Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees Here …

Money doesn’t grow on trees here …

Yes, that is true. Before, when I was in the Philippines, I used to think that people who live in America never run out of money … Hahahah, yeah that is true, I mean I thought before that they never have any problems financially. Then I came here. I see my fellow Filipinos working two jobs a day just to make both ends meet. I see them work hard, because they have mortgages, car bills, utility bills, insurance, property taxes and lots more of things to pay for and not enough money. Some are in the brink of bankruptcy because they are suddenly laid off from work and had credit cards debt pile up. Some have two mortagages to pay for. Some are going to sell their homes to transfer to an apartment since they just can’t pay the bills anymore. I see old people working at Walmart, or babysit someone’s kid, or take care of elderly people when she in fact should also be retiring.  And it is sad that their relatives in the Philippines do not know that. They think money grows on trees here, that the streets are gilded with gold. They think that the money being sent to them was not “pinagpaguran” which is really sad. They don’t know that we really work hard to earn that money, “dugo’t pawis yan”.

Well I know , not all Filipinos are hard-up as some that I have mentioned. Maybe some are living pretty comfortable lives here like the Filipina nurses but not all are lucky, not all of our kababayans who come here are highly-paid like the nurses. Not all have high-paying jobs.

So if you have families, relatives over here, take it easy when you ask for “help”. I am very lucky to say that my family and relatives never ask anything from me, coz they know my situation but not everybody has families like mine. I hear stories from my coworkers when they help a relative, another one will go calling to ask too. And more sad because they are asking for money to buy a cellphone. I mean is that a need ?  It’s just sad you know, we also have our problems here and we have nobody to turn to unlike when we are in our own country. Well, of course, all Filipinos would want to help out their families and relatives, send money, send all the little things we have here  but sometimes we can’t.. We want and we will, but give us a little more consideration.. Don’t ask money from your Auntie from ‘Tate just to buy the latest cellphone model ..Don’t ask money from your Uncle if you will just be wasting it on booze..it’s just not fair because money doesn’t grow on trees here.