Glamour

"While I was driving back home from Foodland-Balaklava, I noticed the charm of the railway crossing at Bowmans... at dusk it was boasting of its silhouette against the elegance of the early evening sky!"

Adelaide-Port Augusta railway line, Bowmans, South Australia.

I survived.

We’ve been very busy in the farm for the past seven days... It’s harvest time and we’re short of one worker after a workmate didn’t turn up one day without notice and decided to forever ignore my calls.

It was not a joke to run this half a million-capacity broiler farm 24/7- physically and mentally with only three people especially during the final third of the cycle when there were five times  a week night catches, daily bird sample weighing, heavier dead bird to collect, with the main water pump motor playing up.  I simply don’t want to see these chickens to gradually die of thirst or heat stroke because of inadequate evaporative cooling during warmer days. 

It was a great relief to find a replacement for the worker we’ve lost, but it was equally frustrating that after working with us for a day and a half (a third to be exact) this 20-year old recently-employed worker decided to quit simply because he cannot handle the burden and the smell of daily mortality collection.

This photo was taken after the chicken harvest; 12 April 2011 at 11:56PM...

I had to work day and night especially if it’s my turn to act as a watchdog during harvest; forgetting about my day off until this 16-year old local joined us yesterday.  I can only wish (though I am, honestly, fervently praying) that this guy will work with us for the next twenty years (as what my employer would usually say); while hoping that at the soonest possible time the immigration department will finally grant the visa to our much-awaited Filipino worker.       

 

Thank God it’s Friday!  No harvest, no bird weighing, no grain stocktaking, no feed ordering, no phone calls from the integrator’s broiler serviceperson, no emails, no fax messages... just dead bird collection and minor repair, plus rodent baiting- which is very important these days to get rid of mice that love to nibble our chook feed at night—in my estimate, they are close to or even more than a million!

This afternoon I decided to do my supermarket shopping in the nearby town- Balaklava.  But I needed to do it quickly so I could get back to the farm before it gets dark and cool (especially during these days that the autumnal equinox has already taken place) to shut the blinds at the cooling end of the sheds.

 

...and while I was driving back home from Foodland-Balaklava, I noticed the charm of the railway crossing at Bowmans—it looks absolutely ordinary under the bright, blue sky, but earlier at dusk it was boasting of its silhouette against the elegance of the early evening sky!  

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Upside Down

I'll be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship in thirty-five days.  I have been tirelessly counting days and nights for the past fifty-five days and it has made me excited to get up every morning knowing that I have survived the challenges of the previous day and currently given another opportunity to continue my countdown and accomplish all the tasks ahead to get closer to my goal.  Mornings have been getting cooler and cooler since the onset of autumn three weeks ago, and the sun rises usually after seven but the low temperature and darkness haven't stopped me to start performing my daily farm routine at 5:40 AM.       

While I was checking the sheds at sunrise this morning, I've noticed a stunning reflection on the poorly drained area between our new chicken sheds.  So I took my camera and captured the view.

The reflection of the grain silos and the morning sky at Port Wakefield, South Australia.  March 29, 2011.

Early bird catches 'special worms', indeed! 


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Burn out

One of the company's new chicken sheds.  Port Wakefield, South Australia

I have a lot of stories to tell, but haven't got the luxury of time to write... 

At work, I have more than enough in front of me, my plate is so full!  24/7.  Shed alarms on my mobile phone (ringing even if I'm in the supermarket), feed stocktake, feed ordering, dozens of work-related phone calls in a day, bird weighing, night-time harvest (5 nights a week), daily mortality collection, water supply problems, hot temperature... No excuses, no day off, and no right to take a legitimate sickie unless it's really bad.  

The farm capacity has doubled since December 2010- from 250,000 to 500,000 chickens... and until now the company is still struggling to find a qualified person to complete our staff so we can easily run the 'show'.  There are qualified people out there but the next question is their interest or willingness to work and live in a secluded place like this- nothing but ten chicken sheds, fifteen grain silos, and four water tanks standing in the middle of the infinite, auburn South Australian plain... a modern chookery in a small town located 98 kilometres northwest of the city with the population of 600 people.      


And just like in the previous years, I am facing the same challenge- I am in captivity!  I am a captive of my ambitions- so powerful that I cannot just easily or instantly leave this job at this point of time until I am totally cleared of any immigration issue.  Don't get me wrong, I like the work experience here (dealing with this state-of-the-art chicken farming facility, probably one of the best in the world), I wanted to stay longer...  I am just in a desperate need of an assistant; and every time our job offer was turned down, I am considering to pack up- which is not and will never be a good option at all. 
   

Seventy-nine days more to go... and as I get closer, and closer to my eligibility for Australian citizenship, the 'game' is getting tougher; really, really tougher!  I am seriously tired, and honestly, I don't know how much further can I go.   




(By the way, happy new year and happy Valentine's day to all!)
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'Chicken Joy'

The sun would set at around 8pm in Port Wakefield these days. While I am writing this, the sun has already set, but for me and my job, the day isn’t over yet.

Twenty thousand chickens were taken out of our sheds last midnight... we collected the dead birds from the sheds this morning, and did some mechanical, electronics and plumbing works this afternoon. At 3pm, I received a call from the dressing plant—sixteen thousand birds will be going before dawn tomorrow. This means that I have to do the same pre-catch ‘rituals’ that I did last night, and then starve the birds starting midnight so they could empty their crop before the early morning harvest starts. And tomorrow at eight, the collection of the dead chooks will again commence...

...there are a lot of exhausting stories behind the juicy-licious roasted chicken of Red Rooster or the crispy, spicy fried chicken of KFC... and that is the life of a poultry farmer, the life that I have chosen for almost three years now.

