BAYANING PILIPINO SA ASYA PASIPIKO

Remedios Alcantara Fronteras-Salamanes

A journey empowered with Faith, Determination and Courage;

A Life story full of visions and inspirations.

Macau S.AR, though small in size is economically strong and powerful to house a large number of Overseas Filipino Workers. With over 13,000 Filipinos living and working in the peninsula; Remedios is a familiar face to and among Filipinos, Chinese students, parents and is commonly-known as Mimi to those who actively participate in the programs, activities and seminars of the Philippine Consulate, OWWA and the Pastoral Committee. She is someone you regularly see and meet at the Church, Philippine Consulate Office, Macau Public events and other Filipino gatherings. She enthusiastically supports and shares her knowledge, talents and resources in activities that cater Filipino Cultures and traditions. With her friendly and welcoming face and gestures, you are sure to easily become acquainted and get assistance from her.

Mimi is someone you can never mistake to be a foreigner, she is all that she was; the first time she sat foot on Macau. Her personality and patriotism is evident in every way she lives. A native of Bohol, she is a living symbol of faith, perseverance and courage to and among her family, friends, colleagues and surely to those she will meet and connect lives with in the future. Far from the knowledge of her peers and the public, Mimi is second among the twelve children in a poor, big family. Beyond the poverty line is what life was for Mimi back then.

Growing up in a poverty-stricken town of Tubigon, Mimi at her young age learned the value of hard work, patience and determination. She strived hard and established her ambitions and goals as she understood that she was born in a place; where education was only for the elite and well-provided individuals. Despite the circumstances, Mimi was set to live what she had always known God had planned for her. She was determined to win, knowing that there is a stronger power-Who never fails to support and protect His creations.

As gems are continuously pounded to reveal its beauty and strength, Mimi had also undergone series of excruciating, painful and tearing life tests. At a young age, Mimi knew-well the importance of education so she aspired of becoming a bank manager because she was fascinated with how good-looking managers are and how comfortable their lives can be. Despite the crises she was experiencing in the 1980s, she then went and enrolled at South Western University of Cebu City. With strong inspirations, motivations and innate love of numbers, she chose a degree, Bachelor of Science in Commerce, major in Accountancy. Just as life seemed to be getting better, the breadwinner of their family suddenly died; leaving the whole family chaotic and lost-this event became a turning point for Mimi. Even with great sorrow and no financial support to continue her studies, she was determined to finish her degree. She then opted to serve a wealthy Spanish family in order to support her education. Working hard, she was able to secure a full-scholarship from the university. Her faith, patience, determination and hard-work bore her sweet fruits when she graduated a Cum-Laude.

Mimi was now set on track. She was full of inspirations as she had never forgotten to cling onto her Savior. Her love for her family never fails to remind her of the greatness of her mother in bearing all the responsibilities of being a father and a mother at the same time. All she ever wanted then was, to get a job and to assist her mother to financially support her family in order to send her siblings to school.

As she had given importance to Education, she willed that her siblings also finish a degree or a vocational course. She knew that everyone had God-given talents and these talents are useful to build lives, become fruitful and productive persons in the society. With expectations from her teachers and classmates, she planned and dreamed of working at the Commission on Audit, however, a twist in her life happened when her then employer invited her to join on their family trip to Macau. Mimi had always known that her decisions were divinely-guided and The Lord, Christ always has great plans for His creations. With all that she had been through, she was willing to go and take every opportunity that comes her way.

When the Spanish family decided to go back to Spain, Mimi decided to stay and look for ways to practice what she had learned from her degree. She then, was successfully hired as a Librarian at Sacred Heart Canossian College. Mimi’s experiences of being exposed to different cultures, traditions and people gave her advantages in her new working environment. For over twenty-three years of being an OFW, she had a fair share of a real working environment; away from her native land, her family and friends and completely surrounded by different people she had never known. Despite the challenges, Mimi knows that nights are always coupled with new mornings. She is always thankful for all the experiences she had. They helped her cope-up, stand still and focus on her goals. Her open-mindedness and matured personality became her weapons. She was a model to her co-workers and a source of good manners and excellent work etiquettes to her younger colleagues. She had proven that though she was literally the only Filipino in her work place and surrounded by people with different opinions, cultures and beliefs-she can survive and win their hearts and respect. She is proud that she lives the genuine Filipino characteristics, unique and only to Filipinos-God-fearing, talented, friendly, competitive and down to earth.

