MANILA, DECEMBER 24, 2010 (MALAYA) Ellen Tordesillas - 'Through blogging they bring together Filipino overseas workers from all over the world sharing their joy, anguish and tears.' CONGRATULATIONS to the winners of the 2010 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog awards.
[PHOTO OF THE PEBA LOGO AS IT APPEARS AT THEIR BLOG HOMEPAGE]
PEBA is laudable project because through blogging they bring together Filipino overseas workers from all over the world sharing their joy, anguish and tears. By holding together they sustain and strengthen each other.
This year's top winner is Danilo Garcia Jacob whose heart-tugging entry, "Ang bakal na ibon sa himpapawid" is a tribute to his mother.
Jacob lived the most part of his growing up years without a mother who had to leave them when he was young to work abroad as caregiver. The cycle is being repeated today: He works in Kuwait, his younger sister in Dubai and his elder brother in Saudi Arabia.
Here are excerpts from Jacob's winning piece:
"Sa murang edad, natunghayan ko ang paglisan ng aking ina. Nakintal na sa aking isipan ang pagkaway ko sa kalangitan habang nakatanaw sa animo'y ibong hinahagkan ng mga puting ulap. Hanggang sa ito'y mawala na sa aking paningin. Lulan ng bakal na ibon na iyon ang aking ina patungo sa bansang Malaysia. Baon ang pag-asang maiahon kami sa hirap at gayundin bitbit ang kirot sa dibdib na ako at ang dalawa ko pang kapatid ay kanyang iiwan sa lupang sinilangan.
"Kasabay ng paglayo ni ina ay mga problemang umusbong sa aming pamilya. Bagamat nasusustentuhan niya ang aming pangangailangan, unti-unti namang napapalayo ang aming kaluoban sa kanya. Marahil nga hindi sapat ang salapi para pagtibayin ang pamilya para ihango sa karukhaan at marahil hindi rin makakapagpatibay ang kawalan ng presensya ng mga magulang habang kami ay lumalaki at nagkaka-isip ng walang gabay nila. Normal ng maituturing para sa iba ang magkaruon ng wasak na pamilya sanhi na rin ng ilang taong pagkakawalay ng mga Pilipinong nangingibang-bansa para makipagsapalaran.
"Si ina, ilang taon din namang nangatulong at sa kanyang muling pagbalik sa amin ay maituturing na isang estranghero. Nuong ako'y bata pa lamang, kaligayahan ko na ang makatanggap ng padala mula sa kanya. Mga bagong gamit pang-eskwela, mga bagong laruan at mga kung ano-ano pang kagamitan. Hanggang duon lamang ang aking nararamdaman. Sa kanyang pagbalik panandalian muli siyang umalis patungo naman sa Taiwan.
"Bunsod ng pagkawalay niya ang mga suliraning sumisira sa aming relasyon. Ngunit tulad ng isang inahing ibong nag-aaruga sa kanyang mga inakay, gayundin si ina. Lumipad muli patungo sa ibang bansa para mas matugunan ang pinansiyal naming pangangailangan. Wala man ang kanyang pisikal na presenya sa amin ay hindi naputol ang ugnayan. Sa mga liham na naka-ipit sa bawat kahon na kanyang ipinadala ay mga katagang "mahal na mahal ko kayo". Duon unti-unti ko ring naunawaan kung bakit kinailangan niyang mag-alaga kahit na hindi naman niya kadugo. Sa bawat paglipas ng panahon, mas pinapaunawa ng aking ina ang hirap na kanyang dinanas, ang pangungulila sa amin, ang pagmamahal na walang patid niyang ipinaaabot mula sa kabilang panig ng daigdig. Muling binuo ni ina ang aming pamilya sa pamamagitan ng kanyang walang sawang pag-ibig para sa kanyang mga anak.
"Dumating na rin ang panahon na kanyang pag-uwi. Ngunit tulad ng inaasahan, ang kanyang mga inakay ay may kanya-kanya na ring buhay na dapat atupagin. Natuto na rin kaming humayo at makipag-sapalaran sa bawat hampas ng hangin at sa dagok ng buhay. Sa pag-uwi ni ina ay siya namang pag-alis ni kuya sa amin upang mamungad sa ibang tahanan. Bumuo ng sariling pamilya sa edad na dise-nuebe. Magkagayunpaman, hindi nagpatinag si ina sa panibagong unos na aming kinaharap. Mas pinagtibay niya ang kanyang luob at pinanindigan ang pagiging isang ina. Pinunan niya ang mga panahong nawaglit kami sa kanya. Ngunit sadyang mapagbiro ang tadhana, dahil umuwi man si ina kinailangan ding ako at ang aking mga kapatid ay iwanan siya.
