Mahirap Kumita ng $$$

Pagnasa America ka, tingin ng mga nasa Pinas ang dami mong $$$ ang di nila alam $$$ din ang ginagastos natin dito at pinapambayad sa mga utang, bills, etc...sapat lang ang ating kinikita para makasurvive at lumalaki lang ang value ng $$$ pagpinadala sa Pinas...kaya lang sa panahon ngayon bumababa na ang dolyar kaya tuloy mas malaki na ang pinapadala natin sa ating mga mahal sa buhay sa Pinas..pero ang sahod ganon pa din..

Mahirap kumita ng dolyar…

September 8th, 2006 by maryangel

Nung nasa Pilipinas pa ako, naririnig ko sa mga teachers na nagtatrabaho sa US na mahirap ang magturo kasi iba ang ugali ng mga bata at yung pinaka"worst" na estudyante sa Pilipinas ang katumbas ng pinakamabait sa US…akala ko exaggeration lang ang lahat pero ngayon nalaman kong totoo pala…Ibang-iba sila. Parang balewala sa kanila ang lahat, pumapasok ang iba sa school kasi libre ang breakfast at lunch…at kailangan nilang pumasok dahil kung hindi idedemanda ang mga magulang nila.nakakagulat nga kasi sa Grade 7 madami ang hindi maruning ng basic operations, di kabisado ang multiplication table, maraming hirap sa spelling at sentence construction. Marunong silang magsalita ng ingles pero di sila gramatically correct minsan.

Bilang isang teacher dito sa Baltimore kailangan sobrang haba ng pasensya mo, malawak ang pang-unawa,punong-puno ng pagmamahal sa mga bata, overprepared ka sa bawat araw at tapos ang mga paperworks sa oras. Lahat halos black and white…written…documented, mahirap na pag may nagreklamong bata at binaliktad ka. Stressful ang work at mas nakakastress rin ang magsaway ng mga bata…buti na nga lang kahit paano gumagawa pa rin sila…Nakakapagod lang kasi pagkatapos mong mag discuss, kailangan mo pa silang isa-isahin at ipaliwanag paano yun gagawin…at yung iba di na nga gagawa manggugulo pa ng kaklase…Nakakapagtaka pero parang mas magagaling pa mga grade 5 na tinuruan ko dyan sa Pinas kumpara sa mga bata dito…

May mga bata mang di masyadong maganda ang pag-uugali pero may mga ilan pa ring mabait at responsable. Alam ko na sa tulong ng mga Filipino teachers dito unti-unting mababago ang pananaw ng mga bata sa pagpunta sa paaralan. Dahil andito kami hindi lamang sa sarili naming kapakanan, hindi lang dahil sa dolyar kundi dahil nais rin naming makatulong sa mga bata at maturuan sila ng tama…nandito kami upang gampanan ang misyon ng Diyos sa buhay namin upang madama ng mga bata ang pagmamahal at pang-unawa namin sa kanila  na minsa’y wala sa kanilang mga tahanan…Nandito kami ngayon upang matututo sa buhay at mas lumawak pa ang karanasan sa pagtuturo nang sa gayon ay maibahagi ang mga natutunan namin sa pagbalik namin sa ating Inang Bayan.

Lahat kami ay namayat kaagad sa loob lamang ng 2 linggong pagtuturo…Narealize naming lahat, mahirap talang kumita ng dolyar…hindi pinupulot ang 1 penny dito kundi lubos itong pinaghihirapan…kapalit ng bawat dolyar ay ang mga gabing kulang kami sa tulog, hindi makakain dahil sobrang daming trabaho (at minsan wala ng gana dahil sa sobrang pagod), sama ng loob dahil sa kakaibang pag-uugali at pananalita ng mga bata, kapalit ng mga luhang tumutulo mula sa aming mga mata dahil sa pinaghalong lungkot at pagod…may mga panahon na parang gusto na namin sumuko at umuwi na lang pero dahil sa mga mahal naming pamilya kinakaya namin ang lahat ng pagsubok at nakahanda kaming sumugod sa unos na dumarating…salamat na lamang dahil ang mga principal at assistant principal namin dito ay ubod ng bait at todo suporta ang binibigay sa amin. Walang anumang materyal na bagay ang hihigit pa sa pagmamahal ng mga principal at coteachers namin. Bukod pa don, pinagpala kami ng mapagmahal na pamilya, kamag-anak at mga kaibigan.Salamat sa pagpapalakas nyo sa loob namin…salamat sa inyong mga panalangin at patuloy nyo lang kaming isama sa inyong panalangin…

GOODBYE and THANK YOU BALTIMORE

It is with a sad heart that I resigned in Baltimore City Public Schools System this month. My husband, Mr. Anjilou Flores (who was my boyfriend in the film THE LEARNING), and I prayed so hard about this decision and so far this is the toughest decision we’ve ever made. It is a lot of sacrifice to be 100 miles away from each other on the weekdays and spend limited time together during the weekends while preparing for another week of work. It also means doubling our expenses because now we will be renting two places, two cars plus the insurance, still sending money to the Philippines for the needs of my family but cutting off in my salary by almost 45%. On my reflection time God reminded me in Philippians 4:6-7, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." We may lose that big amount of money but in the long run it will be worth all the sacrifices.