Mimi with the abundance of her love has successfully sent her eleven siblings to school-helping them achieve their dreams and live a better life. No matter how financially challenging it had been, Mimi was willing to send her siblings to school-long as they’re willing, and by God’s grace, eight of her siblings have finished a college degree, two went to college but opted to do business instead while one has finished a vocation course. Now, they have their own families, they’re productive and financially independent. Mimi has also extended a hand to her cousins, nephews and nieces by sending them to school. She believes that by so doing, she is multiplying all the blessings that God has given her. Mimi’s helping hand is not come short to her family circle alone but also to her peers, acquaintances and friends. She gives financial support to those who need, she lends money to those who ask, and she refers those who seek jobs to prospective employers. All she does without asking to be paid or receive anything in return.

Mimi is naturally helping, she helps people of all kind and it happened when she realized that her given qualities were instruments to further His blessings in her life. Mimi once again had proven the divine guidance in her life, when one of the people she helped and got friends with introduced her to a man-destined to be her husband. Living a wonderful family life, they are blessed with three children who are brought up to be God-fearing and family-loving children. Their children, as their parents, are also actively sharing and helping in the community. They are talented, academically-inclined and are willing to share.

       

Mimi is made perfect with love that is not always visible in the naked eyes. She is continuously growing spiritually as she actively serves her purpose to her family, friends, congregations and to both the Filipino and the Chinese communities. Her devotion to God, led her to even go the extra miles. At home, at the church or at her social congregations; Mimi works, serves and helps. She is an inspiring mother who enjoys reading stories to her children to build their characters. She is a friend at work, in the community and to almost everyone, she does her best to help and extend a help to people in need. Since ______, Mimi found passion for community work. She is an active member of FOCOLORE movement, Italian for Fireplace. It is a group of missionaries from all around the world. They provide counselling, encouragement and shelter to the needy. A community of love, who shares, inspires and gives. With this opportunity, Mimi has helped many faceless individuals who were once lost, helpless and hopeless. She has travelled to different places, met and made-friends with different people, inspired them and live the burning desire to continue her missions towards humanity.

While passionately serving and providing for her family, Mimi does not forget her Creator above everything she was blessed with. She is an active member of the Church, she regularly attends church activities and enjoys being in the company of her brethren-pursuing godly-work and doing activities to reach out and proclaim Christ’s gospel. With her unlimited sense of responsibility, Mimi is a mediator in the family-bringing peace and order among her siblings. She still supports and provides for her sick mother, as she is her source of strength.

As Mimi lives to please the Lord, she is blessed immeasurably; she has an awesome family that is faithfully-bonded and in good shape, her friends and associates are reliable,.;l she has very good relationships with her colleagues and her financial investments are huge; they include a home of her own in Macau, Real Estate properties as sources of extra-incomes and several more where her knowledge, talents and expertise are very useful. Mimi with all that she has proven and achieved is humble and happy. As she has been living in Macau, she’s been exposed to Chinese people’s cultures and has got the best of them; as she sees them successful because of being hard-working, determined, passionate and futuristic. She is a learner who observes the world, taking notes of the best and looking for ways to make them applicable to her own and to her community.     

Being a Filipino, she knows that her success comes from above, brought up by her native society and inspired and enriched by other cultures she was exposed with. Her life is a source of inspirations to both the young and the old and to all the people whom she has touched. To all the people who know her in and out of Macau, the warmth of her personality is easily remembered. 

An OFW Success story, a product of LSE Re-learn, Re-build, Life is but a journey, make it something inspiring!

