Ode to Joy: The Song of a Suppressed Overseas Filipino Worker
by Rosacay, Samson, Tumulak, and Valencia
“The feeling of great pleasure and happiness, have you felt it before? And when was the last time you felt Joy?” In Ode to Joy, Adonis Durado mimetically mirrors the people’s economic struggles. It is focused on a woman who sacrificed her own happiness for her family. The poem gives different meanings, and from the first sentence, we can see that the feeling of “Joy” was lost a long time ago, a form of recalling happy moments. A remembrance of the feeling of “Joy” from a hardworking woman named “Joy.”
The selected text, “Ode to Joy,” centers on a manicurist named Joy, who was widely recognized for her cheerful and bubbly demeanor, making her unforgettable to those around her. The poem explores the contrast between Joy’s outward cheerfulness and internal struggles. One of the key elements in this poem is its tone, which conveys a sense of melancholy or sadness, potentially impacting readers’ emotions. An example line, “pawned her own happiness for the sake of her family,” shows how loving Joy is and how much she sacrificed for her family. Additionally, the poem is written in free verse, meaning it does not adhere to any specific rhyming patterns. For instance, here are the ending words in each stanza, like the manicurist, way, grinned, and laughter. They don’t follow the rhyming rule and just let the author do what they want. The diction, or the poet’s choice of words and style of expression, is also crucial as it influences the tone and meaning of the poem. The most significant element is the theme, which delivers the central message and main idea. In this poem, the theme highlights the importance of not judging others solely based on their apparent happiness, as we may not be aware of their true circumstances. It advocates for respecting individuals and acknowledging their outward joy, which may mask deeper struggles.
Love is shown in different ways, where “to love” is expressed in the text. The title “Ode to Joy” was already a hint about what the text is all about. It shows how the woman experienced joy but eventually sacrificed her happiness because of a circumstance. Joy is given to either feel that feeling to yourself or be taken from you for the feelings of others. It also describes what it’s like to feel joy and how it affects people. The line that says, “That Joy, indeed, who went to work as a domestic helper in Saudi, pawned her own happiness for the sake of her own family.” symbolizes an act of love, a love that puts others first instead of their own, like a mother’s love that is unconditional and has no end.
All of the above-mentioned stem from the poem Ode to Joy, penned by Filipino poet Adonis Durado. He most likely wrote the poem to reflect one of the current and painful realities of the ordinary Filipino: giving up their happiness and their selves for the survival and comfort of their families, as stated in the lines previously mentioned: “That Joy, indeed, who went to work as a domestic helper in Saudi, pawned her own happiness for the sake of her family.” The poem reflects the lack of decent-paying jobs in the Philippines and the country’s leaders and stakeholders’ inability to uproot and remedy the issue at its core: a clear symbol of the nation’s declining political and economic integrity. The most recent survey data on OFWs by the Philippine Statistics Authority backs this claim, which shows that an estimated 1.96 million Filipinos became OFWs between April and September 2022, with an estimated 26,000 OFWs working without proper working documents (Mapa, 2023). The data mentioned signals how ordinary Filipinos are enticed to work overseas, given that employers from other countries offer better financial prospects. Furthermore, anecdotal evidence validating the truth of the mentioned issue is everywhere, as online platforms like Facebook show Filipino people’s complaints about the country’s unstable and unfair job landscape and posts looking for jobs abroad.
Straying away from the domineering message of the poem, some might interpret the text as addressing discrimination. The girl in the story, Joy, is judged harshly for her appearance and personality. People describe her as “chubby” and “unattractive,” but despite this negativity, she continues to smile and stay resilient. If one were part of the story, as an AdDU Sui Generis Leader, one would choose to be a true friend to Joy. Everyone deserves a friend who stands by their side, even when others turn away. It’s important to be kind and appreciative of what we have and what others possess. In the same way, the lack of jobs in the Philippines shouldn’t lead us to judge or exclude others. Instead, we should strive to create more opportunities and support each other as we navigate these challenges together.
From its form to its interpretations, Ode to Joy shows the lack of decent-wage jobs, an issue faced by the Filipino working class that mirrors economic issues in the Philippines and trickles down into more emotional issues. Furthermore, it shows what is taken from an OFW once they step out of the Philippines in pursuit of survival, that is, their happiness. While the poem does not fully immerse in the complexities of OFWs and the economy, it still is a peek into the unfortunate reality of many Filipinos.
Reference
Mapa, C. D. (2023). 2022 Survey on Overseas Filipinos (Final Result). In psa.gov.ph. Philippine Statistics Authority. https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/survey/labor-and-employment/survey-overseas-filipinos