Miracles Happen! It certainly does! I assure on that because it happened to me. We may not notice it or we intentionally ignore it but surely it comes both in big or small. My only regret is that I had kept it to few people not realizing that a lot of people could get hope from my own story and further strengthen their faith to pursue their dreams and soar higher. My confidence boosted back as it was before after reading the book compiled by Yitta Halberstam and Judith Leventhal entitled Small Miracles: Extraordinary Coincidences from Everyday Life. This is about their own experiences and other people's share of miracles in life. While reading the stories in the book i can't help myself but think of the miracles that happened in me. As i turn the pages of the book, my desire of sharing my own stories intensify. My rational being urges me to encourage a lot of people, who somehow are losing the determination to survive. It is my turn to inspire other people with my own stories.
One busy day in the university where i was working as a social sciences instructor and staff of the information office when a friend of a colleague dropped by in the office to have a little chat with her. After a while, i was asked by my colleague if i was interested to work in the US. ''Of course!'' I instantly replied and asked how? Her friend had given the information and enumerated all the requirements and necessary documents needed, which luckily i all have except the money for the processing of the papers. But i was eager to come here that i would exhaust everything i could just to raise the amount of money i need. You might be asking why i didn't have money saved in the bank while in fact i was considerably earning much higher than any other being an instructor? Well, it's because i have been obliging myself to help my parents and my siblings. I am helping my parents in the household financial burdens, as well, i am sending my siblings to school. I wanted them to finish their studies so they could be equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to stand on their own and enjoy a better life. Ever since as a child, i had instilled in my mind to take the responsibility of our parents. After all, they're the reason why i'm here enjoying the gift of life and all the pleasures this world could offer. I'm doing everything one at a time, though. I still have a lot of time to make things work just the way i planned it.
And so, i had the money sent to a person who was completely stranger to me. I knew him just through the internet and phone. I had not seen him even just once. I just knew him as Kuya Jose. But i trusted him! I was already well informed through the news about those people who are just swindling people with a promise of giving them a job abroad. Yet, i remained trusting this person. Months had have elapsed until i was surprised to receive the petition and contract as a non-skilled worker. Meaning, i didn't need a degree to qualify for the job available for me. Yet, there was a problem! And again, it was money. I need to pay somebody to arrange my interview at the US Embassy it's because i was too far from where would the interview be done adding the fact that i was not very familiar in Manila. Further, it would be much cheaper, easier and faster to pay somebody to do it for me rather than i myself go there. But then again, i didn't know who this person was! I knew her only by name as Lisa. However, i trusted without hesitation. Smoothly, i had raised the money to pay her and eventually she got an schedule for my interview. Here comes the interview and i had no sufficient money to bring with me in a place i knew nobody. I was just very thankful that i have fraternity brothers there, though, we were all strangers to each other did not hesitate to open their house for me.
Friends and colleagues had helped me produce the supporting documents. Albert and Ralph offered to loan me their money, which was their talent fee from choreographing the provincial government's employees street demonstration for the Baragatan - an annual festivity convergence of the people from the different municipalities in Palawan, so i could deposit it in my bank account to ask for a certification that i have a certain amount of money to serve as 'show money' on my interview at the embassy. Pia, another good friend who was a bank manager gave me a certification that i have such money in their bank though i really didn't have one. It was illegal but she did it for me! Too bad she's gone now due to cancer! That's why i owe these people a lot. My loyalty and respect goes to them my whole life.
Just with few clothes in my backpack and limited money at hand i headed to Manila for the interview by boat. My fare was actually courtesy of my dear frat/sorority sister and friend Teng. While on board, though i'm not a good singer i was singing my boredom out loud in the ship's lounge when a crew approached me inviting me to join the singing competition for fun later that night. I turned down the invitation at first because i was not used to joining such competition even just for fun. But i got interested when i was told that the prize to be given would be a fare trip. I was in dire need for a free fare! With my desperation, i enlisted myself for the fun thinking about the ticket i could be winning. And the night of fun begun! Nervous and shaking i sang my heart out to a song popularized by David Pomeranz 'Born For You'. I didn't even know how i did sing but at the end i had the ticket in my hand. I was overwhelmed that i kept to myself what had just happened. I considered it as a blessing and a premonition that i would be making it with my interview. It wasn't that easy as i expected! All of a sudden, we were required to deal with a legitimate placement agency for our own safety. But i only have had limited money. I could not afford to pay an agency. I understood that it was for my benefit but i had limited resources too. What should i do? Yet indeed i followed as i was required to!
