Feelings of a U.S. immigrant

By Engr. Edgar Mana-ay

 

Most if not all young Filipino’s cherished dream is to immigrate and live in the United States of America. All of my children and grandchildren are no exception to that. Just like Mindanao which, up to the 80s, was considered as The Land of Promise, so is the U.S. which until now is still the Land of Promise and Opportunities.

 

As one of the oldies who frequent the U.S. (just to visit but not to permanently stay), it is really the place to go for the young ones, for it is there that they have a better chance to realize their dreams and aspirations; reaching for the stars, and living the American way of life. Job opportunities are so vast that Filipinos given their inherent trait for hard work and talent are always ahead of the pack of job seekers.

 

The first job in the U.S. will automatically get credit approval to purchase a new car on installment. For as long as payments are current, then another credit line is available for another car or a new house, within the year, again on installment.  This is the American way of life; credit, credit and more credit. With a stable job, you also eat what the millionaires are eating and go to the same vacation places like Cancun in Mexico or the Bahamas, which of course is impossible even if one is an executive in our country.

 

But there is also that nostalgic feeling that seeps into these young immigrants after more than four years of stay in the U.S. There is now a yearning and a craving for the land where they grew up, the Philippines. Even with the stark contrast on ease of living, the amenities available, still these young immigrants begin to yearn for the relaxed and easy way of life in the Philippines and this feeling grows more intense as they grow older.

 

A young immigrant in her early twenties, who is taking a second course on Logistics at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, was asked by her professor for a write up about the country of her origin. Instead, she submitted a poem which I want to share with our readers.

 

MY PHILIPPINES, MY PHILIPPINES 

 

A land where the sun rises and illuminates the glistening shore

A land whose isles are covered with pure beauty from the skies to the Earth’s core

A land where every guest is considered family and shown utmost hospitality

A land where the spirit of “bayanihan” or unity is undoubtedly present in every community

This is the land with my heart I’ve always cherished

This is the land in which I was nourished.

 

When I think of her, memories of frolicking under the tropical sun with my siblings fill my mind

Joie de vivre saturated the atmosphere whenever we climbed every fruit tree we could find

Oh, the joy at the first sip of coconut water after a day under the scorching Philippine heat

The refreshment complemented with in different shades of gold, that were oh, so sweet

The gastronomic delight more than seven thousand islands offer leave gourmands with such satiety

The most notable, perhaps, is adobo with rice, which everyone is welcome to partake with my family

How I love reminiscing the fond memories of the taste of the land I call home

To be able to taste the unparalleled flavors, endless miles I would roam

 

Superlatively blessed, not only in flavor, but beauty is she that even Aphrodite would envy

The rainbow dulls in comparison to the magnificence of my “lola” or grandmother’s orchids and daises

Across the heavenly gardens, the cacophony of the street vendors on Sundays was almost musical

The chaos of jeepney drivers recklessly maneuvering their vehicles was a sight almost too beautiful

Oh, how I miss the peaceful pandemonium of the land I’m from

It seems the longer I am away from her, the fonder my heart becomes

 

Note: The poem writer is Dianne Rose Gloria Mana-ay who migrated to Houston, Texas after graduation from the Special Science Class of Iloilo National High School.