I don’t know if occupying a house built a hundred meter across the poultry shed is a blessing, and at this moment I have this uncertainty if living in this house is really ‘living’ or is actually ‘working’. I am very grateful to have this gift of sight and I wish I could continue to admire the view from my windows which I, actually, doubt if it is really a scenery or just a mere surroundings. It really takes some efforts to split my mind set between my job from my ‘real life’, and during the harvest season I would temporarily lose the power to differentiate a night from a day.

The wages of sin is death; I admit I am a sinner but I don’t want to ‘die’ while I am still 'living'! I have been desperately looking for some other ways of paying the price of being too ambitious, because I believe that this is not the only way. Currently, I fear that the ‘powerful sticker’ stamped by the Australian Immigration on my Philippine passport has started to lose its potency to sustain the euphoric effect that I felt the day it was granted.

I hope I could figure it out—is this job really hard, or I am just weak?

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Ang Bukang Liwayway

Kapag masaya ako, at wala akong pinuproblema, natatakot ako. Batid ko kasi ang katotohanang habang ako'y nabubuhay, siguradong may haharapin akong mga hamon. Kaya kung wala man akong pinapasan sa ngayon, posibleng mamaya, bukas o sa susunod na araw ay may darating na panibagong suliranin...

Ako'y napaka-unfair dito sa aking blog, kasi madalas ang update kapag ako'y may masamang dinaramdam o nalulungkot; pero kapag ako'y masaya, walang naidadagdag na mga bagong pahina. Pero heto, pilit kong pinipiga ang aking utak, nang may maisusulat dito sa ngayon habang ako'y masaya.

Seventeen days ago, inilabas ko bilang 'status' sa aking Facebook account, na para akong naturukan ng morphine, nawala ang lahat ang mga nararamdaman kong hapdi at sakit noon, at para akong nakalutang sa alapaap! 'Yan ang hatid ng Australian Permanent Residency visa na ipinagkaloob sa akin ng DIAC noong May 3, 2010. Alam kong para sa iba, ang bagay na ito ay walang halaga. This is nothing. Pero para sa aking mahigit tatlong taon ding hindi nakaramdam ng saya sa nakuhang trabaho rito sa ibang bayan (sapagkat napaka-stagnant ng aking naging kalagayan sa mahabang panahong 'yon), ang aking PR ay sapat na, o sa tingin ko nga'y humihigit pa sa kinailangan kong gamot para malunasan ang noo'y malubha kong karamdaman.

Naalala ko tuloy ang aking linya (bilang si Padre Guerrero) sa isang play noong ako'y nasa kolehiyo pa... Ang tanong ni father kay Badong (na nangangarap maging isang ganap na sakristan), "...at itinuro rin ba sa 'yo ni Father O'Connor ang kahalagahan ng tiyaga at ang kabanalan ng paghihintay?"

Lubos at taus-puso ang aking pasasalamat sa lahat ng aking mga naging kaibigan dito sa blogosphere... nang dahil sa inyong mga payo, nakayanan kong maging matatag noong mga panahong muntik na akong sumuko.

Sa ngayon, nakapagpahinga na rin siguro ang pagod na tenga ng Diyos nang dahil sa aking paulit-ulit na mga dasal noon. Magtatatlong linggo na rin Siyang hindi nakarinig ng mga personal na kahilingan mula sa akin, sapagkat sa nakalipas na mga araw ay puro pasasalamat ang aking nasasambit sa aking mga panalangin.

Sa ngayon, hindi pa rin alam ng aming mga alagang manok na iniwan na sila ng kanilang dating farm manager. 'Di ako sigurado, pero sa tingin ko ay hindi nila naramdamang ako na ang bumabalikat sa kanila. Natutuwa akong ang aming lumang farm vehicle ay pinalitan na rin sa wakas ng isang desenteng sasakyan. Nagpapasalamat din akong ang isang tauhan ditong noo'y hindi nakikiisa sa pangkat, ngayo'y nangunguna sa pakikiisa lalung-lalo na sa mga maintenance and repair works ng manukan. Kung saan ako mahina, may taong nakisama at nagkataong napakahusay naman sa aspetong ito.

Wala na akong inaalalang napakamahal na bayarin para sa private health insurance, sapagkat tinutulungan na ako ng Medicare Australia. Wala na rin akong dapat alalahaning ma-i-expire na working visa.

Nagkaroon ako ng kapalagayang loob, nagkaroong muli ng focus. Hindi ko na iniisip sa ngayon ang napakakapal na alikabok at mga nakalutang na hibla ng balahibo sa loob ng chicken sheds. Wala na akong paki-alam kung umabot man ng-50'C o 'di kaya'y mag-minus 9'C sa labas. Ayos lang sa akin ang maging on call beynte quatro oras, pumasok sa loob ng manukan ng alas-diyes ng gabi o 'di kaya'y alas dos ng madaling araw, basta ang mahalaga, maging maayos ang lahat dito sa aking trabaho. Nakakapagtaka, kahit na araw-araw akong pumapasok, pakiramdam ko araw-araw rin akong naka-day off. Hinahangad at ipinagdarasal ko talagang sana ay ganito nalang palagi ang aking pakiramdam.

Sa ngayon, nilalasap ko na muna ang mala-morphine side-effect na naging bunga ng mga pagbabago sa aking buhay kamakailan lamang. Maaaring bukas ay darating na aking kinatatakutang mga problema, pero sa tingin ko, sa dami ng mga hirap, pagod at hapding nalagpasan ko noon, anumang uri ng hamong darating sa akin bukas ay siguradong aking kakayanin. 'Ika nga ni Doc Ed, na boss ko sa Monterey noon, "Anything that isn't fatal will surely make you stronger."