Rachelle Magturo, an OFW Success story, a product of LSE

Re-learn, Re-build, Life is but a journey, make it something inspiring!

In the past decades, the Philippines has produced and exported professionally qualified workers in different industries that have obviously helped increased in the revenue for the country’s economy. In return, the government paved ways in support to all Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) around the world. The government’s goal is to ensure that every OFWs are met with the proper treatment and humane work environment, hence safeguarding their satisfaction at work and making them happily-productive Filipino workers abroad.    

For these reasons, The Philippine Overseas Labor Offices(POLO) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration(OWWA) have partnered with different institutions to provide each and every needs of an OFW. As a product, many different programs and projects are being launched every year to satisfy the continuous needs from education, legal, practical, and financial necessities of every Filipino migrant.

One of the best and domineering programs of the Philippine government is the Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship Program (LSE) produced and integrated by POLO/OWWA and Ateneo School of Government (ASoG). The program focuses onto an OFW and their immediate family back home. It is designed to equip them with adequate financial knowledge, leading them to be able to make sound-financial decisions. It further enriches the capacity of an OFW to professionally improve himself; seeking greater opportunities to becoming a Social Entrepreneur.

The first batch of Social Entrepreneurs in Macau was the LSE23. Having been completely inspired and equipped-Rachelle Magturo is a product of the LSE Program in Macao. For over eight years, she has worked as an ‘Assistant Production’ in the admin department of a Printing Company. Over the years before getting married, her goals were centered to her family’s growth and welfares only.

Sending her younger siblings to college has caused Rachelle to neglect herself. She then failed to prepare for her future financial needs. Without any savings, she was broke and wasn’t financially free. Rachelle however, satisfied herself seeing her siblings become successful professionals in their fields. Being married, Rachelle believed that her husband’s influences and challenges forced her to learn about finances. His challenge to better her financial standing eventually led her into the Financial Literacy lessons of the LSE program.

The program has widened her perspective about life and money. She further realized her past mistakes which could have been prevented if she has learned the facts before. She then continued and re-built her dreams as she started to learn the value of Investing. Together with her husband, they are now financially free and were able to use their savings to put up a water-refilling station that does not only pay for their daily needs but also provides for their family back in the Philippines.

The program also re-constructed her self-confidence. She related that in the past years of her employment, difficulties and excoriating challenges tested her patience and piety. At times when she felt like giving up, she would tell herself, “calm down, wait and see.” She wanted to give up but every time, she would remember that she has nothing, nowhere to go and was financially incapacitated. LSE has given has helped her rebuild her hopes in the fastest pace. As a result, last July, 2015 she was promoted as a production manager in the company.

Rachelle’s past experiences both with local and foreign people have fueled her strength to move forward and strive. Her neighbors back then, didn’t believe or were unconvinced that she would finish college. Her job experiences weren’t all glamorous and happy. She has worked as a janitor to sustain her studies; she opted to leave her accounting job and became a domestic helper with the belief that her ambitions of going to Canada would come true. However, it didn’t turn out the way she dreamt it to be. Instead, she found herself being ripped-off her human rights.

As she went back home, another opportunity to work abroad knocked her door in 2007 when she worked at an agency that deployed Filipinos to work in Macao. Since then, she has been living and working in Macao S.A.R.

At present, she is currently in decision whether to go back in the Philippines for good, start a family of her own and manage her water-refilling business or bring her husband to work in Macao instead. Either way, she is in the best time to of her life because she was able to manage her financial aspect in order to manipulate the rest of the factors in her life.

Listening to Rachelle’s life story, I remember a verse from the Bible when the Lord says, “I will make you wise. I will show you where to go. I will guide you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8) It’s a breath of relief, isn’t? A promise and assurance from our Creator, Himself to those who trust in Him. Rachelle’s life story is another OFW story that manifests one’s faith and obedience to God.

