Since 2008 when I learned from a friend that even here in Qatar maraming mga distressed OFWs, distressed means yung mga inabuso or minaltrato ng kani-kanilang mga employer. Every year seems to be my first time in the OWWA, iba't - ibang kwento, iba't -ibang tao ang makikilala at makakasalamuha mo. From 2008 I only join a certain organization in giving gifts to OWWA, mahirap daw kasi nga mag-organized ng sarili mong gift giving dito sa ibang bansa especially yung mga cases ng recipients, pero kahit pa nakikisama lang ako sa ibang group I treat it as its my own gift giving - exert ng effort asking my family and friends for some donations or pledges. Nakakapagod, I even absent from work just to collect and pack everything for the gift giving pero honestly nakakapagod man mas doble - triple ang saya! Yung alam mong may mapapasaya, yung alam mong simpleng bagay lang yung laman ng mga paper bags na bitbit mo pero super naappreciate nila. I tell you guys iba ang pakiramdam.
I received so many blessings this year and when I said blessings is not only financially, I don't even have an increment nga but still the Lord stored me so many things this year and would you believe even this OWWA Gift Giving is one those blessings? Let me tell you why...cos after few years of wishing and praying to organize my own gift giving, this year it was granted! I know kahit sino pa ang kasama natin sa mga charity it doesn't matters, tayo man ang organizers or donors wala namang kaso yon but I want to involve my family, brethren and friends. Gusto ko rin makita nila with their own eyes kung saan or kanino napupunta ang mga donations and pledges nila, gusto ko rin na sila mismo ang makarinig ng mga kwento kung paano lumaban at nakatakas ang mga OFW itong sa kamay ng mapagsamantalang amo nila. I want them to be encouraged that they are so blessed and hope to learn to be a blessing as well in someone's life.
Last month, I am so surprised when a friend of mine told me that OWWA granted my request to have a gift giving at OWWA and they allowed me to have it on Friday, yun kasi yung pinakawalang pasok dito.
Thank you Lord after years, I can be with my family, friends and brethren in this event.
Mark this on your calendar guys!
As of my last visit last year, there were 100+ women, 3 men and 5 children who are living under the care and custody of OWWA, hoping that this year it is lesser..not because I want to lessen the donations that we're going to raise pero sana konti na lang or much better kung walang namamaltrato or nabibiktima.
Doha family, friends, brethren, colleagues and even to those that I don't know personally but have the desires to spread, share and give joy, hope and love to our fellow OFW.
Pwede nyong isama ang kaibigan ng kaibigan ng kaibigan nyo or ang kapatid or pinsan ng pinsan ng kaopisina mo :-) The point is we're untied in one mission, TO GIVE LOVE
Simple things from us are big and special gift for them....
One of the investment of many OFW especially women are on their clothes, aminin nyo ladies halos minsan namromroblema na kayo kung paano isasara ang closet door nyo sa kadamihan ng mga damit nyo na hindi naman na naisusuot, may iba sa atin sasabihin na magdadiet para masuot ulit yung damit, what if maluma na or worse magato na yung fabric nya, sayang naman di ba so this is one of your chance para mabawasan ang mga damit sa cabinet nyo. So aside magiging maluwag ang cabinet nyo makakapagpasaya pa kayo :-) same as with your shoe racks and bag stand.
When receiving a gift, di ba gusto natin yung kahit hindi naman super ganda pero presentable or useable naman, ganon din sana tayo kapag magbibigay, isipin natin na we're giving something to ourselves, na tayo ang magsusuot. Gusto mo ba magsuot ng may butas or sobrang nipis na damit dahil sa kalumaan? di ba ayaw mo. When we are giving something isipin sana muna natin if us ourselves kung tayo ang bibigyan maappreciate ba natin or baka maawa tayo sa mga sarili natin at isipin natin na taga-salo lang tayo ng mga patapong bagay? I hope you get my point guys, ang gusto natin is mapasaya sila hindi po ipamukha sa kanila kung ano sila. Kung pwede rin po sana wag na tayong magbigay na kelangan pang sulsihan, in short maayos pong mga damit or gamit ang ibigay natin sa kanila, used man po ito for sure ako maappreciate at pasasalamatan nila.
Every year I make sure that each of them can receive a paper bag with toiletries - bath soap, toothpaste, tooth brush, sanitary napkin, shampoo, etc., its a basic needs to have at least a set of those stuffs.
How your donations of a pack of soap or a pair of toothbrush and toothpaste will work? lahat ng mga donations ay pinapagsama-sama until makabuo ng ilang sets na mabibigyan lahat, brand doesn't matter po as long as hindi expired at ok.
Last year since may mga kids na rin sa OWWA I asked my friends na pwede rin ang diapers or milk or used clothes for kids. So tanong nyo naman, how come nagkaroon ng mga bata sa OWWA? sila yung mga batang naging bunga nang mga pangaabuso, so pwede rin po ang diapers or children stuffs.
You can also give food for the gift giving event itself - pansit, puto, spaghetti, bread, soft drinks, water or juice or kahit ano pong pagkain basta hindi sira or panis. I remember last 2010 yata yon, during ng kainan umupo ako at nakipagkwentuhan sa isa sa mga babae sa OWWA, ng bigla na lang syang namilipit sa sakit ng tyan at napaiyak na sya, nung tanungin ko sya sinabi nya siguro daw nabigla ang tyan nya kasi ilang linngo na daw syang di kumakain kc nga hindi sya pinapakain ng amo nya and she just arrived at OWWA that morning kaya ang first meal nya afters weeks is nung umaga pa lang.
We are so blessed, we can eat whenever and whatever we want, sometimes may mga food pa tayo na nasisira lang kasi nga takaw tingin lang, you can pledge :-) yung pang Chillis or pang-Starbucks mo ilang balot na loaf bread na rin ang maibibigay mo sa kanila di ba. Its easy to do if and if you have the desires to make them happy. And I know you have :-)
Since some doesn't have much time to buy toiletries or food and drinks, you can just give me any amount and rest assured that the amount will be fully for those stuffs.
If you have car and you can drive for us going to the event, it would be a great help for us also, knowing that taxi or private car is a bit expensive also.
Friday is the only rest day after a tiring week for some of us but believe me, its very fulfilling and you'll enjoy it.
Guys once more I'm asking your help and support to make this gift giving possible. Like past years hope you can support me again and this time I want you to know that you can personally join on the event itself - kung dati nagdodonate ka lang, kung dati nakikinig ka lang sa kwento ko or nakikita mo lang sila sa picture na pinopost ko, well this year you can see, hear their stories and be in touched with them.
Everyone is welcome to be a part of this event. This is not my party, this is to make our fellow OFW happy even at least few hours. They are the stars of the event :-) At least for few hours maiparamdam natin sa kanila that we love and care for them and lift them up not to loose hope despite of what happened to them.
I believe all of us are bless in different aspects of our life, although we will celebrate Christmas and New Year far away from our family but still, we have a freedom to enjoy celebrate it the way we want. We can enjoy the people matters to us, we can enjoy the foods in our table, we can receive best gifts presence from someone who love us, sana sila rin di ba? But we can make it possible hindi man sa Christmas Day, we can do it in advance :-) Sa tulong ng bawat isa sa atin, mas marami tayong mapapangiti at mapapasaya.
Together, we can do more!
Lets share our blessings...
Be a blessing and be blessed!
If you want to be a part of the OWWA Gift Giving 2013 in any way - being a donor or volunteer don't hesitate to send me a message :-)
Mas masaya kung sama-sama :-)
God bless us all
