"HEAR THEM SAY"
Nakaugalian ko nang makaraan na matapos ang aking pang-araw-araw (daily routines) na trabaho sa opisina and when I have some lull periods, nagre-research ako sa internet nang kung anu-anong bagay na may kapakinabangan o makakatulong sa aking mga planong livelihood projects para sa ating mga kababayan sa probinsiya.
Para kasi sa akin, time is so precious kaya hindi ito dapat na masayang sa walang kabuluhang bagay and searching the internet (whenever I have the chance) is the best way wherein I can make my self off from any kind of homesickness. Kapag kasi busy both ang ating mental and physical attributes sa mga valuable things, we feel inspired and somewhat contented when the day is done.
Nasa ganitong sitwasyon ako kahapon at tiyempong may nire-reseach akong ilang importanteng bagay na inaakala kong malaki ang maitutulong sa aking dalawang proyektong nai-established na sa amin sa Lupac (bunga ng aking maraming taong pagpapakahirap, pagtitiyaga at pagtitiis sa kahirapan ng buhay-disyerto - sabi ng iba, "Katas daw ng Saudi") nang ako'y mapadako sa isang website na nakamangha o nakabigla sa akin. This is really something in sense and a sort of inspiration para sa ating lahat, lalung-lalo na sa mga katulad naming OFW na patuloy pa ring nakikibaka sa napakaraming work-related pressures sa mga kompanya at bansang aming pinagtatrabahuhan.
(Note: Patricia (Pat) Sto. Tomas was formerly the Department of Labor and Employment Secretary (DOLE). Presently, she is a Columnist at ABS-CBN News Online (Beta) VIEWS AND ANALYSIS Section and she is from Socorro, Oriental Mindoro. The hereunder-mentioned article that featured my letter to her was dated May 02, 2008, 10:12AM.
No. 1. The website is the: "Business for OFW - Pinoy Brother"
dated 06 May 2008, by Xed, Category: World - it ran this way (as written):
I am very grateful that Ms. Pat Sto. Tomas allowed me to post in Pinoy Brother her very interesting article. I am sure a lot of OFWs need to read this one. I've read the article myself hoping to gain answers to my questions. Working outside our country leaving our loved ones behind is not very easy. In my case, I work for 6 months on board ship and spend 2 months off. This is not suppose to be the case if I could earn the same amount without leaving the country. When I read this article, it seems some of my questions got answers. So, to OFWs who dropped by here, try to read this one:
"Ang pagnenegosyo ay isang magandang oportunidad para sa ating naghahangad ng magandang buhay". By PAT A. STO. TOMAS
Mayroon tayong tatlong emails na natanggap tungkol naman sa kagustuhan ng ating mga OFWs na magpundar ng negosyo dito sa atin bilang paghahanda sa pagre-retiro o di kaya ay paglisan sa kanilang overseas job para mamalagi na rito at makapiling ang kani-kanilang mga mahal sa buhay.
Katulad nitong aking kababayan sa Marinduque na si Tony at kasalukuyang nagtatrabaho sa Saudi. Ayon kay Tony, siya ay may 30 taon nang nagtatrabaho sa Saudi at balak na niyang magretiro at bumalik dito sa Pilipinas. Bilang paghahanda, siya ay nagpundar ng isang backyard-hog-raising project katulong ang kanyang mga kapatid na dati ring OFWs. Nagpatayo rin sila ng isang meat processing facility upang ang mga baboy ay kanilang ma-process at maging tocino, tapa, longganisa at hotdogs.
Upang mapanatili ang supply ng baboy, hinikayat ni Tony ang kanyang kapwa OFWs at ilang pang interesado sa probinsiya na magpatayo ng kooperatiba ng mga hog-raisers. Subalit sila ay nahirapang imantine ang kanilang backyard-hog-raising dahil sa kamahalan ng commercial feeds. Kaya ninais nilang magtayo ng isang Feed Mill bilang suporta sa mga miyembro ng kooperatiba at nang sa gayon ay muling sisigla ang paghahayupan sa probinsiya. Si Tony ay humihingi ng payo kung papaano sila makakapagtatag ng isang maliit na Feed Mill.
