Like most, if not all, OFWs, his dream is simple: to seek better opportunities abroad to make ends meet for his family in Cavite. And like most Filipinos working abroad, he had experience fair share of sweetness and bitterness away from home. But difficult times always lead to better days.
Nheil Patrick Romen, or simply Patty to his friends, is a 23-year old overseas Filipino worker in Dubai, UAE. His father was a former OFW in Dubai who worked as an aluminum glass installer. Meanwhile, his older brother, also works in the city in the flight catering industry. It was Patty’s father who introduced him to the idea of following them in Dubai.
Getting used to his new life in Dubai
Patty’s first few weeks in Dubai were harder than he expected. He had to familiarize himself with the set of entirely different culture and rules in Dubai, from simple traffic rules to public etiquette.
“Dito talaga hindi pwedeng hindi ka mag-aadjust. Lahat ng tao dito disiplinado, pati mga pulis at officials,” he told The Filipino Times Online.
His first three months were spent on job-hunting, with no time to even enjoy the beauty of the landscape of Dubai. Aside from the applications he sent to employers online, he also personally visited hotels, restaurants and industrial companies to submit his resume, all in the hopes of finding a source of income to help his family.
A taste of his first real-life hurdle
Luckily, just a few days before his visit visa expired, Patty was hired as a machine operator. This was Patty’s first taste of a real-life hurdle: being a “young blood” in a foreign country certainly wasn’t easy.
But as the saying goes, it takes a lot to put down a strong soul. Instead of brooding, Patty flipped things around. He started looking at his youth as his ticket to success.
“Advantage ko na rin kasi at least bata pa lang ako nag-aabroad na ko kasi kapag tumanda ka na, mas mahirap makahanap ng trabaho. Bubuno ka ng ilang taon dito, kalian ka pa makakauwi ng Pinas ulit? Kailan ka pa magiging stable? Kailan ka pa makakauwi for good kung pupunta ka dito ng matanda na?” Patty said.
But things weren’t all that bad. Patty fought loneliness by seeking refuge and companionship with his Filipino friends in Dubai. He said he is happiest whenever he plays his favorite sports with his kababayans.
“Sa trabaho, madaming Pinoy dito kasi halos lahat din ng nakakasaluboing ko minsan naghahanap ng trabaho, yung iba cashier, napapagtanungan ko sila nung mga hindi ko alam.”
Patty considers himself as a mature individual, in general. But deep inside, he says, lies a young kid who deeply missed his family back home.
He added that it is hardest when he is sick. He has no one to take care of him. Just recently, He nearly lost his fingers to an accident.
“Ang pinakamahirap ay ito, pag may sakit ka. Walang mag-aalaga sa’yo. Mag-isa ka lang. Hindi tulad sa Pinas na kapag nagkasakit ka buong pamilya mo nandun. Lalo na yung nanay ko, maalaga yun,” he explained.
“Mahirap na kahit nandito lang din kapatid ko sa Dubai, hindi din naman siya masyadong nakakadalaw kasi may trabaho din.”
Patty also said that each day is another day away from his family. He believes that even at a young age, he is proud to have already learned what responsibility means. For him, responsibility means thinking of yourself less and taking care of the needs of your loved ones.
“Narealize ko na ngayon pa lang ako makakatulog sa pamilya ko. Mas madali kong makukuha yung mga gusto kong bilhin at gawin para sakin at para sa kanila [pamilya],” he said.
Future plans
Patty plans to go home to Indang, Cavite this year to spend a month-long vacation with his family. But he is determined to go back to Dubai after his vacation.
“Nag-aaral pa si bunso at kapag naka-abswelto na kami sa utang, tsaka ko na iisipin sarili ko,” Patty explained.
Patty’s inspiring message to fellow young bloods
His message to aspiring Filipinos eyeing stable work in Dubai? He says that being mature and independent will get you places. “Lakas loob lang talaga, at tiyaga,” he told TFT.
