My Kabayans

it has always been a delight for me to say "kabayan!" (filipino term for countrymate) to pinoy strangers-- whether at the supermarket, restaurant, gym, mall, hotel, in Adventureland, on the phone, etc. it is a word which instantly connects me with these people. even some foreigners (who know other pinoys) use that word to just illicit smiles from our kabayans! one of our visitors who was here for a 5-day trip, and who has been elsewhere in the world, commented that pinoys here are friendlier to other pinoys. that i have to find out.

and each "kabayan" greeting is greeted back with a smile and usually with a question "matagal ka na dito?" (have you been here for a long time?). and that opens numerous work and personal tales that lasts a few minutes. most are always avid to share their stories, and i've always been eager to listen coz they teach me so much about life. precious encounters. whether we'd see each other again or not, the joy must be in connecting with someone they feel familiar with.

and i am glad that most of them say that they are treated well by their employers. if asked if they are happy, 50% says yes, 50% says no, on the basis of salary. there is still a wage discrimination -- if you are asian or non-arabic, both on the rank and file and the managerial level. it is a sad fact. there is no minimum wage law here. and among managers within the same company, usually a white and a local (emirati) manager earns higher than a pinoy manager.

but just the same, kabayans keep flocking here to dubai expecting greener pastures. some has good endings, others charge the bad result to experience.

wayback 2002, there were only a few of the so-called professionals here. i would often get the comment "you are the first Filipino manager i've dealt with". for them it must be flattery, for me it was an insult. exodus started in 2004 and was furhter boosted by the 'Dubai' movie of aga mulach and joh lloyd. but now 2007, it seems that all companies have their Pinoy clouts! and guess what? the reputation that we have gained thus far, are: hardworking, multi-tasking, very neat, and delivers good customer service. bravo!

so to my kabayans here: cheers and keep up the good work! whether the intention is to stay here and help the country thru dollar remittance, or to plough back to philippines the expertise and the savings gained here, i salute you!