Note: Hindi ko na isinulat ang dalawa pang natitirang emails na kasama ng aking email na inilathala ni dating DOLE Secretary Pat. Sto. Tomas. Instead, I will just mention here the development of my other communications with the Department of Agriculture in relevance to my request for financial assistance for the Expansion of our Back-yard Hog-Raising Project and Establishment of Small-Scale-Feed Mill Project in our province, Marinduque.
After my several communication exchanges with Ex-Sec. Pat Sto. Tomas, I followed-up my letter (emails) to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Vice President (Kabayan) Noli De Castro as well as to Secretary Arthur Yap of the Department of Agriculture, seeking both financial and technological assistance to my projects / requests.
It isn't really that easy to communicate with the Offices of these people (observing proper protocols and/or chain of commands) though there were movements, it's really not certain that such or any request/s from them are being given proper attention and action.
Somehow, after nearly 6 months, the last development was when my letter reached the Office of the Department of Agriculture, Regional Technical Director IV-B, Dra. Yvonne Vinas. Sometime in November last year, I got an email response from her personally that they will be visiting our place, Marinduque by first week of December (2008) and she will be accompanied by her Staff from The Regional Office.
The local or provincial DA Officials were informed as well of their scheduled visit. However, after weeks of waiting, said scheduled visit did not push through for some reasons and we were told that they will re-schedule their visit sometime in January 2009 (last month). It's already the month of February, despite of my brief follow-up email to Dra. Yvonne Vinas, I did not receive any response until now. What really happen, I don't know! Are they still interested in dropping by? I don't know either, the ball is in their court already and it's their decision to shoot it or not!
MY QUESTION TO YOU PEOPLE IS: Do you think they will fulfill their word/promise to visit us in Marinduque as SHE, THE REGIONAL TECHNICAL DIRECTOR OF DA REGION-IV-B promised? Or perhaps I'll just content myself with the old saying that: "PROMISES ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN!"
Sana naman, kahit papaano'y makarating ang mensaheng ito sa mga kinauukulan though, I'm not taking any chances at all. Just to close this matter, kung nais nila kaming tulungan, well and good. If not, I can just request from them not to let us wait in vain. They say it and the matter is closed! If they opt not to fulfil their promise, I'm not the loser here. I can face anybody squarely and discuss the matter when I come home.
ITO ANG DAHILAN KUNG BAKIT HINDI PA NATUTULOY ANG AKING PLANONG SMALL-SCALE-FEED MILL SA ATING PROBINSIYA NA NASISIGURO KONG MALAKI ANG MAITUTULONG SA ATING MGA MAHIHIRAP NA MAMAMAYAN SHOULD THIS PROJECT BE ESTABLISHED. Somehow, I have my Plan-B should I fail to settle this matter with the DA Regional Office IV-B and I will do everything in my capacity to give way to the establishment of this Small-Scale-Feed Mill in Marinduque.
I assure you people that there will be a continuation of this case, until it is well-settled for the benefit and welfare of our impoverished kababayans. I am slowly and patiently gathering information although I am so far away from home - with the IT in place, there's nothing impossible, if we are really determined to do something good and essential.
Kung pagbabalikan lang ninyo ang ganda ng mensahe ni dating DOLE Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas mentioned earlier in this article - YOU CAN COMPARE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR DRA. YVONNE VINAS & DOLE EX-SECRETARY PATRICIA STO. TOMAS SA PAGBIBIGAY NILA NG INSPIRASYON. They are both respected Ladies of their own rights. Ako nga ang nahihiya sa aking sarili sapagkat, I AGAIN FAILED IN SEEKING ASSISTANCE FROM OUR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT though, Malacanang Action Center has endorsed to DA to give appropriate assistance to my request. I just hope the matter won't die, cease or pass-away in the hands or Office of the DA Regional Technical Director IV-B.