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Sparkling white...

Beer, wine and spirits...
Handorf, South Australia

Sa tingin ko'y kailangang magdiwang sapagkat matapos ang labintatlong araw na pamamahinga ng aking pluma, heto't sinisikap ko uling makagawa ng kahit maiksing post. First time itong gagawa ako ng post na hindi ko inisip ang aking isusulat habang namumulot ng mga 'hindi pinalad' na mga manok sa loob ng sheds... at first time ding magsulat akong diretso na rito sa posting page ng Blogger at siguradong hindi ko na ito mabibigyan ng kaunting style. Kung ano ang maiisip ko ngayon, 'yon ang magiging laman nito... 'yon bang parang nakikipagkwentuhan lang ako sa inyo ng mga updates tungkol sa hamak na magmamanok.

Sa nakalipas na sampung araw, masyado akong napagod sa nangyaring paglilipat ng work place, at sa nangyaring transition sapagkat inatasan ako ngayon ng trabahong mas mabigat ang responsibilidad. Sumuko kasi ang isa sa apat na mga farm managers ng kumpanya sapagkat napagod at nagsawa sa dami at napakamabusising requirements ng HACCP. Somehow, nag-aalangan at natatakot din sana akong tumanggap ng trabahong iniluwa ng iba sapagkat siguradong hindi ito madali. Kung hindi lang ako nangangailangan ng panibagong visa, honestly mas pipiliin ko ang dati kong work assignment; mas maraming oras para sa sarili, sa panood ng TV, sa pamamasyal at pagba-blog. ...sa bagay interim manager lang naman daw ako rito, kaya kapag may makita silang mas karapat-dapat kaysa sa akin, siguro balik na rin sa dati. For the sake of 'growth' in this country, okay na rin ito sa ngayon.

Bagong trabaho, bagong tirahan. Umalis na rin ako sa aking caravan- na naging silungan ko sa loob ng dalawang taon at dalawang buwan. At dahil weekdays (working days) nu'ng ako'y naglipat, isang tao lang ang tumulong sa paghakot ng aking mga gamit papunta rito sa bahay (na ipapakita ko sa inyo sa mga susunod kong posts). Kaya, pagod... Hindi rin kasi natapos ang paghahakot sa loob lang ng isang araw sapagkat sa umaga nagtatrabaho muna ako rito sa manukan, at 'pag tapos na ang mga mahahalagang gawain, saka ko ipinagpapatuloy ang paglilipat ng mga gamit. At isa pa, ute (pick-up) ang ginamit namin sa paghahakot, wala kasi kaming licence mag-drive ng sasakyang may hinihila (trailer/caravan) at ayaw ko na ring magbayad pa ng driver dahil medyo may kamahalan.

Of course pagkatapos magkahakot, kailangang mag-ayos. Whew! Sana ay wala na munang mangyayaring lipatan, after two years pwede na ulit kapag may hawak na akong mas magandang Australian visa.

Speaking... ang permanent resident visa na matagal ko nang hinahangad ay on the process na sa ngayon, nasa stage 2 of 3 na. Sinagot na rin ang matagal kong ipinagdadasal; bumait bigla ang employer nu'ng nakita at naramdaman nilang kailangan nila akong ilagay sa posisyong ito. Biglang inayos ang regional certification ng aking job/position at nagawa kaagad nila ang nomination/sponsorship documents para sa aking residency. Ako'y nananalangin na ma-grant naman sana ang visang ito sa akin.

Six days earlier, tinanong ako ng farm owner kung kumusta ako rito, sabi ko so far, so good. Nagsinungaling ako ng kaunti dahil sa totoo lang medyo nanibago ako sa dami ng aking pinapasang tungkulin sa ngayon, pero alam ko namang I'll get used to it... soon. Dinadagan ko pang bakit maghanap pa siya ng bagong manager gayong ako'y kilala na niya ng mahigit na dalawang taon.

"Absolutely," 'ika niya. "I'll be reviewing your package and see what I can do about it."

Hindi pumasok sa isip ko kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin sa 'package' na 'yon hanggang sa noong nakalipas na pay day, napansin ko nalang nadagdagan ng 10% ang aking wages. o",) Natuwa ako siyempre. (Pero hindi ko kayang isulat ang aking naramdamang tuwa at saya, mas sanay kasi akong magsulat kapag malungkot ang tema; aaralin ko 'yan sa ngayon.)

It seems that the whole universe has been conspiring for me, kung si Paulo Coelho pa. Huwag naman sanang biglang ma-misalign ang aking mga bituin nang sa gayo'y tuloy-tuloy ang kasiyahan.

Noong nakalipas na March 13, 2010 ay dalawang taon na sa blogosphere ang The Chook-minder's Quill. Hindi man lang ako nakapag-blow out; pero gagawin ko 'yan kahit na late na. Wish kong sana'y mabigyan pa ako ng good health- a sound mind and a healthy physique upang patuloy pa akong makakapagsulat dito sa aking blog na naging 'kaibigan' ko na for a couple of years now.

Matatapos na aking 1.5-hr break... Darating na ang mga manghuhuli ng aming mga manok in half an hour. 12:37am na ngayon dito sa South Australia. Pagod at puyat... pero ayos din, nang dahil sa pagiging abala, wala na akong panahong mag-isip tungkol sa mga bagay na malulungkot. Hahah!

Sabayan niyo ako, mag-celebrate tayo! U



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AUrora

Innes National Park, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia

I woke up this morning standing on the edge of a cliff, facing the ocean that promises growth and wealth in this continent. On the 15th of this month, there's no other choice but to dive and explore the depth of the water...

