Migrant workers’ joys & heartaches
ONCE a class teacher asked, “Ano ang pangalan ng pinakamalakas na bagyo?” Dante raised his hand and replied: “Tukso po.” Taken aback, the teacher said: “Bakit tukso?” Dante, quoting a song, said: “Kasi po kay dami ng winasak na tahanan, kay dami ng matang pinaluha at kay dami ng pusong sinugatan.”
** * For the record, the culprit that causes enormous damage is not temptation (tukso) but sin. Temptation is an incitement or attraction to do evil things; hence, it’s not a sin. Even Jesus Christ was tempted but He overcame the devil’s advances.
** * NATIONAL MIGRANTS’ SUNDAY falls on the 1st Sunday of Lent and fittingly so because the theme of the Mass is about TEMPTATION.
One serious family problem among Filipino migrants is due to long separation of married couples.
A spouse working abroad, for instance, can succumb to the temptation of infidelity as a result of long separation. The spouse left behind can also fall to the same predicament.
* * * Today, National Migrants’ Sunday, our attention is focused on millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have sought greener pastures abroad.
However, not a few suffer maltreatment and injustices from cruel employers. The current painful repatriation of contract workers from Kuwait is a dramatic example.
Moreover, some Filipinas land in brothels or sometimes on death row for acting as “mules” to big-time drug dealers. Some are also exposed to sexual harassment and rape.
** * One wonders if the dollars earned abroad are worth it when one’s family is in shambles. To paraphrase the Lord’s words: “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but suffers the loss of his family.”
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We thank our OFWs for the enormous contributions they are rendering to our country. But we pray that God will help them surmount the moral and family problems they’re encountering in their pursuit for a better life.
* * * OFWs AS MISSIONARIES. Some years ago, a cabinet member of the government once related how he met an Italian minister at an international convention in Rome.
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“So you are Filipinos!” he greeted. “I have a Filipina helper at home,” he said. As he tried to continue, he noticed the cabinet man and his Filipino companions were feeling uneasy, thinking he would report a bad news.
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“Signori, please… don’t get me wrong,” he countered. “I’d like to tell you that ever since that Filipina helper has worked with us, our house has become very clean and orderly.
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Besides, my children now go to church regularly because she brings them, and we the parents have to go to church, too, because our children prod us.
“I tell you, she has done so much good for our family. I’m so happy we have her.”
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The above and similar stories illustrate how our Filipino migrant workers have been a positive influence to the families and parishes where they’re working abroad.
In this way, our migrant workers are also modern-day missionaries.
CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK!
* * * SEMINARIANS. The season of Lent calls us to do more acts of charity. One way of doing it is to assist the needy seminarians under our “Adopt A Seminarian” scholarship program.
For inquiries, e-mail me at belsvd@ gmail.com. * * * GOD BLESS — the latest donors: HUGO-DELIA ZARATE, JO VALENCIA, DANNY-LITA PAYAWAL, BEA TOLEDANES,