"Chatting" via Facebook with a Sibling Sister Working Abroad

Hi, everyone! Good day, everybody! How are we all doing today? Thank God, we're alive and well!

Today, I have had the opportunity to "chat" (for a couple of minutes) with one of my siblings, sister Aida, who, along with her husband, Boy, has been working and living in another country for years. I did initiate the "conversation" while I saw my sister that she's on Facebook at that moment. I asked her how's she and bro-in-law Boy doing, how are their children, working in another country, doing, if she knew that our nephew Julius has passed away, etc. Some other inquiries, statements about my family, and food for thought about life.

She responded by typing she and Manong Boy are doing well, and same with my nephews and nieces and their families. I inquired when are they retiring from work. She replied that hopefully it's in a year from now. She asked me when will I go on vacation to our native land because she informed me she and Manong Boy have planned to go home at the end of the year. She said they have a project in their hometown to oversee. I replied how much I'd love to go on vacation but I told her frankly I have some priority matters to take care of.

It's been a while, almost four years, that I haven't been back to my birthplace to visit. That was when we had sort of a reunion with most of my siblings and family members that we've never seen each other for decades. That was five months after my wife Freny and daughter Tintin, and sis-in-law attended my father-in-law's funeral there. After almost 18 years of being away from my birthplace, I was surprised at how much progress and development I've witnessed there. Commercialization is everywhere. materialism has been very evident. (Majority of the townsfolk have been enjoying technological gadgets, like cell phones, etc.) Globalization and westernization are so active and flourishing everywhere, even to the towns and once rural areas. That's good, attributed to the so-called OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) who remit their earnings back home and that contributes to the overall progress and development of the country. One drawback that's undeniably observable, though: It's getting overcrowded there and the climate or weather has been getting warmer due to cutting of trees in areas where they build bigger houses, European-inspired, or buildings. Pollution, likewise, gets worse. But, that's the price to pay for progress, especially if not controlled or regulated.I'm happy and thankful to see progress and improvement in the lives of the people there. I salute our OFWs for their courage, sacrifices and passion for better life.

My sister Aida and some members of her family, my other nephews and nieces, are examples of OFWs. They leave our birthplace to eke out a living abroad, like the rest of us legal immigrants and naturalized citizens. Lots of patience, perseverance, courage, sacrifices, they do have, like us, here in the States. We fell what they feel...we understand what they're going through...we know what they' encountering and experiencing because we've been there  and continue to experience or encounter day to day. They have stories to tell, like us. And they have big dreams to realize, like us...

Ah, life is totally different to different people! Although we live in one planet, we live in different worlds, I think so. But, we're all the same...wanderers and vagabonds, pilgrims on a journey to Life. And we have Faith, most of us. That plays an important part in our lives. It serves us a purpose to keep going...even if there are failures and victories along the way...Such is life. What is important is the now, the present moment. That what matters to me...living and trying to enjoy and appreciate and love Life in the present moment here and now!

Well, that was a brief "chat" with one of my sibling sisters, Aida, via Facebook. Without Facebook, I just don't know how we, folks and friends, and relations, get connected or re-connected with each other. Thanks, Facebook, for your existence and service to us all! And thanks to YouTube, Google, Blogger, the Internet in general. Thank God for all the people behind these technology, these social networks. Thanks a lot to my family and extended families near or far...Thank you, Jesus!

Until next time around, my dear folks and friends. Take care and have a peaceful day, everyone! As always, I pray, "May God bless us all!"-chris a. quilpa, 25 April 2013

Of OFWs (my "Ilokano" poem), Facebook, Comments, Nostalgia

A while ago, I visited my FB page and thought of writing something about the OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers). I recalled having written an "Ilokano" poem  OFWs. So, what I did was to look for my binder where my collection of my published Ilokano poems were. I transcribed the poem on My Notes, did tag some FB friends so they have the chance to read it, if they so decide, then submitted or shared it to the Facebook community. Here's the complete text of my Ilokano poem, "OFWs":

Dakayo ti baro a bannuar

Iti nakayanakantayo a lugar

Dakayo ti modelo dagiti annak ken appokoyo

Ken uray pay dagiti dadduma nga agtutubo ken tattao

Ta uray no kaskasano

Kinanumot' nagtaudantayo

Rigat ti panagbiag pinarmekyo

Babaen ti anep, anus, gaget ken regtayo

Nagbaliw kasasaad ti biagyo ken pamiliayo

Ken natulonganyo pay panagdur-as pagiliantayo.