I am not a good swimmer so I wish I could stay afloat in case the waves aren’t mild... as I hope that nasty sea creatures won’t get wild.

...praying and believing to find some pearls of success and happiness at the bottom end of this endeavour.



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Fely

Ika-8 ng Enero 2010
Port Wakefield, S.A.
Australia


Mahal kong Fely,

Kumusta ka na?

Walong tulog nalang magtatatlong taon na ako rito sa Australia. Subalit pakiramdam ko wala pa ring nangyayari sa akin. Stale and still.

Simula noong taong 2007 pakiramdam ko ako'y naglalakad sa isang patag at baku-bakung kalsada ngunit ang mga pagsisikap na aking ginagawa habang naglalakbay ay tulad naman ng umaakyat sa isang napakatarik na bundok! Mahirap. Career-wise, akala ko noon kapag makarating ako rito, magiging pasulong pero hindi pala... Mali ako, dahil sa ngayon nag-regress na ako!

Kung hindi ako umalis after a year of working sa dati kong trabaho sa isang babuyan sa Queensland malamang naging permanent resident na rin ako ng bansang ito. Pero siguro, hindi talaga para sa akin 'yong trabaho, pati ang makuha ang residency ng ganu'n kabilis.

Very hopeful and positive ako nu'ng nagsimula ako rito sa manukan. Kung hindi ko nakita itong trabahong ito, malamang magkasama na tayo diyan ngayon. Sabi nila, blessing na nandito ako, pero kapag nasa workplace at ini-execute ko na ang mga gawain pakiramdam ko ito ay isang curse!

Nagugulat lang kasi ako kapag nasa trabaho at malalaman kong kailangan kong magpalit o mag-ayos ng tumatagas na water pipe, magtanggal ng sirang motor, at makuryente habang nag-aayos ng naglolokong electrical control board! Hindi ko kasi narinig ang salitang 3/4" PVC TT coupling, thread at teflon sa Anatomy noon... absent siguro ako sa klase noong ini-lecture ang tungkol sa gearbox at ball bearing sa Pathology... bakit kasi wala akong na-encounter na vice grip at wrench noon sa Surgery! Nakakalito, kasi kung sa Microbiology gram negative bacteria stain red in Giemsa, ang wire at terminal na kulay pula ay positive naman sa Electronics!

Nakaya kong manatili ng dalawampu't-apat buwan sa manukang ito dahil sa pag-asang makakamit ko ang katuparan ng aking simpleng pangarap. Kinakaya ko dahil sa pangakong permanent residency (PR) pagkatapos ng dalawang taon. Subalit ngayong nakumpleto ko na ang kinakailangang panahon ng panunungkulan, tila tulog at manhid ang kinauukulan! Apat na araw na ang nakalipas nung ipinadala ko ang liham na nagri-request para sa aking PR nomination at sponsorship sa kumpanya pero hanggang ngayon wala pa ring tugon!

Very frustrating ang patakaran ng Australian Immigration, sa aking kasalukuyang posisyon sa trabaho, hindi maari ang independent PR application sapagkat hindi kasama sa critical occupation list ng bansa ang veterinarian at mga farm workers. Mas kailangan nila ng mga enhinyero, nars, at ang mga mahuhusay at bihasa sa kompyuter!

Very frustrating din dahil takot ang mga employers na maging residente kaagad ang isang banyaga sapagkat maari na itong makahanap ng bagong mapapasukan at tuluyan na silang iwanan! Kaya kahit na nakumpleto na ang dalawang taong serbisyo, ngunit may bisa pa ang working visa at may natirang isa o dalawang taon pa ang kontrata, sorry nalang ang isang kawaning tulad ko- na umaasa ng agarang residency.

Nakakainip ang maghintay... 'di bale sanang maghintay kung talagang may paparating; masamang maghintay kung hindi darating ang hinihintay; at ang 'maghintay sa wala' ay ang pinakamasaklap na paghihintay!

Hangad ko ang Australian residency ngunit hindi ko alam kung kaya kong isagawa at panindigan ang lahat ng mga katungkulan at pananagutang kaakibat nito. Ayaw ko ring maging unfair, sapagkat alam kong ang residency na aking inaasam ay hindi dapat hanggang sa papel lang. Inaamin ko, hanggang ngayon ikaw pa rin ang mahal ko- Bb. Fely Pinas.


Nagmamahal,
RJ

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Dalisay

Bago ko sinimulan ang paglikha ng post na 'to, dumaan muna ako ng shower room para maligo.

Kasalukuyang 3:57 ng umaga rito sa South Australia, kararating ko lang galing trabaho. Mahigit limang oras din akong nasa loob ng manukan kanina, namumulot at naglalabas ng mga patay na manok habang hinihintay kong makatapos ang catching crew sa panghuhuli ng aking mga alagang nakatakdang dalhin sa katayan ngayong araw.

Paglabas ng manukan, amoy manukan na rin ako- ang aking damit, balat, at buhok. Talo ko pa ang espasol sa tindi ng alikabok, at kahit na ako'y nakasuot ng dust mask habang nasa loob ng manukan, pakiramdam ko'y tagos pa rin hanggang sa baga ko ang mga mapipinong hibla ng nalagas na balahibong palutang-lutang sa hangin.

Bago ko sinimulan ang paglikha ng post na 'to, dumaan muna ako ng shower room para maligo. ...sarap ng pakiramdam, tanggal ang mga duming kumapit sa akin galing manukan! Ngunit hindi lahat ay kayang anurin ng maligamgam na tubig... Hanggang ngayon, matiyaga ko pa ring hinihintay ang pagdating ng mabisang panlinis ng puso't isipan mula sa pangungulila, pagkabagot at pagkayamot.




