Kamusta mo diha? and to all my friends across the globe!
Today, I sit here in my room, the AC humming its usual tune, but there’s a different kind of hum in the air, a low, unsettling vibration that’s been lingering since the news broke about Israel’s attack on Iran. My mind, usually busy planning the next grocery run or dreaming of my next Netflix series to watch, is now filled with a cocktail of worry, a pinch of dark humor, and that deep-rooted Filipino resilience we always manage to pull out of our sleeves.
You know, life here as an OFW is often a balancing act. We juggle homesickness, demanding jobs, and the constant budgeting to send money back home. We’re used to the hustle, the occasional loneliness, and the scorching heat. But lately, it feels like we're not just balancing our personal lives, but the entire geopolitical chessboard too.
When I first heard about "Operation Rising Lion" sounds like a Hollywood movie, doesn’t it? My heart did that familiar jolt. The kind that says, "Oh no, WTFing hell is this now?" My first thought wasn't about the nuclear facilities or the missile arsenals they kept showing on the news. No, my mind immediately flew to my family here. Moabot kaha ang gubat dinhi? Unsa na pud kahay mahitabo? Makaya kaha namo? (Will the war reach here? What will happen now? Will we be able to endure it?) It's that primal worry every OFW carries like an invisible backpack.
The news said Israel hit nuclear sites and military leaders. Iran retaliated with drones and missiles. Naunsa nasad ni sila!? (What's their problem again!?) It’s like watching two angry neighbors throwing rocks over a fence, but these rocks are, well, bigger. Much, much bigger. And we, the OFWs, are just trying to keep our laundry from getting hit. My wife joked, "Basin sunod mo deliver diri drone na!" (Maybe next time, they’ll use a drone to deliver here!). We laughed, a bit nervously, because what else can you do? It's that deep-rooted humor, you see, the one we use to keep from crying when things get too heavy.
The fear is genuine. You try to go about your day, cleaning, cooking, caring for your children, but in the back of your mind, there's always that question: Hangtud kanus-a kaha ni? (How long will this last?) Will the conflict spread? Will the country I am in now be affected? They say it’s about Iran’s nuclear program, a "preemptive strike" to stop a threat. But for us, it translates to potential instability. Higher oil prices mean higher costs back home. A shaky region means less job security here. It's not just about the big politics, it's about our daily bread, our families' future.
We gather around the TV, Netflix usually on for comfort, but now it's glued to the news channels on YT. We dissect every update, every analyst's prediction. "Baws-baws nani ron!" (They will revenge each other! What hafen vella?). My wife sighs, "Ampo nalang jud ta ani!" (Let's just pray only! Why you cryin again?) And we do. We pray for peace, for our safety, for our families. It’s a collective act of faith and hope that somehow, this storm will pass.
Sometimes, I look out my window at the familiar desert landscape, the tall buildings shimmering in the heat, and it feels so normal, so peaceful. Then I remember the news, and it’s a jarring reminder that even in this seemingly stable bubble, we are part of a larger, unpredictable world. It’s a bittersweet feeling, this life. We come here for a better life, to provide for our loved ones, and in doing so, we often find ourselves caught in the currents of global events.
But through it all, we persevere. We share our worries, our humor, and our prayers. We remind each other why we are here, why we endure. Because that's what OFWs do. We are the quiet warriors, sending our love and our earnings home, hoping for a day when the only jolt in our hearts is from seeing our families again, safe and sound.
Sending strength and prayers to everyone affected by these trying times. Keep safe, keep praying, and never lose that spirit!
