kaibigan bilang bagong bayani

the best part of traveling is the chance to meet up with friends based there. i had the chance to meet bloggers (@iandmac, @mksurf8), a raider, an ex-date. they all lead busy lives but they managed to spend some time with cc. and im eternally grateful.

the sight of me, a kababayan visiting them in their adopted country, always elicits a heartfelt smile, a firm handshake, sometimes a hug. all of them have stable jobs in sg and most have relationships in the phils. they represent different industries in the services sectors. they are typically busy with work. and i get this sense that they are all thankful for their busy lives for both the financial benefits and the distraction from the loneliness that ultimately sets in.

at such young ages, most of them have started to invest their sg dollars in real estate. and in varying degrees, this means some belt-tightening measures in entertainment and leisure.

those in LDR's find it particularly hard and challenging. but i admire their firm resolve to keep their relationships. i certainly failed in that aspect. one of them, my ex-date, is involved with a local. and it is working out well for him.

when they meet kababayan-friends from the philippines, they are all gracious and generous with their time. they love being able to 'orient' their guests on the ways of the locals. it feels great to be on the receiving end of such effort!

i've never experienced living abroad. and i would never be able to say that 'i know how you feel'. but intuitively, you catch that longing to be 'reunited' with loved ones left here in the phils. and you could only just hug them. no matter how much you try, you wouldn't be able to fill the void anyway.

i'm very, very proud of them. they represent a new generation of Filipinos with good work ethic, multi-functional, cross-cultural competencies yet imbued with a fierce sense of identification with being Filipino.

thank you for taking the time and effort to see this kababayan.