Those were sighs coming from most of UPAK office staff as they found out about 150,000
OFWs presently live and work in Korea. They have reasons to be happy since it means more mouths are fed, more children to
go to school, and more jobs are created in the Philippines. For us, we felt mixed emotions as we prepared to send out the
third issue of Pinoy Balita. For, as we distributed the first and second issues of this newsletter, we found out that OFWs
are toiling not only in the cities but also in remote farm and fish villages. This modern day heroes have left their motherland
and moved to Korea bringing with them their dreams of a brighter future fr their loved ones and themselves.
Yes, indeed, the fast increase in OFWs in Korea is beneficial to many Filipinos but we are saddened
by the thought that as a father reaches Korea he may have left a child who from time to time longs for a loving fatherly hug;
as a mother embarks to a foreign country she may have left a baby who still needs maternal caress; and as a son leaves for
a job overseas he may have left behind elderly parents who need his day-to-day support.
As seen in other countries where OFWs abound, we also found out that 40 organizations representing
various regional origins such as associations for Kapangpangans, Ilonggos, Ilocanos, Bisayas, and what have you already exist
showing the Fil;ipinos penchant to be islands and not a solid and unsegmented peninsula. Each group often communicate among
themselves and organize gatherings to celebrate fiestas, events and other reasons just to be able to meet each other. In these
gatherings "longaniza", "tocino", "tilapia" and other regional delicacies are sold in spontaneuosly set up "tiangge"
or flea market and enthusiastically devoured. As an interview OFW explained, "It's not only to savor these delicacies that
makes the dining experience enjoyable but more of thse feeling that one seems to be transported back home eating together
with his or her friends and family." This ever present and unending nostalgia touches us deeply and makes us work harder to
fulfill the aim of UPAK which is to unite these diverse groups into one, united and strong group.
One of our ways to fulfill this aim will be to devote a portion of Pinoy Balita to stories of
and letters to/from OFWs and their families that foster unity and solidarity and at the same time share their joys and sadness
of living and working abroad. We will also be requesting other readers such as Philippine government officials like municipal
mayors, governors, congressmen, senators and others to send encouraging news and messages to you our main readers the OFWs.
God bless you and your family!
P.S.
Pinoy Balita welcomes news, reports and other journalistic contributions from our readers specially
those coming from barangays, towns or cities, and provinces.