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The Parable of the Chook-minder

Chicken harvest has started for a week now, and it will take another three sleepless weeks before we can totally empty the chicken sheds. This is the reason why The Chook-minder’s Quill hasn’t been scribbling anything for the past seven days.

*****

...but of course I didn't miss the bout between Pacquiao-Cotto. As a Filipino blogger, I obliged myself to subscribe the ‘pay-per-view’ of the said fight. So last Sunday, I sat in front of the telly for more than 4 hours as I waited with pessimism... but ended up happy and proud because I was able to witness how the People’s Champ engraved history in the boxing world!

*****

The movie 2012 is also the ‘talk of the blogosphere’ nowadays, so I watched it this evening. Huhmn, I commend the visual effects of the movie. That’s it, nothing more. But hey, I believe that the release of the movie was really planned to coincide with the Scripture readings last Sunday, and I think these are all related to what I have been doing lately—the chicken harvest.

With the company’s up-to-date knowledge in poultry genetics, health and nutrition; plus the husbandry skills of the poultry farm workers and the modern amenities of the chicken sheds, only 94-96% of the flock pass the standards of the harvest crew and the dressing plant. Part of the remaining 5% dies, and others are condemned along the growing cycle because they are sick, small or skinny. During the final night of the harvest, chicken catchers would set aside and leave all the substandard birds behind.

Then it’s the responsibility of the chook-minder. All the poor-performing or unproductive chickens are condemned- their head and neck joint is skilfully dislocated. The dead birds are then placed in a wheelbarrow, tipped in a tractor bucket parked outside the shed and finally dumped in a 6-foot deep mortality pit!

WiSHum GRANTum

It was 6:58 a.m. and the sun hadn’t risen yet. The dark eastern horizon had been gradually turning into a streak of cherry-red band, while the wide, lush, green wheat field was still obscured by the remaining darkness of the dawn. He felt the cold winter breeze biting his cheeks and this nearly freezing temperature never spared to penetrate even his glove-encased palms!

He quickly entered the first of the six control rooms which had been individually annexed beside the six chicken sheds. He was there to check the digitally-recorded data and to adjust the computer settings to make it suitable for the current growth requirement of the flock.

He almost leapt, as his heart was pounding, to see an odd object partly covered with a white cotton cloth standing right in front of him! He was surprised because for the past fifteen months of working there, he hadn’t found this kind of thing in the middle of this narrow and dusty room, or anywhere inside the farm’s confinement.

Curious, he hastily pulled the cloth off; and a magnificent life-size mirror with an antique, wooden frame was instantly unveiled!

He moved slowly towards the classic furniture, stood in front and looked at it but he couldn’t see his own reflection! He was startled.

He took a deep breath, and his anatomical heart beat more heavily. He felt the wintery draught creeping from the horizontal gap between the door and the floor to his feet up to his legs... He was about to open the doorway so he could immediately leave the haunted room but suddenly, a diffused vibrant ray started to dazzle out from the mirror!

The light had faded slowly, and the mirror started to display some moving images... He saw himself in an oath-taking ceremony together with other men and women of different nationalities, with a ‘Blue Ensign defaced with a constellation and a Commonwealth star’ emblem as a backdrop! The representative of the immigration department handed him his new passport- with a black cover and an outline of a kangaroo and an emu on the front. There was a ‘fast forward’... he then saw himself standing in front of his students in a university classroom Down Under holding a bony pelvis of a White Leghorn on his left hand, and a bony pelvis of a Beagle on his right. Finally, the mirror reflected him inside a teaching veterinary surgery room sharing the tricks of ovariohysterectomy to five eager-to-learn surgical teams.

He had been extremely captivated by those enchanting scenes, and he completely forgot all about his task for the day! He was very excited to tell his mates about the magical mirror so he went out of the control room and rushed to the lunch room to see Farshid and Roger.

AT 7:59 A.M. THE BALL OF fire hadn’t shown itself; instead, it kept on hiding behind the low, dark and visibly moving clouds just above the township of Port Wakefield that day. Strangely, a myriad of seagulls was hovering and perching all over the place!

Meanwhile... out of nowhere, a very old man wearing long robes and purple cloak suddenly appeared inside the control room! He was tall and thin; and his long grey hair, moustache and beard were all tucked into his leather belt—which was obviously made of a rooster skin. He waved his wand and said, “wishum grantum!”

The old man and the enchanted mirror vanished right away.

Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s ‘Mirror of Erised’- a chapter in her book Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The Mirror of Erised is a magic mirror, which, according to Albus Dumbledore, shows the "deepest and most desperate DESIRE of our hearts".

"Men have spent so much time looking in the mirror; they became mad, that they have forgotten to live."

-Albus Dumbledore explaining the danger of the mirror to Harry Potter

Captive

The poultry farm in Spring 2008, South Australia...

He has never expected that his dreams could put him straight behind bars... that achieving his goal is coupled with countless limitations that could steal his youth away from him!

Australia has a total land area of 7.68 million square kilometres but he has been strictly confined in a 90-hectare poultry farm for the past fourteen months. The country has 21 million people, but he’s been dealing with only 1 person for two weeks now. He has been handling 500,000 birds inside the sheds but he’s been living alone inside his house for four hundred and forty-two days now.

This is his real world—his Australian workplace. The gateway is widely open but he couldn’t dare to pack his things up and leave his ‘cage’ behind—the cage of dreams that promises an exquisite and the most envied life that is yet to come...

