I am happy because….
- It’s my daughter’s birthday tomorrow.
- My mom and brother will go on vacation to visit our eldest sibling in Geneva, Switzerland. (It’s about time my mother takes a trip to visit her grandchildren)
- Despite weeks of neglect, my blog is still here!
- The dry spell has ended. The rains are here!
- I enjoy my work and the people I work with/for.
- My dogs like to curl up beside me especially during stormy nights.
- I am blessed with friends who don’t demand more than I am able to share with them.
- I lead a really simple life.
- I believe that God (and my father) watches over me.
I am sad because …
Our soldiers are dying in Basilan and Sulu and no one trustworthy enough can articulate why.
We could be so much more than this – shortsighted, reactionary instead of competitive, visionary and purposive.
The number of OFWs trafficked abroad continue to increase, while budgets for their welfare and assistance remain the same.
Children continue to drop out of school because of hunger and poverty.
Children who are able to stay in school don’t learn as much as they should.
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Susan “Toots” Ople
My friends call me Toots. Am the youngest of seven siblings. Our family hails from the coastal town of Hagonoy, Bulacan and we are proud of our roots. My daughter's name is Estelle and she's a brilliant debater/person. I love dogs! And I enjoy writing in the dead of the night.
i don’t want to add sadness to your day but this will make you revolt
” However I forgot that the hub was in Dubai and the majority of the OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) were stationed there. The duty-free shop was overrun with Filipino workers selling cell phones and perfume. Meanwhile, I wanted to slash my wrist at the thought of being trapped in a plane with all of them.
While I was on the plane (where the seats were so small I had bruises on my legs), my only consolation was the entertainment on the small flat screen in front of me. But it was busted, so I heaved a sigh, popped my sleeping pills and dozed off to the sounds of gum chewing and endless yelling of “HOY! Kumusta ka na? At taga sann ka? Domestic helper ka rin ba?†Translation: “Hey there? Where are you from? Are you a domestic helper as well?†I though I had died and God had sent me to my very own private hell.
On my way back, I had to bravely take the economy flight once more. This time I had already resigned myself to being trapped like a sardine in a sardine can with all these OFWs smelling of AXE and Charlie cologne while Jo Malone evaporated into thin air.–Malu Fernandez
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(I’m really sorry, for I was so scheming, I am really on outraged and so does the whole pinoy blogworld–dave)
(but it made me happy that pinoy bloggers have undisputed sense of nationalism and affections towards our pinoy expats..)
Hi Toots. We all feel the sadness. But we learn to count our blessings and live life one day at a time. I’m glad our OFWs have you and not Malu.
Thank God because of one Susan Ople! I’m with you Ma’am.as far as children are concerned. My husband is a Barangay Chairman in Barangay San Antonio,Himamaylan,Negros Occidental. Reading Teacher ho ako sa Bacolod City at pumupunta ako sa bundok para tulungan ang husband pag weekend. Dati walang mga libro doon pero God allowed me to reach people who were so selfless that hindi lang books kungdi iba pang mga bagay para sa mga bata. Sometime ago sabi ng sister in law ko nabasa niya ang column niyo at to make the story short nagrespond daw ho kayo. We did submit names and sizes and my sister in law was told to just wait because you intend to distribute the pairs of shoes yourself. Nagbas ho ako bakit shoes ang project niyo so I was moved after reading about your Honorable father, the unforgettable Blas Ople. Natawa din ako reading about his driver. Well I have to stop here. Bukas pupunta na naman ako sa bundok kasi may natipon na naman kami ng sister in law ko para sa mga tao doon. By the way nanalo ulit ang husband ko as Barangay Chairman last Election. More power to you and I hope and pray you will be able to read this.God bless you and your family esp. your Mom and daughter Estelle.
Diane