My determination once again was tested! In a briefing with the agency's representative, i was particularly pinpointed and told that i would not be making it with the interview because i was over-qualified for what i was applying for. That i need to go back to Palawan to get new supporting documents so i would fit in what i was applying for. I was devastated but refused to take the advise. I told myself that if working to America is for me i would be convincing the consul to give me a chance. If not i could always go back and teach. Equipped just with confidence and honesty, i was given a working visa that everybody was longing for. I was very thrilled that the first thing came into my mind at that moment was that finally i'm going to be rich! Funny but that's the truth. America is the Land of Milk and Honey! It is the Land of Opportunity! America, here i come!
Not yet! It was never easy for me. I thought it would be a lot easier to raise the money i would be needing to cover the cost i would be needing to come here due to the fact that more people would be willing to loan me their money because i could surely pay them back with interest once i got here. I was wrong! The people i was expecting to support me were to no avail. No one trusted me except my bestfriend Lui, who even did not have money to loan me, did not hesitate to lend me the land titles under his name which were just given to him by his parents. I owe him a lot that no money could pay!
As days pass by, i had raised not a single peso. My desperation was growing higher. To cool things off, i had gone winding up for a while with my frat/ sorority brothers and sisters. Confident that everything will be all right in the next days. But that night of enjoyment turned out to be disastrous! While we were on the side of the road waiting for a public transportation i had seen from a distance a speeding motorcycle heading toward us. My instinct to be the first person to hit by the motorcycle hurried me to step few more on the side of the road while shouting to the others to do the same. It was too late! The person at the end of the line was struck by the motorcycle making her, Rita unconscious instantly. We hurried her to the emergency! I contemplated for a while to remain calm. Consoled myself after realizing that it could had been me there in the emergency room. Should i be grateful? The least thing i could do was calling everybody i knew to ask help for her. I solicited help from different people to lessen her parents financial troubles, which they were very appreciative and grateful. Just like me, they were financially short to afford extra medical burdens. Sad to say the person responsible for her pain had gone hiding. I knew in my own little way i had helped but expected nothing in return despite having my own problems. Time to exhaust some more to raise the money i needed for myself.
Days before i had to leave for Manila, i still didn't have the money to pay for my fare going to the US. No one would want to loan me money despite having collaterals in their hands which were the land titles i was entrusted by my bestfriend and those that my mother had borrowed from my grandparents. I literaly had climbed mountains and passed rivers to look for somebody to help me with my ordeal. A good neighbor and friend had told my parents about a couple who had just sold a parcel of their land a couple of months ago who could probably help me. Even not knowing them, i approached them in my desperation to produce the money i needed. They were very welcoming and nice but told me that they had placed their money in the bank for time deposit. They gave me hope by telling me that they would be checking with the bank as to when it would be available for withdrawal.
Not assured with anything, i untiringly look for the money. Until i was already giving up, a day before my departure to Manila i went to Church to pray for guidance and strenght. I cried! I prayed repeatedly. Stayed for a while until i was calmed. And finally i headed home with no money at hand. I had told myself that probably it wasn't time for me yet to come to the US. As i got home, my mother was very worried about me for i haven't gone home the whole day. She hugged me with a big smile on her face telling me that the couple we had known for few days went to our house to loan me money that same time when i remember to ask God for help. What made this more interesting was, that same day, the time prescription of their deposit had elapsed which allowed them to withdraw it just in time i needed their help. They were more than happy to help me. Later on i learned that this couple are actually closed relatives of my colleague whom i helped when she was bumped by a motorcyle, in which they share the same surnames. Is it a coincidence? Or a miracle? Certainly, it is a miracle. Ask God and you will receive! Have faith in Him even if you feel left alone and you will be guided to the right direction. Do not hesitate to extend help to others even if yourself is in need of it because certainly even if you don't expect it you will be reciprocated.