This is his current Australian life, if he can call it ‘life’. A life away from his loved ones but closer to his dreams... a life where material wealth is undeniably abundant yet supreme happiness is evidently scarce!

The Keynote...

"Filipinos Abroad: Hope of the Nation, Gift to the World"

This is an official entry to the 2009 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards (PEBA).

Ang Panauhing Pandangal (ang panimula...)

Ngayong nasa entablado na ang espesyal na panauhin, nahahalatang medyo kulang siya sa tangkad! ...at kahit na sa malayo halatang-halata ang malaking nunal nito sa kanyang kaliwang pisngi, pati ang dalawang ngipin n'ya sa harapang medyo may kalakihan.

Hindi pa niya naibuka ang kanyang bibig para simulan ang kanyang maikling pananalita ay nagpalakpakan na ang madla!

Nagbago ang kulay ng ilaw sa loob ng pavilion, bahagyang dumilim ang silid ngunit may isang liwanag na nakatutok sa magsasalita... Narito ang kabuuan ng kanyang talumpati:

Good evening ladies and gentlemen!

It is, indeed, a great honour and privilege for me to be invited by the powerful men and women behind the Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards, Inc. to speak for tonight’s PEBA Awarding Ceremony. Despite the cool Christmas breeze outside which has been brought by the amihan winds from the freezing temperature of the northern hemisphere, we seem to be sharing the same season with our KaBlogs Down Under because our attendance tonight shows the warmth of harmony and solidarity between us—and this is already an initial indication of this evening's success!

With Kenji creating this award-giving body for the Global Filipino bloggers in 2008; and with Nereus Jethro spearheading the group this 2009, I- together with our friends from OWWA, POEA and TESDA with their mother agency DOLE, and the DFA whose representatives are also here with us this evening—were greatly convinced that every Filipino blogger interspersed around the globe has been given the great power to influence every world-wide-web-reader through their writings. I am sure that as you- the supporters of PEBA- take the responsibility to write in your blog, you do not just simply become the hope of our country, but also the pride and inspiration of our beloved nation.

Currently, there are eleven million Filipinos living outside the country. The count includes all of you who venture overseas as temporary workers, expatriates, as well as those in the academe- which comprise 11% of the total population of the Philippines. I understand every story of every Global Filipino, like you...

...if we could only collect every teardrop, measure the loneliness, or even quantify the hard-work that you’ve been doing while you’re away from our homeland, it would surely flood or cover the entire earth—more than enough that it would be very impossible for me to prevent it from overflowing!

For almost eight years now, The Palace has been doing every important step to create, generate and provide a job for every qualified Filipino. But because of the ailing global economy, our efforts may not be enough...

...I really admire all of you- the talented and skilful Filipino youths—for living up to the expectation of our national hero! You are truly courageous and determined to continuously extend your horizon as you seek for your own place in this world whenever you feel that the Philippines is too small and overcrowded for you. This attitude has instantly made you the living heroes of our beloved nation!

How many Filipino children have been left hungry and thirsty for food and education, alike, hadn’t their nanay, tatay, ate, kuya, tiyo or tiya explored for and took better opportunities overseas? With the total inflow of US$10 billion in 2005, US$13 billion in 2006, US$14.4 billion in 2007, and US$15.9 billion remittances to the Philippines in 2008...

...you—the Global Filipinos are not just simply providing for your family back home, but you are also unconsciously contributing to the Philippine economy! ...and I salute you for this!

Amidst various trends and economic challenges of the modern day, well-developed nations in the world are still continuously craving for more knowledgeable and skilful workers because of labour shortage in their country. I am so glad because Filipinos still remain to be one of the few choices of Canada—particularly in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan; Japan, United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain as shown by the effective Memorandum of Agreement between the POEA and these countries.

Who can ever forget those 400 Filipino nurses who had gone to Japan thru JPEPA seven months ago, and underwent intensive training for six months in Nihongo? These successful nurses and caregivers had already found their way to their new workplace last November; and the POEA is still negotiating with the Japanese government for additional deployment next year. We are also very grateful to the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship for granting a total of 3,970 working visas to Filipinos for the period of July 2008 to March 2009.

The migration of the family of a Filipino blogger named Loida of 2L3B’s to Canada last May, as well as her and her husband’s immediate employment within a week of arrival in Ontario is another very good example. We also have another blogger- Chico who has been enjoying his dream job in Dubai since June 2009. We should also add Gasoline Dude on our list for receiving two job offers last May after being laid off from his previous job in Singapore on that same month. David Edward Santos of Geeky Thoughts who had moved to Kuala Lumpur last April is also one of them; as well as Joan Manalang—The Artist Chef who’s been savouring her adventures in Ho Chi Minh since May this year. We should also count the best luck of A.R.D.Y.E.Y. of ARDYEYTOLOGY in, who, after signing a job offer and consequently being denied of a work permit in Algeria because of his age, was still accepted with open arms in his old job in Doha!

Undeniably, the 2009 success stories of these Filipino Expats/OFW bloggers and non-bloggers would prove that our race is still the most sought workforce in the international arena! Global Filipinos, your English communication skills, as well as your expertise in various professions and trades are not just the only reason for this...

...you are, undoubtedly, armed with your strong faith in God! ...you are also furnished with your long-term, whole-hearted commitment to your job, your loyalty to your employer, your good relationship with your workmates and all the other admirable Filipino traits in the workplace, in general. These are, actually, the major reasons why these developed countries are insatiable—they wanted to hire more and more workers from the Philippines every year.

