Some Filipinos based in Belgium are having second thoughts about retiring in the Philippines because of the worsening poverty situation in the country.
“Ang ating mga kababayan, nawawalan ng pag-asa na. Ang ating mga pinuno ay hindi na tayo pinapakinggan. Tayo malakas maghakot ng limpak na limpak na salapi,” said Lito Batacan, founding member of the Samahan ng Manggagawang Filipino sa Belgium.
The group said poverty is pushing more and more Pinoys to leave the country for work overseas.
The group has been monitoring the life of migrant Filipinos for more than two decades now in Belgium. They said that nothing changed except that poverty has affected more Filipinos.
“Napunta ako dito dahil sa kahirapan ng Pilipinas. Yung isa yan, yung social, political, economic situation sa Pilipinas hindi stable,” said Noel Fabian, the group’s Public Relations Officer.
Coming from a family of farmers, Fabian said he abandoned his personal ambition to help his family.
“Hindi ako makapag-concentrate sa pag-aaral dahil pagod sa bukid. Walang makain. Sabi ko ano pa kaya itong mga bata ngayon ganun nae-experience lalo ngayon lumalaki ang populasyon. Hindi mapigil ang migration. Palabas ng palabas dahil sa kahirapan,” Fabian said.
Despite this, many are still hopeful that the country will have a better future.
Report from Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau Belgium.
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/11/20/08/pinoys-belgium-rethink-retirement-plans-rp
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