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There’s no place like home
By Frederick Arceo

Editor’s note: The following Philippine Daily Inquirer article is one of the most shared articles on OFW sites and blogs. Written in Filipino, it has been tossed around so much that many sites don’t even know who wrote it anymore. Some have edited it and put in their own remarks. It goes by different titles like, “Iba pa rin sa Pinas,” “Ang OFW ay Tao Rin” or “Pagpupugay sa OFW,” among others. It often comes with an introduction, like the one posted on qatarliving.com that says, “Here’s something for those with spouses, siblings, children, or relatives who are OFWs and especially those who hope to work abroad one day. This may help you better understand what it means to be an OFW.”

This is a translation of the original piece, published with the permission of its author, Saudi Arabia-based Filipino, Frederick Montilla Arceo.

Overseas Filipino

by Anah Galathea

It would have been better to write about lighter things such as a good recipe, love, a busy day, an experience, a movie, etc. But somehow some little guilt is ticking in our hearts when there are more important matters to write about, things that are current and with depth, things that are happening around us.

You cannot imagine the pain when you learn that one of your loved ones was included among the victims of terrorism in a public place, was a victim of murder, or other worse scenarios. Overseas workers like us cannot just sit pretty in a foreign land and ignore what’s happening to our country. If we had too much money, and if it possible, we could have migrated our entire clan to a more peaceful land. We could have started life anew and forget all the chaos our country is suffering at present.

The Scriptures

by Anah Galathea

One cool January day, while on a car, I cannot help but remember that once upon a time in Bahrain, everything I see was new to me. Passing Jidhafs, Sehla, then Al Hashimi Center, I felt like 2005 was just yesterday. The road, the trees, the houses and buildings were bringing sparks to my eyes as I felt so excited to be in another country and to see foreigners instead of fellow countrymen. That time, I thought it was all a dream. There was a sense of disbelief and awe that for the first time in my life, I was a thousand miles away from home, geared up for a new life and some new adventures.

There are little things I would like to compare as I observed them from five years then. In 2005, the air was more fresh, the roads have less traffic, the flats were more

by Anah Galathea

Christmas is a time of revelry or festivities, a time of more love, gifts, food, friends, family, and symbols associated with the season: snowman, parol, Christmas tree, etc.

But more than anything else, Christmas is a time of deep inward rejoicing that once in earth’s history, a Savior was born to save the world.

To some people, the true meaning of Christmas is a taboo subject. But the revelry remains with worldly partying, drinking, or gorging foods. On other homes, family feasting, gift-giving, and other gimmicks take place.

I once remember an email sent to me where Jesus was supposedly talking. He felt like an uninvited guest on His own birthday. While the people are partying on their Christmas event, Jesus was looking on unobtrusive in a corner.

How would we feel if we attend our own birthday but is completely ignored? How would you feel if nobody seems to