Now look at how the product exportation of that prawn company by the Red Sea and that poultry farm by the Flinder’s Ranges has succeeded! Quench your thirst with the sweet and safe drinking water from Al-Khobar- produced through reversed osmosis in a high-tech lab... don’t forget to browse and have a glance so you can appreciate the illustrations in that Malaysian children’s book which was released in the middle of this year... imagine how the Filipino music, and words soothe the exhausted muscles, pacify the aching nerves and inspire the disheartened souls on earth...

And there you are, Filipino bloggers and non-bloggers around the globe who are currently watching tonight’s event—live and online through the comfort of your own computers; we should thank our computer analyst and programmer based in the island of Palau for making all these wild world-wide-web things possible!

...and who said that while the Philippines is boasting for your 13.5% contribution to our Gross Domestic Product, she’s also been suffering from ‘brain drain’? Do you know that we could start calling it ‘brain gain’?; for as soon as those overseas Filipino students, or even those skilled temporary workers, get back to our country after months or years of intensive trainings and studies abroad, they can surely offer and share their expertise to every interested student back home.

My friends and fellow 'netizens' of the web, the things I’ve just enumerated to you are only few, yet significant examples that show how Filipino expatriates and overseas workers sparkle like pieces of diamonds spangled around the globe! Believe me, you—yourselves, are our invaluable gift to the whole world!

How wonderful it is to note that Filipino bloggers across the globe have also been united and gained dauntless strength through this one-of-a-kind effort of KaBlogs Station...

You possess the greatest power and the absolute freedom to write what you think and how you feel; simply, it signifies that the true spirit of democracy is still flourishing until today!

As the Icon of Democracy—the late ex-President Corazon Aquino—showed her motherly concern to the OFW’s, I promise to uphold her Executive Order number 126, and the Republic Act 7111 which was promulgated during her administration. Let your voices be heard. I encourage you to sustain your acts of heroism for our country not just within the pages of your powerful and influential blogs, but also in the foreign land where you’re working right now!

I trust, much more than I am expecting, that you will continue to help in building a strong nation and in shaping a peaceful world to live in! In your simplest way, spread the best news, promote goodwill, create and nurture friendship, reach out and inspire every Global Filipino—blogger or non-blogger—with your brilliant and lovely words.

I know you can do this, that's why I have decided to step out of this eminent throne in the Philippine government come June next year; of course after the much-awaited May 2010 elections. Honestly, I really feel secure to leave my office in 6 months time because I know that you- the Filipino expatriates and OFWs are there—whom I believe, are the real hope of our nation and the genuine gift to the whole world!

Congratulations to all the PEBA winners; isang Maligayang Pasko sa ating lahat, at mabuhay ang PEBA! [To vote for this PEBA 2009 entry, please CLICK THIS.]

Itutuloy...

Ang mga LIHIM at Kwento...

[Ito ay isa lamang sanang puna doon sa post ni Poging (ilo)Cano na pinamagatang Si Cris, si Ruel at Ako. Napahaba, kaya dito ko nalang ipinaskil. Nagkataong magkapareho pa kami ng pangalan ng isa niyang kaibigan.]


Hindi ko alam kung bakit kailangan pang sabihin ng agency na 'office staff' ang magiging position o ang trabahong pinapa-applyAn nila sa Dubai kung ang totoong trabaho ay diesel attendant pala... [Kasalukuyan kayang may trabaho noon sa Pilipinas sina Cris at Ruel habang pina-process ang visa nila? Pogi, pakisagot nalang.]

Kung ipinaskil kaya ng agency sa job ad nila at sinabi rin sa job offer/description na diesel attendant ang totoong trabaho (sa ganu'ng parehong sweldong natatanggap nila ngayon) tatanggapin pa rin kaya nila ang trabaho bilang isang diesel attendant kahit na sinabi ni Poging (ilo)Cano sa kanyang post na 'sayang din kasi ang kanilang pinag-aralan'?


Parang ganito rin 'yan. Ang visang iginawad sa akin ng Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship sa una kong trabaho sa isang malaking piggery sa Queensland ang position ay 'Agricultural Technical Officer'. Ngayong lumipat ako sa manukan- 'Farm Overseer' naman.

AKO AY NAGPAPAKAIN noon ng mga baboy, naglilinis ng kanilang kulungan, humihila ng mga patay naming alaga (maximum 110kgs. mag-isa lang ako, may taling panghila at push cart na kargahan) palabas ng kulungan, naglilinis at nag-aayos ng mga kapapanganak na mga biik, nagababakuna (800 - 2,400 pigs every 2 days mag-isa lang ako), nagtuturok ng gamot sa mga may sakit na baboy, nagtatapon ng patay at nagda-drive ng loader/tractor.

BILANG ISANG Farm Overseer naman ngayon dito sa poultry... araw-araw, sa unang tatlong oras ng trabaho ko sa loob ng manukan, namumulot ako ng mga patay na manok [mga 300-400 bawat araw (ang iba'y nagsisimula nang mabulok)] gamit ang wheel barrow; kapag huling linggo na ng mga manok 3.6kgs na ang timbang nila multiply sa 50 hds, ganyan kabigat ang itinutulak kong wheel barrow sa 110m. na haba ng manukang ito. Naglilinis din ako ng mga control/computer rooms, nagtatanggal ng mga alikabok sa mga blower fans, nagtatapon/naglilibing ng mga patay na manok gamit ang loader, naghahanda ng mga kulungan sa gabi kapag may manghuhuli ng mga manok para dalhin sa dressing plant, nagpuputol ng mga makakapal na damo sa farm gamit ang mechanical slasher, etc.


