The financial crisis that the world is now suffering is not really something new. But I know a lot of friends who are working or living overseas; I get the impression that they don’t have any problems with their current jobs. I got three friends who quit their jobs last September, sold their cars, bought a plane ticket, rented a place in Singapore and bought computers to apply to jobs online at their place. In just a month, they were able to find their brand new jobs in manufacturing companies in Singapore! These guys happen to be professionals – you know, the ones who earned those degrees in school.

I think the national media is featuring more on the plight of those OFWs who work as skilled workers or domestic helpers. It doesn’t seem to put the right picture whether most OFWs are affected or not.

Another neighbor, a male nurse who was struggling to pass the board examination, took a flight a few weeks ago to New Zealand to live a new life and enjoy the fruits of his income. He’s another addition to the growing number of neighbors who are proud to have their own sons and daughters living the good life overseas.

My own US-citizen relatives don’t seem to be hit by that financial crisis. But I think they can put up with the reason that they won’t be sending out cash and goodies to us poor Filipino relatives.

My Friendster account is full of friends whose profiles point to a location other than any province, municipality or city in the Philippines. My guess is that 75% of my friends in that long abandoned Friendster profile are composed of their overseas adventures. My Facebook profile is also slowly having a mind on its own and is starting to find my own lost classmates. Look at their albums and you’d see those seemingly happy shots at their new life and job outside the country.

Even Baguio bloggers are not in Baguio anymore. I occasionally run into bloggers who had spent a part of their lives here. Most of them are not living here – many of them had gone abroad!

At home my parents wanted to see my ass out of the house and out of the country.When I meet those neighbors, they had always suggested me websites and places to go to find for a job outside the country – without asking me whether I am interested to work overseas or not.

Only my daughter wants me to stay here.