scene: at a gasoline station
ian : dad, diha na lang diay ka apply og work ? nag wanted man na sila…
this was conversation that transpired between my brother who is set to go back to china to resume work and his eldest, a smart-aleck 8 yr. old girl. sweet but poignant, right?
my neices have always been told that their dad needs to work outside of the country to be able to prepare for their future and send them to the best school and provide them with a comfortable living.
as adults, we know the sacrifice involves a battle with homesickness, getting used to a foreign culture and other sacrifices an ofw would have to make.
but this convo made me realize and think how a child feels when they are made to understand the situation. especially when they are made to feel they are the reason why one of the parents has to be away.
as children, we have been oblivious to how our parents had to make ends meet. what matters is we have our parents and siblings with us and that food, no matter how scant is always there for the family to share.
as children become adults though, what we experienced in our childhood (especially if it had been rough) is something we don’t want our children to experience. such is the case with my brother. perhaps this is something that the children of OFW must be made to understand.
we tend to protect the young from the harsh realities of life. but seldom do we share why we do so. a better understanding of how things come to be can be a way to soften the harshness and make them focus on appreciating the time they have with their parents.
my take 