WALA NAMAN KASI sa listahan ng mga job positions ng Australian immigration ang poultry farm attendant o piggery farm attendant. Talagang Agricultural Technical Officer at Farm Overseer lang ang positionG maaaring mabigyan nila ng working visa. Napakasarap basahin at pakinggan, di ba? Pero ang trabaho ay talagang farm attendant- at ito rin ang nakasaad sa job description na pinirmahan namin.

Ang kagandahan (?!?) lang dito sa Australia, lahat ng mga empleyado ng isang farm ay ginagawa pareho ang tinatawag na mga 'clean' at 'dirty' jobs, kahit supervisors at manager sila pare-pareho kaming nagtatrabaho nito. Madalas nga mas mahirap pa ang kanilang ginagawa kaysa sa mga farm attendants na tulad ko. Totoo ito, sa Queensland tatlong beses isang linggo, 2:00am naglo-load kami sa truck ng 205 na mga baboy (para dalhin sa slaughterhouse) kasama naming nagtatrabaho- tatlo kami palagi kasama ang manager, summer man o winter (nangyayari pa noong -3'C ang temperature!)

Dito sa manukan, ang manager namin sa kabilang farm (dalawang farms ang pinagtatrabahuan ko, MWF/TThS ang schedule) ay isang beterinaryong Pilipino na nagtapos sa isang kilalang pamantasan sa Pilipinas. Ginagawa rin niya ang lahat ng ginagawa ko (sa itaas nakalista), pati ang mga paperworks at kung anong coordination sa hatchery, feed mill at sa dressing plant sa kanya (alam ko dahil kapag nakabakasyon ang Iranian o Filipino manager, ako ang gumagawa ng mga trabaho nila).

Kahit papaano, masasabing mas madali pa rin ang trabaho ng isang poultry farm attendant; physically ay mahirap nga, pero pagkatapos ng oras ng trabaho pwede na akong mag-blog, samantalang ang manager namin 24 hrs. na nakabantay sa manukan, katabi niya sa pagtulog ang computer na nagmo-monitor ng temperature, humidity, feed at water consumption, etc. ng manukan. May naka-set pang alarm sa mobile phones nila para kapag nasa supermarket, malls o nagka-crabbing kami at biglang mabago ang setting ng temperature, tutunog ang mobile phone nila. Kailangang umuwi kapag ganyan para ayusin ang naging problema sa loob ng chook shed.



HINDI KO ALAM ang situation sa Dubai, pero dito kasi sa Australia kakaunti lang ang mga laborers. Inaayawan ng karamihan sa mga puti itong mga ginagawa namin. May suporta galing sa Australian government (Centrelink) ang mga walang trabaho, madalas mas mataas pa ang ibinibigay ng gobyerno kaysa sa minimum wage nila rito (na mas malaki pa ang kasalukuyang sweldo ko ngayon) kaya mas pinipili nalang ng mga locals na hindi magtrabaho at umasa nalang sa gobyerno nila- na ang perang ibinibigay sa kanila sa bawat buwan ay galing sa 19% tax na ibinabayad naming mga working visa-holders (at iba pang mga Australians na nagtatrabaho).

Dito halimbawa sa manukang pinagtatrabahuan ko ngayon, isang milyong manok ang aming inilalabas tuwing ika-60 na araw pero siyam lang kaming nagtatrabaho kasama na ang manager. Kulang na kulang sa mga mangagawa ang bansang ito kaya lahat kami ay naka- hands-on sa pag-aalaga (?!) ng mga manok. [Computer naman yata at automatic feeders at drinkers ang nag-aalaga sa mga ito.]

Kaya ayos lang 'yan para kina Cris at Ruel dahil nandyan na sila kayanin nalang nila ang trabaho bilang isang diesel attendant. Tulad ni Poging (ilo)Cano, maaaring magkaroon din ng pagkakataong ma-promote sila sa pinapasukan nila. At tulad ng madalas sabihin ng mga nagko-comment dito sa mga reklamo ko, "kaya mo yan, Doc Aga!" Kaya ko nga... kinaya ko, at kakayanin ko, alang-alang sa aking kinabukasan.

Kaya nga sa post kong Epidemics nailabas ko rin ang aking nakikita sa mga graduates ng Pilipinas, ganyan talaga ang nangyayari sa atin kasi ang ating bansa ay nahihirapan talagang makaahon sa kahirapan ngayon. Kung ano ang mga naging pambansang suliranin ng Pilipinas, hindi ko na kailangang sabihin pa rito.


MAY ISANG ARAL ding makukuha sa kwento nina Cris at Ruel, kapag pipirma ng kontrata, siyempre ang mas paniwalaan natin ay kung ano ang nakasulat sa dokumento hindi sa kung ano ang sinasabi ng agency.

Ngayon uulitin ko ang ang aking katanungan:

Kung ipinaskil kaya ng agency sa job ad nila at sinabi rin sa job offer/visa na diesel attendant ang totoong trabaho (sa ganu'ng parehong sweldong natatanggap nila ngayon) tatanggapin pa rin kaya nila ang trabaho bilang isang diesel attendant kahit na sinabi ni Poging (ilo)Cano sa kanyang post na 'sayang din kasi ang kanilang pinag-aralan'?

NAKATANGGAP AKO NG TAG mula kay Azel ng Panunumbalik ng Ulirat, heto isisingit ko nalang dito. Sana ay ayos na ito kay Azel.

Paki-click niyo nalang po para ito ay lumaki. Hindi na isang lihim ngayon ang aking sulat-kamay!

Nais ko ring gamitin ang pagkakataong ito para pasalamatan ang lahat ng mga sumusuporta at nagbabasa ng The Chook-minder's Quill- Ang mga Lihim at Kwento ng Isang Dayuhang Magmamanok.