Immigrants
I was reading the news earlier about illegal immigrants dying near the Mexican border in Arizona. These immigrants leave behind their families and what little they have back in their country lured by the dream of employment and better lives. They would do anything just to make it to America - the "Land of Opportunities" and "greener pastures". Some people make it across the border and there are those that aren’t so lucky. Either they get arrested and sent back to wherever they came from or die from hyperthermia or heat stroke just like John Doe No. 130.
It got me thinking that if the Philippines were just near the border of any US state, a lot of Filipinos would be doing the same. Maybe you’ll ask why I am so sure about this. Well, it is because almost 7 years ago I was one of the many Filipinos lined up outside the US Embassy in Manila waiting for the chance to be interviewed by a consulate. Although my primary reason for leaving was to be with my husband, in the back of my mind I was also thinking that this would be a great opportunity to find a better paying job than what I had in Manila. Which means I will be able to help out relatives back home and at the same time give my own family a life of comfort.
There are literally hundreds of US Visa applications being reviewed and processed every single day. Some are even on their third attempt to be able to set foot in this country. I really can’t blame them why they try so hard to come here. Life in our own country is hard, what with all the poverty, government corruption, unemployment….the list is endless! Living in a foreign country - be it in North America, Europe or Asia - is hard too. But one thing about Filipinos is their patience and hardwork. Seldom do I see or hear Filipinos who are not doing well. It is Filipinos who take the menial jobs that the foreign country’s citizens don’t want. And yet they complain that we are taking away all the jobs. Filipinos are able to do many different things and are adaptable to any kind of situation. Maybe that’s what sets us apart from the rest. We don’t mind getting our hands dirty as long as its an honest job, one that will put food in our stomachs, clothes on our backs and a roof on our heads. Filipinos are truly a different breed and I am proud to be one of them.