"Anim na taon na rin naman ako dito sa disyerto ng Kuwait. Dito mas malayo man ako sa aking ina ay mas naramdaman ko ang kanyang paghihirap. Mas naunawaan ko ang kanyang pangungulila, ang kanyang pagmamahal at ang bawat yakap na kanyang iginawad nuong kami'y huling nagkasama. Si bunso naman, tatlong taon ng nakikipagsapalaran sa Dubai. Si kuya, sa buwang ito nama'y lilipad na rin patungong Saudi.
"Sabi ni ina sa isang mensahe mula sa kanyang selepono, "Mas mabuti na rin sigurong mapalayo ang kuya mo sa kanyang pamilya. Dahil dito mas madalas silang makakapag-usap ng kanyang mga anak." Isang simpleng mensahe mula sa isang ina sa kanyang anak. Isang mensaheng kung tutuusin ay may mas malalim na kahulugan.
"Wasak man ang aming pamilya, wala man kaming amang kinagisnan at wala man si ina sa aming tabi, sadya man kaming magkakalayo sa isa't-isa, hindi nagkulang si ina na ipaunawa sa amin ang dahilan kung bakit kailangan niyang lumisan. At ngayon ngang kami naman ang lumayo sa kanyang piling, nagtagumpay siyang pagtibayin ang aming luob na anumang hirap sa ibang bansa ang pinakamahalaga ay ang dahilan kung bakit kailangang magsakripisyo at makipagsapalaran. Iyon din ang dahilan upang magpatuloy na kayanin at harapin ang buhay. Ang walang sawang pagmamahal na ang tanging minimithing kapalit ay mga ngiti sa labi at pag-ibig sa pamilya.
"Ang bakal na ibon sa himpapawid tulad ng mga ibong malayang nakapaglalakbay sa iba't ibang panig ng daigdig, ang bakal na ibon na ito ang naghatid at maghahatid sa bawat miyembro ng pamilyang OFW na may tangan na pag-asang liliparin nila ang kalangitan upang buuin ang mga pangarap. At sa huling pagdapo ng ibong gawa sa bakal, sa muling paglapat ng mga paa sa lupang kinagisnan ang pagsalubong ng isang pamilya na nag-aantay sa matibay na tahanan ng bawat Pilipino."
Merry Christmas!
PEBA 2010 Blog Awards - Photos
Author: The Pope | Posted at: 3:04 PM | Filed Under: PEBA 2010, PEBA WINNERS | ©2010 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards
TOP 10 OUTSTANDING BLOGS OFW BLOGGERS CATEGORY
Top 1 - Animus, Kuwait
Top 2 - Gremliness, Dubai, UAE
Top 3 - KAYNI'S CORNER CAFE, USA
Top 4 - BAUL NI NOEL, Saudi Arabia
Top 5 -¡SOY NEGRENSE!, Saudi Arabia
Top 6 - Journey of a Prodigal Daughter, Macau
Top 7 - GUMAMELA SA PARAISO, Taiwan
Top 8 - Deconstructing Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Top 9 - THE JOURNEY of my LIFE, Saudi ArABIA and STAY AT HOME BLESSINGS, Saudi Arabia
Top 10 - BATANG GALA, Canada
TOP 10 OUTSTANDING BLOGS OFW SUPPORTERS CATEGORY - FOR MORE CLICK http://www.pinoyblogawards.com/2010/12/peba-2010-winners.html
Top 1 - Felmar's Missionary Journey
Top 2 - ON THIS SIDE OF TOWN
Top 3 - KAYUMANGGING DAMDAMIN
Top 4 - TUYONG TINTA NG BOLPEN
Top 5 - M(.)(.)D SWINGS
Top 6 - Pinaywriter's Oral Diarrhea 2
Top 7 - Panay Mud Pie Top 8 -S I Y E T E H A N
Top 9 - BATANG MANGYAN
Top 10 - ANAK NG TOKWA
OUTSTANDING BLOGS BY REGION OFW BLOGGERS CATEGORY
Central America and Canada - KAYNI'S CORNER CAFE, USAAsia and Pacific - Journey of a Prodigal Daughter, Macau Middle East and Africa - Animus, Kuwait
OUTSTANDING BLOGS BY REGION
OFW SUPPORTERS CATEGORY
Metro Manila - KAYUMANGGING DAMDAMIN, MANILA Luzon - TUYONG TINTA NG BOLPEN, BATANGASVisayas - Panay Mud Pie, Iloilo city
Mindanao - Felmar's Missionary Journey, DAVAO
MOST POPULAR BLOG AWARD
MICHAEL SHADES OF BLUE, KSA XPROSAIC'S WORLD, Davao, PHILS.
