Some Pinoys Are Weird

News broke out a few days ago about a Filipino couple, Mr. Alran and Sarah Calderon who were deported from Japan after illegally living there for 13 years. They came to Japan in the early 1990’s and worked there until the Japanese immigration authorities found out that the couple had fake passports and false documents.

Their 13 year old daughter who was born and raise in Japan was asked to choose between her parents or to stay in Japan. She opted to stay in Japan. She was asked what she’ll missed most of her parents, and her quick answer was that, she’ll no longer be able to eat her mother’s delicious cooking..

When the couple arrived at the NAIA in Manila, they were interviewed by Japanese and Filipino reporters. Mr Calderon answered questions only in Nipongo and some English. He said, he can't speak nor understand Tagalog anymore because of the length of time he stayed in Japan.

I fully understand what drives people to leave their motherland in whatever means, in whatever manner, but Mr. Calderon’s case leaves something to be desired. The Japanese immigration could not be faulted for deporting them and rejecting the couple’s appeal for humanitarian reason. No mistake there. Traveling to another country with a fake passport is a form of corruption- it is dishonesty.

I’m not here to condemn this couple..For all I know it could happen to me, or to anyone else, but this is a social issue that directly or indirectly affect me and you. Take illegal immigration for example..Applying for any kinds of visa, is a long a difficult process. Just filing the application alone, would make one drench in sweat and tears. Your bank account, no matter how healthy is hardly a factor that could persuade the immigration officer that you have the means to fund your trip abroad and that you are going to be an obedient and lawful traveler. My guess is that the immigration officers believe that all Pinoy applicants are potential TNTs, with fake passports to boot; that if no one is looking and monitoring, all Pinoys who wish to go abroad have no intention of coming back, thus making travel applications difficult for everyone.

Who can blame the immigration officers for the bad impression that we Pinoys had carved for ourselves?

Filipinos are known for being family-oriented-kind-of- thing, closely-knit families...you know, eat together, sleep, live, enjoy, helping /supporting each another. Well, not anymore. As is the case of this couple is one good shining example. Their 13 year old daughter chose to stay in Japan rather than being with her parents. At her young age, she has already a vision of what constitute happiness-- materialism, comforts of life, her own comfort. Never mind breaking of family ties, never mind about native land, who cares about them? In her mind, her mom is only a tool to make her food palatable; her mom's main role is to cook delicious food for her..Good grief!!!

This story is not unique..it has happened to a lot of Filipino immigrants around the world..

Who can blame the children of immigrants for what they had become?

I was ready to weep for him and his wife, sympathize with their plight as I am also a parent. I know how painful it is to be separated with loved-ones, especially children; but Mr Calderon’s pronouncement that he already forgot his mother tongue for just 13 years of being away is off- putting. Unbelievable!! I’ve been away from my hometown for more than two decades and a half- none of those around me now, spoke the dialect I once grew up with, but I still know how to speak Binukid….Nagdagana pa bitaw da utaw didto sa dal-og”, ay ada uroy!!!

Well?...who can blame this Filipino couple for acting this way?