Sa kabilang banda, kung ang mga nakatayo o naipundar nang adhikain ay hindi nila mabigyan ng kaukulang tulong upang hindi bumagsak (sa ngayong may devastations ang Global Economic Crisis) COME TO THINK OF THE PROMISE OF THOSE IN MALACANANG - na may naghihintay na pundo para sa mga OFWs na mapapauwi (segun or kumporme sa sarili nilang patakaran).
DO YOU STILL BELIEVE IN OUR GOVERNMENT? BAKIT KARAMIHAN SA KANILANG MGA NAMUMUNO OR CIVIL SERVANTS AY GANOON? Wala na ba sila kahit man lang konting buti na natitira sa kanilang puso at isipan? What shall we call them, then! ALIENS? Aliens that simply alienate their own people who rose them to power? Papaano na kung ang kanilang inuupuan ay magiba, what will happen to them? (good for them anyway and not our business). So, we are anxiously awaiting the "14 May 2010, THE JUDGMENT DAY!" Amen! (Mahaba-haba ang Item No. 1 na aking naisulat ah)
Moreover, sa aking sariling opinyon, TILA AYAW NG IBANG TAONG GOBYERNO NA TAYO'Y MATULUNGAN KAYA, IPINAGPAPASA-DIYOS KO NA LANG SILA! I'm not sour-graping o sumasama ang aking loob - I'm just being fair at hindi naman natin sila mapipilit kung baga ayaw nilang tumulong. Darating din ang araw na sila ay babalikan ng kanilang mga ginawa. God is not sleeping and He Knows Best what's been happening, kung hindi alam ng mga mamumuno sa ating gobyerno ang bagay na ito - let them as well wait in vain when the time comes para naman maranasan din nila ang hirap maghintay ng tamang kasagutan. I just want to help our people dahil kahit ako'y malayo sa ating probinsiya, damang-dama ko kasi ang kanilang paghihirap at paghihikahos sapagkat kami ma'y ganoon din ang kalagayan sa buhay. Although we are doing our very best, ang aming pagsisikap at pagpapakahirap ay hindi pa rin sumasapat upang makaalalay nang husto sa aming dalawang proyektong naipundar. Kung kami'y magpapabaya, all of our sweats and perseverance will just go to waste, much more, my 3-decades of hardships living in the desert.
NO. 2. USAPANG KAPAMILYA: THE ABS-CBN FORUM "Why some people do something rather than just criticize and point fingers?" Mahabang masyado ang blog portion na ito which as well featured my email/letter published at the Views and Analysis Section of DOLE Ex-Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas.
NO. 3. HOW CAN WE HELP MARINDUQUE PROGRESSES? This particular article which was one of the best-posted topics at Marinduque Forum was featured in another website aside from the website of our very own CHRISTOPHER (IAN) MAGDURULANG, OFW FROM QATAR ENTITLED:
"MARINDUQUE: BANGON BAYA, SULONG NGANI".
I personally invite all of you to visit this wonderful site of our friend, OFW Ian Magdurulang.
The entire discussion on the subject matter was featured and I am very happy as you are maybe, that we are getting other people's attention through our simple and honest deliberations on how we could help Marinduque achieve progress. This is really the best way on how we can tackle or discuss things that are in one way or the other with great sense, and very beneficial to the public. "HONESTY IS OUR BEST POLICY". People will judge who we are too in delivering our duties and responsibilities for Marinduquenos' common good.
May I as well take this best opportunity to inform all our readers and visitors of this site
"MARINDUQUE FORUM" that in due time (soon) some of my articles featured here from the beginning of my membership will be featured or published at MIMAROPA SUNRISE, Weekly Magazine by our own, Noel Magturo, Publishing Editor.
Thank you very much and I hope you'll continue patronizing our "Marinduque Forum" so as "Marinduque: Bangon Baya, Sulong Ngani" and our Youth Organization headed by very able Romeo (Jhay-R) A. Mataac, Jr., the "SAKAMAR.org website".
Best wishes and GOD BLESS You All!
TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
OFW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
05 February 2009 / 10 Safar 1430 H
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