I don’t want to leave my school (North bend Elementary/Middle School) because we have a principal (Mrs. Patricia Burrell) who is so appreciative, supportive & loving to us 4 Filipino teachers. She is so willing to fight for us to stay in Baltimore for good. My husband (Elementary Language Arts, drama & broadcast teacher in the same school) & I felt so much loved and accepted by the staff. The school recognized all my efforts and I was awarded “Most Improved Test Scores” for MSA 2010 and “Teacher of the Month” last February 2011. It was such a privilege to serve as 7th & 8th grade team leader and spearhead various programs/activities in the school.

I have gained a lot of skills working in BCPSSS (Harlem Park Middle, Dr.Roland N. Patterson Sr Academy, Pimlico Elementary Middle & North Bend Elementary Middle) and I am so thankful for that. Baltimore molded me to be the tougher teacher that I am today. I will surely take all the good memories with me wherever I go. Their support and care have made me stronger. The kids that I have worked with, the colleagues that have shown me greatness and the administrators that gave me love and covered my backs will always be my part of my life.

So how it all did started? 2nd week of August I started shooting emails in the internet. I searched for job openings for Math (6th to 12th grade) and Elementary. On the 3rd week, I received a phone call from a charter school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for an interview. During the interview with the CEO & Academic Dean, they ask me about my teaching experience with Baltimore students. It was a plus factor I guess when you teach in Baltimore. They also asked me about my visa status. I have told them that I am holding H1B (working) visa, I still have a job in Baltimore but I am looking for a job that will sponsor permanent residency because BCPSS is uncertain with the sponsorship. I started applying for a job so I have a place to go to next year. They have told me that they will ask their lawyer about the process and they will call me back for the 2nd interview. So, I walked back in the car where my husband is waiting, I told him how the interview was & I have told him that they might not call back anymore because there were lots of American citizens who applied for the same job. To my surprise, the following week they called for my 2nd interview. I prepared a demonstration lesson because they might ask me to do one but, when I came for the interview they have told me that I am their top choice among all the applicants, they already talked to the lawyer, they will start the process of H1B transfer and they will sponsor my permanent residency next year using EB2 process which will only take 6 months to one year.  The only thing is that this offer stands for this school year because they are not sure if they will have vacancies next year.

Anjilou & I started to ask God for signs if this is His will. We do not know anyone in Philadelphia, the opening of school year 2011-2012 is just in the next few days, we have a lot of things to do in a very short time. We are stressed out with the situation. Will my principal accept my resignation right in the beginning of school year? There are lot of questions and worries but God has reminded me about the story of Peter on Matthew 14: 27-29 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I.  Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. It is a very powerful word “COME". I prayed that as I obey His calling I will grow more by faith in Him. I know that sometimes we need to step out of our comfort zone so we can completely rely on Him. This is another leap of faith.  Everything started to fall into its place. When I spoke with our principal, she released me with full blessing. She assured me that she loves me and she knows that I will be okay because God is with me. She said that she will look forward having me in her school in the future. It was hard for her to let go and she doesn’t want to lose all of her Filipino teachers but she understands our visa situation and she is praying for us all.

During the hurricane Irene, Anj and I were stranded in Philadelphia for 2 days. I reflected on the verse on Isaiah 41:10 ‎"Don’t be afraid, for I AM with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I AM your GOD. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand." Guess what? God even used hurricane to lead us to a group of Filipino Christians in Philadelphia. We found a family that offered the attic of their house for me to stay. It is not just a teaching job that God wants me to do in Philadelphia but there’s another mission waiting for me and Anj. He trained us in Baltimore City so we can also bless this small church and serve by using our talents. Our church in Baltimore (River of Life Church) is really living up to its vision and mission to send missionaries across US and around the world. My experience as a worship leader, Sunday school teacher, and musical theater director will be used again in another place. My husband and I are partners in our ministry in the church and we see this opportunity in Philadelphia to work together for His glory.

God showed us that He is an unstoppable God and His plan always prevails. My plan is to leave Baltimore next year but His plan is to go now. I am so thankful and so favored to have this opportunity to be a teacher here in the US. He is not just providing a solution to my visa status but He is calling me for another mission. I am using teaching as an avenue for me to be a missionary in my own little way as I encourage my students to be prepared in life. They may not master all the skills in Math but it is my desire that in one way or another, I may be able to touch their lives as I encourage them to reach their dreams and goals in life.

I love Baltimore and  all the precious  memories will remain in my heart. May God’s glory be reflected in whatever I do and wherever I go.