Bless Memorial weekend!