Wen, dakayo ti baro a bannuar

Iti naggapuantayo a lugar

Anian a nagpingetkayo a rumuar

Ta diyo iginggina-ipangpangag dagiti gagar

Tuok, iliw, rigat, saem a sagabaenyo

Panagpanawyo patpatgenyo a pamiliayo

Ngamin ipangpangrunayo ti pamiliayo

Isu ngarud a lumuas-umadayokayo

Tapno adda laeng matgedan-maurnongyo

A pagputar-pagpasayaat pagtaenganyo

Ken pagpabasa-pagpaadal kadagiti annakyo

Bareng makaturposda iti tukad a nangatngato

Ken agbalinda a makunkuna a de-titulo

Ket tapno masakbayanda rumaniag-sumagibo

Isu dayta ti plano-arapaapyo

Dumur-as panagbiagda-panagbiagyo.

Idi damona, pudno a maikawakayo

Iti lugar a pagobraan-pagtrabahuanyo

Ta nagpaidumat' ugali dagiti amo-pagserbianyo

Kasta pay dagiti dadduma a katrabahuanyo

Isu ngarud a kapilitan nga ammuen-adalenyo

Galad-wagas panagbiagda a sabsabali kadakayo

Tapno malag-anan ken sumayaat pannakatrataryo

Ken ti pannakilangenlangenyo iti trabahoyo

Pagangayanna, dagiti nakalanglang-nakatungtongyo

Nagbalindan a nasinged a gagayyem-pagayamyo

Ket addan isem ken kaipapanan ti panagsaksakripisioyo

Adu a panagteppel, panagsagsagaba-panagrigrigatyo

Laeng maragpatyo dagiti panggep-arapaapyo

Nam-ay ken gin-awa ti biag masagrapyo.

(c) 2012 by chris a. quilpa

After doing that, I scrolled down my FB homepage. I watched a couple of photos of people who look familiar to me. I found myself sending a friend request to one or two persons. On one of them, I wrote a short message.

While still on FB, I came across and read something from my daughter's posted message about this news of a 17-year old high school student attacked in that part of Chicago. I clicked on the embedded website www.chicagotribune.com/news/local. and read the news article: 6 questioned in Bridgeport beating caught on video. I also watched the embedded YouTube video and I couldn't believe what I saw: this hapless, helpless Asian? student single-handedly attacked or brutalized or tortured by a group of students his age, and caught on video and uploaded in YT. I thought it was staged but it was real! In my comment or reaction, I wrote this: "Read the news and saw the video. That's sickening! Is this what our students are learning in school, at home, everywhere now? Can't believe it! This is totally absurd! That's torture and inhuman! None of the student-attackers has the common sense at all! hope and pray that he recovers soon and that justice is served! I believe in justice and peace!" Then I thanked Tintin for posting that news/info."Take care and start your 2nd Sem right. Am proud of you. Luv ya! God bless and b safe always!" I added. (FYI: My daughter is back in C-ville for her studies. My wife and my sis-in-law brought her back to her dorm after spending the three-day MLK holiday weekend with us in Hampton Roads. No, I didn't go with them that Monday afternoon. Let all three girls go, this time. Tired I've been for the past days. Plus, my back has been acting up again lately. I'd just preferred to stay home. Wished them all to be safe on the road, and my daughter all the best in college! My wife and my sis-in-law returned home safely from C-ville that night. Thanks to God, everyone was safe!)

After posting my comment, I continued "wandering" around, wondering what's going on with a number of my FB friends 'til my eyes got stuck on this photo/video of a horse-drawn carriage called "kalesa" (in Ilokano and Filipino) with the popular Spanish houses on the background. It's about Beauty of Vigan City on YouTube. I did click Like and then I wrote this comment: "missed it! had fond memories esp. during my college days at Divine Word College of Vigan (Ilocos Sur, Philippines) and my teaching days at St. Paul's College of Vigan! if given the chance, would love to be there again! 'halohalo", "empanada", "bibingka", "kalesa" OMG! just wondering when is my next vacation in PI/RP?" And, then, on my next comment, I wrote, "kudos" and thanked "the people behind the production and distribution/uploading of the videos to YouTube."

Ah, the memories of my childhood and young adulthood in the Philippines lingered on me...Unforgettable life experiences I've had beyond compare! As I looked back on my colorful, wonderful life, I can't help but thank God for my life, and the people I have had the opportunity and privilege to be with. Sigh!

Before I signed out on my FB visit today, I happened to watch one of my nieces in Europe singing a Filipino song (karaoke-style) and I listened to her "lovesong" dealing with such kiss that she missed so much from her loved one who's gone with someone else? I did write a short comment for her: "nice performance,___! you've got that talent, huh! got that from Sis and Brod. take care. and regards to everyone over there..."

I'm glad and thankful for Facebook and YouTube, Google, and Blogger, and Wikipedia. I tell you, I am learning something everyday! Thank you all. And, thanks to God, and Jesus, and my family, and friends, and relatives, and other people around me. I'm so blessed! I can't ask for more. Thanks to God for I'm still alive and well!

Well, this is all for now and thanks for being with me, again. Until next time around. Take care and Have a nice day, everyone!-chris a.quilpa, 18Jan2012