NOKIA's BEST BLOG ENTRY AWARD
a one less GENERATION, DECONSTRUCTING DUBAI, UEA MY MOM'S QUASI-ORPHANAGE, Pinaywriter's Oral Diarrhea 2, PHILS
FRIENDSTER BLOG AWARD
MIZPAH, KUWAIT
MOST VISIBLE BLOG BY METRICS AWARD
THE JOURNEY of my LIFE, KSA ON THIS SIDE OF TOWN, PHILS.
MOST COMMENTED BLOG ENTRY AWARD
MICHAEL SHADES OF BLUE, Al Khobar, KSA KAYUMANGGING DAMDAMIN, PHLS.
NOKIA CONNECTING OFW FAMILIES's BEST ENTRY AWARD
WALA KASING CELPON SI LOLA, Mga KATHANG ISIP NI KIKO, qATAR
MOST COMMENTED IN FACEBOOK AWARD
MICHAEL SHADES OF BLUE, Al Khobar, KSA MAZEPLACE, Davao, Phils.
MOST "LIKED" IN FACEBOOK AWARD
MICHAEL SHADES OF BLUE, Al Khobar, KSA MAZEPLACE, Davao, Phils.
MOST COMMENTED IN FRIENDSTER AWARD
MICHAEL SHADES OF BLUE, Al Khobar, KSA Felmar's Missionary Journey, Davao, Phils.
JOHN ROBERT POWERS MOST INTERACTIVE BLOGGER AWARD
MGA KATHANG ISIP NI KIKO, QATAR
BEST BLOG LAYOUT AND DESIGN
Animus, Kuwait
SMART PINOY SIM AWARD
Buhay OFW , Doha, Qatar
WHAT IS PEBA ALL ABOUT?
BRIEF HISTORY
Founded by Mr. Jebee Kenji Solis, the organizer of KABLOGS, a blogger and an OFW based in Saudi Arabia; PEBA was launchedon July 1, 2008 to recognize the growing popularity of blogging among Filipinoexpatriates and Overseas Filipino Workers(OFWs).
Being an OFW bloggerhimself, Mr. Thoughtskoto (as knownin the blogging world) witnessed how expatriates and OFW's artistically narratetheir sob stories, trials, opinions about their host countries, workexperiences, families, thoughts and musings, Philippine politics, etc., intheir blogs. Thus, recognizing their efforts was a fitting a tribute.
He later tapped the supportof some bloggers to be his partner in the project. Pete Rahon, anOFW based in South Korea; Lionel Gonzaga, an OFW in Dubai; and Nereus Jethro Abad, an OFWbased in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; became the founding members of PEBA,Inc.
Owing to the success ofthe 2008 Top10, PEBA 2009 was launched more visiblythis time. Almost simultaneously, around50 blogs posted the announcements of PEBA 2009's launch. Support from as faras Canada, USA, Australia, Middle East, Europe, South East Asia,and even the Philippines. Hundreds of "SUPPORT PEBA" banners werelikewise displayed online by several prominent bloggers.
Some of the biggest brandnames (i.e., Nokia, Smart Telecommunications and Western Union) sponsored tostage the event. While other policy institution, social media giants and hotels(i.e., The Ople Policy Center, Friendster Philippines, and Traders Hotel byShangri-la) and various Internet marketing entities pushed PEBA to success.PEBA was instantly featured in ABS-CBN and Manila Bulletin, as well ascountless other online news and blog sites; newsprint and radio stations.
PEBA became a legal entityin the Philippines through the effort of Lepiten & Bojos Law Office and became the official legal partner from then on.
FOUNDING CHAIRMAN and CHIEF ORGANIZER
JEBEE KENJI SOLIS
2009 POEA - BBFI Bagong Bayani Award Nominee. Formerly head of a Quality department of a drinking water in the Eastern province, he is currently working in a government accredited conforming standards laboratory based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He and his wife and "PEBA" baby is staying in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Email: kenjebz@pinoyblogawards.com
PRESIDENT
NEREUS JETHRO ABAD
Head of Department of the Harvest and LogisticSupport Service of the Commercial Business Division of the world's biggestaquaculture project, the National Prawn Company. He is based along the Red Seadesert coast in Al Laith, Saudi Arabia for 6 years. NJ is husband of aTrial Court Judge in Cebu City. They have three wonderful children.Email: desertaquaforce@pinoyblogawards.com
MORE: http://www.pinoyblogawards.com/2008/06/about-us.html
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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