My first quarter at work in Bangkok ended up with an excited hop on a plane to Yangon, Myanmar on Friday night of October 16, 2015. I had a promo ticket from NOK Air which only cost me about 50 bucks with 30 kg of check in baggage. What are the forces that pushed me to go back to this awesome place again? It’s simple… Yangon to me is a home. But to be more specific, what motivated me to fly back here is the community of nagkakaisang Pilipino (united Filipinos).
Overwhelmed… it’s like a dream come true!!!
I remember about four years ago, I had to defend myself in front of the ambassador and the vice consul for the actions I did in an attempt to help Filipinos with money remittance problem which until now exists as one of the primary problems because there hasn’t been a law about money sending in the country yet. Western Union exists only to receive money. Some expat Filipinos are clever enough to find themselves alternatives like banks (which I think are still costly). I remember that I had to cry because some people who knew about that secret confrontation with the former ambassador and vice consul reported “misleading rumours” to my employer which almost cost me my job. I remember being comforted by the same employer saying “we hired you because we believe in you and not because of anyone - be it the Filipino community here in Myanmar”. I also remember that I wrote many letters of complaints to the DFA, the senate, human rights, civil service, vice president, and even the office of the president to report harassment done to me by a diplomat during an Independence Day celebration in 2012 at a public discotheque bar in Sedona Hotel. What I am saying is that those days are over. I’m saying that I have come back to witness a miracle in the community - and the embassy. It is not my intention to say something negative about the previous office but that was my experience, what can I do?
I am now a believer of “sa tamang panahon” (in due time). Sa tamang panahon, things that you are hoping to come true will really come true - just don’t lose hope. If it’s not you, there are other people out there who have the same visions as you do who will step forward to build what you have been dreaming of.
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| Si Tatay Ruben magaling palang magluto!!! |
In 2013, I ran as a president of the PILIPINAS.MM, the Filipino Community in Myanmar. All I was thinking was “there need to be changed”. It was an honourable defeat. The community wasn’t ready to change back then (and I probably wasn’t ready to lead as well because I was still very young). I didn’t know that sa tamang panahon, the community will ripen and be ready for this change.
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| Sina Nanay Wilma at Ate Landa, mga magagandang nakapag-asawa ng local dito sa Yangon. |
I am really so happy to witness the event on Sunday, October 18, 2015 where Filipinos gather for a big event organised by the current set of active officers. The embassy was flooding with sponsors. It was terrific to see the “bayanihan” spirit among the community. It was lovely to see old faces who have been my friends since I arrived in Yangon 5 years ago. It was also lovely to see new faces - about 95% of them too.
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| Dala kong mga paninda |
I am a Yangon boy. What does it mean? Yangon is a home. I have a community here - a fabulous community that includes (and never excludes) everyone. This is not the same “de-vy-sive” community I used to have where I feel so excluded or excommunicated because I wasn’t the guy they want me to be - a loud critic. The Filipino Community is lucky to have the new set of awesome officers spearheaded by Ms Olivia! They’re the crew Myanmar Pinoys have been waiting for…
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