"Black Christmas"

“May all your Christmases be white”…as the carol goes, and it seems practically ironic for me as the left side of my brain grins like that naughty boy inside me. Being far away from home really gives me that feeling of anxieties that keeps building up unless i started directing my thoughts during my childhood Christmas memoirs which includes carolling unfriendly neighbours. Si mang erning na madalas kami pinapatayan ng ilaw pag alam nyang malapit na kami sa kanilang bahay, si aling mely na maagang natutulog si mang kurameng na laging lasing at yung tapat ni aling ebeng na may mg alagang Doberman ata yun malay ko ba kasi pag nalabas sila ng bahay di namin ma recognize kung sino sa kanila ang Doberman. Those were the days ika nga, minsan mag tatalo-talo ang grupo pag maliit ang binigay dahil di malaman kung sino samin ang sintunado sabi ko nga baka ang gitara dahil dehins pa nman uso nun ang mag karay ng videoke. Kasama na din kasi sa carolling ang ligawan di mo tuloy malaman kung san ang punta at mukhang naubos ata ang cologne na padala ni tita kay kuya pati na ang spraynit na patay ang butiki pag nalaglag sa ulo mo.
As usual pagkatapos ng carolling simbang gabi nman ang schedule ang walang kamatayang ispageti, hotdog at hamon na tila paliit ng paliit sa pag lipas ng panahon actually, give away lang sa kumpanyang pinapasukan ng tyuhin ko yung hamon ang siste din man yan kakanin sa noche Buena kasi design lang yan sa mesa. Meron din kaming fried chicken syempre paborito ata yan ng mga utol ko lalo na pag ang tatay ang nagluto siguradong crispy parang pinaghalong dyolibi at maks ika nya. Ang loaf bread na hanggang ngayon di ko pa rin alam koung bakit “tasty bread”ang tawag kya iniwan ko na syang ganun dahil palagay ko tasty nga sya. Simple lang ang pasko kung ano meron masayang pinagkakasya and all these were part of the so called “Noche Buena” tradition that bring members of the family closer in the spirit of Christmas. As time passes, and several Christmas celebration came by, I never thought that some of my closest friends would really be having a “white Christmas” since most of them migrated to several states in America wherein that picture of a winter, snowy and biting cold weather that was permanently glued in our brains when you talk of white Christmas. But I think i had the better of it since mine is totally the opposite being here in a populous Nigeria celebrating the birth of our saviour Jesus and having a fine “Black Christmas” with person I have only met here. Masayang malungkot kasi ibang-iba talaga ang nakagawian natin sa pinas although may konting striking similarity tulad ng pamamasko at bilihan ng kung ano-ano pero hanap pa din natin ang ika nga eh orig. This is my very first here so I get grouchy or should I say homesick eh pano ba naman di ka maasar bibili ka ng maliit na item ang sukli wala ng balikan, mag park ka ng sasakyan di ka pa nakaka atras nahingi na syo ang mga kumag ung mga batang kalye naglipana pero sa isang banda ay ok na din kasi nahingi at least di ka binibigyan ng problema. Well, I guess that’s how it is here so just like what they say“ a man’s got to do what hes’ got to do”…Have a happy holidays and for those who are spending it here like mwah, good luck don’t drink and drive arrive alive.

7 OFWs In Qatar

From: Migrante Middle East Middle East migranteme@yahoo.com
Subject: Petition in suport of 7 OFWs begging in Qatar
Signature/Petition Statement
28 December 2008

Inept Philippine Labor Official in Qatar must be sacked; a mere reflection of Arroyo regime continued neglect to thousands of distress and ran away OFWs.

The more than 500,000 OFWs in Qatar are aghast to know that their Philippine Labor Official whom they supposed could turn to when they have labor-related problems doesn't truly care to protect their rights and welfare amidst the labor malpractice committed by their employer.

The case of the 7 OFWs who beg for food in Qatar in order to survive their daily subsistence is just a few of the cases we have heared. Early this year, same fate has been faced by some 20 OFWs in Kuwait, asking alms from fellow OFWs for their daily subsistence. Our Philippine Officials abroad especially in the Middle East have been noticed to turning their back to extend assistance to distress and ran away OFWs.

If Philippine Labor Official Hector Cruz provided full support to the 7 OFWs who have filed labor case against their abusive employer by providing an interpreter for the 7 OFWs during the hearing of their case, the 7 OFWs would not end up begging for food during this Yuletide season. We could see that the 7 OFWs' respective families back home that relied too much on their remittance would end up begging as well from their neighbors for their daily subsistence.

Willy Catian, a 39-year-old welder, one of the 7 OFWs, said Philippine Overseas Labor Officer (POLO) hector Cruz here allegedly failed to help them when they asked for an Arabic interpreter to assist them in their labor case. Instead of providing them the needed assistance and giving full support to their case, POLO officer Hector Cruz, allegedly told OFW Catian, "I don't care if you win the case or not, what is important is that I can work for your immediate deportation."

Subsequently, the 7 OFWs decided to stay in Doha to pursue its case against its abusive employers. Having no work at all, they run out of money for their daily subsistence; thus were forced to beg from fellow OFWs in Corniche and Fish market.

This is truly a sad fate for the 7 OFWs and their families; a sad fate that was made accomplished courtesy of an inept Philippine Labor Official.

POLO officer Hector Cruz is but a reflection of Mrs. Arroyo's continued neglect to distress and ran away OFWs victims of their employer's abuse, maltreatment and labor malpractice.

POLO officer Hector Cruz is 100% an inept official that must be sacked from office. Its high time that the Labor Dept. Secretary must imposed its metal hands against its inept officials abroad so as to set a deterrent act against to other inept labor officials.


If the 7 OFWs received nothing but rejection and neglect from POLO, Philippine Embassy in Qatar and the Arroyo administration, surely our fellow OFWs in Qatar through their organizations and clubs are ready to extend assistance in whatever form to the 7 OFWs. Migrante-Qatar will be one of these OFW organizations.

We are urging fellow OFWs in Qatar and in the entire Middle East to sign this petition calling for the dismissal of POLO Officer Hector Cruz. His kind must not stay any longer in office that is causing more problems, rather than solutions, to the sad flight of our fellow OFWs.

This signature/petition campaign would also mean OFWs and their families' strong rejection and condemnation to the continued stay of Mrs. Arroyo in power, who has been regarded by OFWs as their terrible nightmare and the very cause of their grim Christmas and sad New Year.

The thousands and even millions of signatures we could gather is our Christmas and New Year's present to Mrs. Arroyo, who should not be staying in power much any longer.


Signed:

Migrante-Qatar chapter
Migrante-Kuwait
Migrante-UAE
Migrante-Saudi Arabia: Migrante-Jeddah, KGS-Migrante-Riyadh, KGS-Migrante-Al Jouf