As the late, Steve Jobs once remarked, “We can only connect the dots looking backward.” The dots are the stages of life, looking back; we can understand their purposes and how they’ve contributed making and building the one we call “YOU”. May we all find motivations to keep learning and improving ourselves. Let us take advantage of all government programs dedicated to us OFWs. We are loved, we are cared for, we can be satisfied and we can be re-united with our families back home-it is with us when and how long do we want to achieve Freedom!

Why Hou PangYaw?

                                                                         Hou PangYaw 
                                                                        (Good Friend)

Do you have a Filipino (Pinoy) friend?
If you do?
Well, you're lucky! You've got a Good Friend!

Hou means "Good" and PangYaw (Pahng Yauh) is a famous Cantonese word among Filipinos here in Macau, it means "Friend". (Good friend)

This Blog is created to showcase innate abilities of Filipinos to earn and build friendships among themselves and to foreigners. It further aims to highlight that Filipinos are wonderful people and having a Filipino friend is definitely having a Good Friend!

As Filipinos go abroad, most become OFWs, they bring with them innate characters, values and cultures like their being friendly and loyal, trustworthy and loving. Wherever Filipinos go, you are sure to meet them always with their Big and Friendly Smile :)

As this blog covers their (daily/weekly) lives in Macau, it hopes to increase their (the Macau-OFWs') knowledge of the Philippine Government programs and activities specially designed to cater their every need.

Moreover, this blog aims to bridge the skill-based workshops, trainings and forums of  the Philippine POLO/OWWA,  helping them create and achieve the Better and Brighter life, all Filipinos are in pursuit thereof.
Through the successful realizations of these programs and activities, Filipinos not only become Productive citizens of the Philippines but also Valuable community members of the Macau Society.

With over 22,000 Filipinos in Macau, it hopes to bring-in happiness, assistance and fulfillment to and among the Filipino Communities in Macau.

The Title Hou PangYaw(Pahng Yauh) stands for the following meaning.

Hatching
Opportunities to
Upgrade

Pinoys
Abroad by
Networking the
Government and
Yielding
Access to
Wisdom

Through the grace and wisdom of our Almighty God, I pray that everyone who becomes a part of this blog be bless abundantly!
May this blog through and by your support succeed in its goals of enriching the Filipino Spirit and upgrading their skills. Please know that in your simple "like and share", you could bring changes, opportunities and improvements in someone else's life, Thank you!

blessings,

RVQ

BAYANING PILIPINO SA ASYA PASIPIKO: Remedios Alcantara Fronteras-Salamanes

BAYANING PILIPINO SA ASYA PASIPIKO 

                                            Remedios Alcantara Fronteras-Salamanes
                               A journey empowered with Faith, Determination and Courage;
                                         A Life story full of visions and inspirations.


                 Macau SAR is a city of opportunities and the second home for thousands of Filipinos. It has a robust economy that has afforded employment to a large number of Filipinos. To some 22,000 Filipinos living and working in the city, Remedios is a familiar face to and among OFWs, Chinese students and parents.

                  She is commonly-known as Mimi to those who actively participate in the programs, activities and seminars of the Philippine Consulate, POLO/OWWA and the Pastoral Center. She is someone you regularly see and meet at the Church, Philippine Consulate Office, Macau Public events and other Filipino gatherings. She enthusiastically shares her knowledge, talents and resources as well as supports activities that cater Filipino Cultures and Traditions.
                 With her friendly and welcoming face and gestures, you are sure to easily become acquainted and get assistance from her. Mimi has been living and working in Macau for more than 22 years now. In fact, her sense of comradeship and hard-working attitude paved the way for her to be granted, a full-citizenship from Macau Government, where she receives benefits; useful to both her personal and social missions.

                 She is a living evidence of how pliant a Filipino can be, no matter where and how difficult the circumstances are-Filipinos are indeed true Survivors. Mimi’s missions in life have never changed. From a big but financially incapacitated family; a daughter whose only wish was ease their hunger and send her siblings to school into a woman, a mother and an OFW whose missions break boundaries to extend help even outside her family circle and into the world. With her cheerful personality and abundance to everyone, evidences of her hardships and shortages in the pasts seemed to have no traces.

