Liham ni Pinay mula Singapore
***This is one of the essays that I made during my freshman college years as a requirement for an English subject.***
Issues of Filipino women working abroad and leaving their families had been a common issue in the Philippines since the 1970’s. Not only stories of Filipinas working in foreign countries, but also of men too, have already been made known to society. This theme too, had also been conceptualize in many literary works and one example is the famous poetical piece of Ruth Mabanglo entitled “Liham ni Pinay mula Singapore”.
In this work, Mabanglo gives the character of a Filipina Overseas Worker in Singapore in which she tells the story of why she left for Singapore, her experiences while working and the problems she has to endure for her family’s sake.
The character gives first the readers a flashback through her letter when she left her country and when she was compelled to work in Singapore to sustain and support her family’s needs. As the poem commences, she discloses how it was painful for her to leave even though what is yet to come for her is still unknown: “Sugatan ang ngiti ko nang lisanin kayo Malagim ang kahapon at malabo ang bukas”. She also states how painful it too was for her parents that their eldest have to sail far:“Ang paglalim ng pileges sa noo ni Ama, Ang namintanang luha sa mata ni Ina, …… Sa papalayong hakbang ng panganay na anak.” Even though the poem is taking character of a female migrant worker and an eldest child, the first part of Mabanglo’s poem still encompasses almost every scene experienced by OFW. The scene shown displays the start of conflict when families have then to endure not to see their loved ones for a long time. .
The second part of the poem then introduces the reason why she needs to leave — Hatid ng dalita’t walang pangalang pagod…Ngunit kailangang makawala sa gapos ng utang, that is because of poverty and to cover up their debts. This part of Mabanglo’s work shows the readers the reason why some Filipinos decided to work abroad too. Stimulated by the growing demands and needs of their families, Filipinos are left with the choice to borrow money and until later work in foreign countries. The conflict of the home against the foreign workplace is intensified in this part of the poem.
“Umalis akong may udyok ng pangarap Makauwi sa galak, maahon sa hirap,” — the third stanza summarizes the persona’s dreams. She dreams of going back happy, aloft from destitution and to marry someone that would always love her. The persona’s dreams, when put in the reality’s concept, are the same dreams that most OFW wish. Filipinos working abroad also fancies an opulent life for their families. The persona’s figments depicts OFW’s ideals for themselves and for their loved ones.
The speaker in the poem then shares her tiring work in Singapore and emphasizes her struggles while working. The speaker states “Sa among banyaga pagkatao’y itinakwil, Ipinahamig na ganap sa madlang hilahil, Nakaniig ko rin ang tunay na hirap”. When compared with the OFW, just like the persona when working abroad, they hurl away their pride and thrall themselves to foreigners. They do what they can to bear with the loads of works they have to finish and sometimes even get emotional because of the pressure, as supported when the speaker of the poem stated, “Kaninong mata ang di mababasag? Kaninong dila ang di magliliyab? Mabuti nga’t may nalabing panahon sa pagtulog.
In the last part of Mabungla’s poem, the persona said the necessity of sacrificing her dreams and wants, despite of the little she is earning and the weary work she’s undergoing. This scenario embodies all of the OFW, their unselfishness, sacrificing their dreams for the sake of their families. In the end, she concludes “Samantala’y ipagdasal nang taos at taimtim, Matagalan ko ang hirap at saklot nang panimdim; Tumibay akong kasabay ng siyudad Bago mamanhid ang isip at puso’y tumigas. The persona asks for prayers of strength and courage so that she could manage the struggles she is encountering before she gives up. The persona asks for support in which what OFW also highly need and what other Filipinos should also give and do to their “kababayan” abroad.
Generally, aside from having Feminism as the poem’s main theme, it also presents the issues faced by OFW in the past and today. Furthermore, Mabungla’s choice of words and rhyming scheme amplifies the theme more and sets the mood of the poem. It gives the audience from the start of the poem an unlikely ambiance of pain and sadness which could attract the readers more to dig in into the work. The transitions also from stanzas to stanza are smooth. This is seen as the poem started with a flashback and an overview of the persona, followed by the presentation of the conflict and ends with the persona’s current condition. It also leaves the readers hanging on what will happen next which enables the readers to analyze and find the hidden picture of the piece.
Although made and published in the 1990’s, the theme in Mabanglo’s poem can be still depicted in the present. The presented problems which consist of the lowered class of migrant workers, economic instability of the Philippines and conflicts between home and foreign workplace can still be pictured and experienced in the current society. Mabanglo’s piece somehow exposes the truth that is denied and ignored by society.
