DIRECT FROM THE MIDDLE EAST: OFWs' coping mechanism-2

KUWAIT — Here in the Arab world, the Catholic Church is becoming bigger and stronger because of the OFWs. There are El Shaddai chapters and prayer partners all over the Middle East, JIL (Jesus Is Lord) communities and INC (Iglesia Ni Kristo) and many other sects and congregations. The OFWs are in the thick of religious involvements. They go on medical and dental missions, gift-giving and feeding programs for the distressed workers, who are housed in the Bahay ni Kuya (FWRC). These activities are not only good for the beneficiaries but for the volunteer OFWs as well. They keep them busy and away from self-pity and idleness, which is the workshop of the devil. Amen!

Community works and club projects

There are all sorts of Filipino clubs, associations and societies. The regionalist groups like the Kapangpangans, the Bicolanos, the Ilocanos, the Hiligaynons and the Bisayans. They hold a lot of parties, looking for all sorts of excuses to come together, eat, drink, sing and dance together. They hold a lot of induction ceremonies and anniversary celebrations.

They sponsor cultural shows, invite celebrities from Manila, sell tickets, go on fund-raising for victims of typhoons, floods, landslides and shipwrecks. They hold elections and bicker and quarrel, then reconcile and quarrel again. They make “beso beso” even when there is an A(H1N1) virus scare but they’d gossip against each other. But when they meet, they kiss like long lost brethrens and friends. Crazy cycle but all these keep them going and make them cope with boredom and nostalgia.

Sports and self-improvements

Those who are more physical than spiritual or social, would rather dabble on basketball, bowling, badminton, and tennis, practical shooting, and those who fancy themselves as the cream of the OFWs social structure, go into golf. More fashionable and elitist. They hold all sorts of competitions and give away a lot of golden cups, like Ambassador Cup, Consul Cup, and Labor-Attaché Cup. They collect trophies, medals and plaques. Not only do they build muscles, they keep away from depression.

Part time jobs and sidelines

The workaholics never stop working. Their occupation is work. Their hobby is work. Their diversion is more work. They repair watches, sell jewelries, beauty products, food supplements; do some real estate and insurance underwriting. They even dabble at illegal recruitment. Others do some home service haircutting, make-up, manicure, and pedicure and physical therapy and massage. They don’t only keep themselves busy with no time to be depressed. They also earn a lot of extra income. To send home to sweetheart. And to kumpare. Pastilan.

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