                Her beginnings were truly challenging yet impressive, Mimi supported herself throughout her college years. On this time of her life, Mimi understood her situation. Without working parents to support, Mimi opted to strive hard and set her goals. She became a working student and has proven through her full-scholarship that everything is possible to a person who clings onto the Creator and uses her full potential to fuel up a life. She graduated at South Western University of Cebu City, with a degree Bachelor of Science in Commerce, major in Accountancy.
                Her hard-work bore her sweet fruits when she graduated a Magna Cum Laude. Just as she has given priorities to Education, Mimi willed that her eleven siblings also finished a degree or a vocation course. All she ever wanted after graduation was to get a job and assist her mother, in order to financially support for her family.


                When her then employer invited her to join their family in Macau, Mimi did not hesitate-She knew well that she is in-lined to a better and bigger opportunity. Abroad, she was later hired as a Librarian at Sacred Heart Canossian College. Mimi’s experiences of being exposed to different cultures, traditions and people gave her advantages in her new working environment. For years of being an OFW, she had a fair share of a real working environment; away from her native land, her family and friends and was completely surrounded by different people she had never known.
                 Despite the challenges, she is always thankful for all the experiences she had. They helped strengthen her character, cope-up, stand still and focus on her goals. Her open-mindedness and matured personality became her assets. She was a model to her co-workers and a source of good manners and excellent work etiquettes to her younger colleagues.

                  She had proven that though she was literally the only Filipino in her work place and surrounded by people with different opinions, cultures and beliefs-she can survive and win their hearts and respect. She is proud that she lives the genuine Filipino characteristics, unique and only to Filipinos-God-fearing, talented, friendly, competitive and down to earth.
                  Mimi is truly an optimistic person. Instead of looking at the dark and seemingly all sadness and lonely life abroad; Mimi took the chance to advance her family’s financial situations. Her great love for her family enabled her to send her eleven siblings to school-giving them a new life by making them productive and financially independent citizens of the Philippines.

                  Mimi’s helping hand doesn’t come short to her family alone, she opted to serve the whole of humanity. She became an active member of several local and international organizations and committees. Since 1985, Mimi found her heart helping the poor and the deprived through FOCOLORE movement. It is an international organization of missionaries from all around the world. They provide counselling, encouragement and shelter to the needy.
                  A community of love, who shares, inspires and gives. With this opportunity, Mimi has helped many faceless individuals who were once lost, helpless and hopeless. She has travelled to different places, met and made-friends with different people, inspired them and live the burning desire to continue her missions and commitments to her family, to her congregations, community and to the whole world. Mimi made herself complete through her Focolore and other social committees she involved herself with.

                  While passionately serving and providing for her family, Mimi does not forget her Creator above everything she was blessed with. She is an active member of the Church, she regularly attends church activities and enjoys being in the company of her brethren-pursuing godly-work and doing activities to reach out and proclaim Christ’s gospel. With her unlimited sense of responsibility, Mimi is a mediator in the family-bringing peace and order among her siblings.
                   Throughout the years, Mimi still supports and provides for her sick mother, as she is her source of strength. As Mimi lives to please the Lord, she is blessed immeasurably. She has an awesome family; a supportive and loving husband, children who are respectful, achievers in their own rights and community active. A faithfully-bonded family, in good shape, her friends and associates are reliable. She has very good relationships with her colleagues and her financial investments are substantial; they include a home of her own in Macau, Real Estate properties as sources of extra-incomes and several more where her family-members’ knowledge, talents and expertise are very useful.

                   Mimi with all that she has proven and achieved is humble and happy. Living in Macau, Chinese cultures have got the best of Mimi, she is a learner who observes the world, taking notes of the best and looking for ways to make them applicable to her own and to her community. Being a Filipino, she knows that her success comes from above, brought up by her native society and inspired and enriched by other cultures she was exposed with. Her life is a source of inspirations to both the young and the old and to all the people whom she has touched. To all the people who know her in and out of Macau, the warmth of her personality is easily remembered.